For decades, the Academy of Country Music Awards roamed from coast to coast — glittering under the lights of Las Vegas, steeped in tradition in Nashville. But recently, the show has planted new roots in Frisco. Now hosting for the third consecutive year, Frisco isn’t just a stop on the country music calendar — it’s becoming part of its soul.
Few people know that better than Reba McEntire.
Reba At The Star
The country icon will host the ACM Awards for a record-breaking 19th time at the Ford Center at The Star on May 8, 2025. And while her on-stage presence is a given, McEntire's fondness for Frisco off-stage is just as noteworthy.
“I like The Star, I mean the hotel is very convenient, everybody's here together and when we hang out we have fun,” McEntire said during a press conference at the Omni Frisco Hotel. “The Star is just absolutely gorgeous.”
A Connection With North Texas
It’s not just the convenience or the aesthetics, though Frisco offers both in spades. For McEntire, returning to North Texas is also about reconnecting with a fan base that’s supported her since the start.
“To all my North Texas fans, thanks for the 50 years that you've stayed with me,” she said. “So very proud to still be in the business, getting to do what I do. I love it so much.”
McEntire’s warmth is matched only by her gratitude. “I love what I get to do,” she said. “I love the people that I get to do it with. And when you go back to an award show or the rodeo, you see your fans and friends that you've made throughout many years. I think that's the one thing I'm the most proud of.”
Frisco’s Growing Fan Club
She’s not alone in her affection for Frisco. Fellow country star Koe Wetzel, a Texas native with hits like “High Road”, feels a similar pull toward the growing region. In an interview with Local Profile at the Raising Cane’s Dallas Restaurant Support Office in Plano, Wetzel praised the area’s energy and evolution.
"I love the area," said Wetzel. "Ever since we started playing music until now, the fans around here have always been great. So, we've always been a big fan of the area, especially now to where it's grown from 10 years ago. It's just continuously grown, and it's always a good time every time we come up this way."
Is Frisco The ACM's Forever Home?
"After being here last year, talking to people who were here last year, yeah, I do," said Wetzel. "I think it's the perfect area for it. Like I said, it [Frisco] is growing. It's becoming kind of a hub for big events and stuff like that, especially with the golf course and everything else that's coming into it. Yeah, I think it should. I think it would be great."
He’s right. With major concerts, PGA events and nationally televised shows calling it home, Frisco is no longer an up-and-comer — it's a destination.
“Past performers have absolutely loved Frisco for the same reasons that we do — it’s far enough away from the big city of Dallas, but it still feels like you’re constantly in the middle of the action when ACM Awards Week rolls around,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside previously told Local Profile. “It’s easy to navigate, never too far away from the excitement and everyone makes us all feel so welcome when we roll into town.”
And now, with McEntire’s seal of approval, it very well could become country music’s newest capital.
A Night To Remember
As the 60th ACM Awards approach, fans can expect a night of exclusive collaborations, surprise performances and more than a few curveballs. A limited number of tickets are available through SeatGeek, offering locals a front-row seat to history. For those who can’t make it into the Ford Center, there are plenty of celebrations happening in and around the city. Learn more here.
Whether you’re tuning in from home or catching a glimpse of your favorite country icons at The Star, one thing is clear: McEntire loves Frisco. And Frisco loves her right back.
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