Alright, buckle up, country fans and pop culture aficionados! The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards just wrapped in Frisco, Texas, and let me tell ya, it was a night of big hair, even bigger talent, and enough sparkle to blind a rhinestone cowboy. Hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire (for a record 18th time, can you believe it?!), the acm awards 2025 winners list is packed with familiar faces and some seriously exciting newcomers. So, grab your sweet tea, and let’s dive into the highlights, the “heck yeahs!” and the “huh?” moments of country music’s biggest party!
The energy in the Ford Center at The Star was electric, and for good reason. This wasn’t just another awards show; it was a celebration of six decades of country music history. From jaw-dropping performances to heartfelt acceptance speeches, the night delivered. And if you’re wondering how everyone tuned into this massive event, it was streamed live across a whopping 240 countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Talk about global!
Now, let’s get to the good stuff – who took home those coveted trophies?
1. Lainey’s World: Wilson Continues Her Reign as Entertainer of the Year!
Is anyone surprised? Lainey Wilson is on an absolute tear, and the ACMs just added more fuel to her fire. She scooped up a phenomenal four awards, including the night’s biggest honor: Entertainer of the Year! This is her second year in a row snagging that top prize, solidifying her spot as country royalty. Seriously, the woman is a whirlwind – which, fittingly, is the title of her Album of the Year!
Wilson also nabbed Female Artist of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. In her acceptance speech for Entertainer of the Year, she got real about imposter syndrome, admitting, “I won’t lie to you, I have a little bit.” But she encouraged everyone to accept good things with an “open heart and open mind.” And, in a moment that was pure Lainey, she declared, “I like to make people laugh and cry… I’m sorry, I like to make you cry.” We feel you, Lainey, we feel you.
2. Hello, Ella! Langley’s Breakout Night Has Us All Talking
Get ready to hear a lot more from Ella Langley! This newcomer didn’t just show up; she practically owned the place. Leading the nominations with eight nods, Langley walked away with an armful of trophies – four, to be exact! She was crowned New Female Artist of the Year, and her hit “You Look Like You Love Me” (with Riley Green) was a triple threat, winning Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year. Talk about a debut!
Langley’s acceptance speeches were as charming as her music. For one award, she quipped, “I was so stunned up here last time I literally blacked out. I don’t know what I said – something about Conway Twitty, I think.” Relatable, right? She also gave a heartfelt shoutout to Sony Music Publishing exec Mya Hansen, crediting her for believing in “You Look Like You Love Me” when “Everyone said this song was going to be the most underperforming song on the record.” Guess they were wrong! Riley Green, her duet partner, also had a zinger, saying, “I want to say how cool it is that a song with talking verses won an award!” Amen to that!
Chart Toppers: A Quick Look at the Night’s Biggest Hauls
It was a massive night for these leading ladies. Here’s a visual (imagine shiny trophies!):
Lainey Wilson: (4 Awards)
Ella Langley (and her hit song): (4 Awards)
This simple representation highlights the major multiple award winners based on the night’s results.
3. The Gents Get Their Due: Stapleton, Old Dominion, and More Country Kings
While the ladies were shining bright, the fellas brought their A-game too. The one and only Chris Stapleton added another Male Artist of the Year trophy to his collection – is there anything this man can’t do with a guitar and that voice? It’s almost customary at this point, but no less deserved!
And speaking of consistency, Old Dominion won Group of the Year for an incredible eighth consecutive year! According to the buzz, no other group has ever done that. That’s not just a winning streak; that’s a dynasty, folks! Meanwhile, the legendary Brooks & Dunn proved they’ve still got it, taking home Duo of the Year. It’s always great to see veterans back in the winner’s circle.
Other notable wins included Cody Johnson, whose powerful “Dirt Cheap” (penned by Josh Phillips) snagged Song of the Year. New Male Artist of the Year went to Zach Top, and The Red Clay Strays were recognized as Best New Duo or Group. The future of country is looking bright!
4. More Than Awards: Unforgettable Performances and Tributes Galore
The ACM Awards are never *just* about the trophies; the performances are half the fun! The show kicked off with a bang – a 12-minute medley of ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades. Imagine Reba, Clint Black, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland, and Wynonna Judd all on one stage! Pure magic.
Tributes were also a huge part of the evening. Keith Urban received the ACM Triple Crown Award (New Artist, Male/Female Artist, and Entertainer of the Year wins over a career – a huge deal!), and was serenaded by Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, and Brothers Osborne. Even his wife, Nicole Kidman, was spotted dancing up a storm! And country icon Alan Jackson, who’s been on a farewell tour, received a star-studded tribute and the inaugural Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award – an award now named in his honor. How cool is that?
But perhaps one of the most anticipated performances was the debut of “Trailblazer” by Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert. Talk about a powerhouse trio! The song is all about passing the torch, with Reba singing, “Dotty and Loretta, Patsy and Tammy too – They gave me a seat at the table and I’m saving one for you.” Chills, I tell ya!
5. Red Carpet Quirks & Backstage Banter: The Moments We’re Still Giggling About
You know we live for the off-stage antics and red carpet surprises! And the ACMs didn’t disappoint.
- Piggy Date: New Female Artist nominee Jessie Murph decided a man wasn’t necessary and brought… a miniature pig named Wilbur as her date! “I needed a date, and I’ve always wanted a miniature pig, so what a better place to do it than Texas?” she told PEOPLE. They even coordinated outfits (Wilbur went au naturel, Jessie rocked pink). Iconic.
- Baby News on the Carpet: Cody Johnson and his wife Kaitlyn used the ACMs red carpet to announce they’re expecting their third child – a boy! “We decided to make this our announcement to the world and our gender reveal as well,” Johnson shared. Congrats to the happy family!
- Jelly for Nicole: Host Bobby Bones had a hilariously awkward moment when he got Jelly Roll to sign a jar of Smucker’s jam, then proceeded to walk right past Keith Urban to give it to… Nicole Kidman! “Nicole, I got you some jelly,” he said. She seemed to take it in stride, and Bones later joked she still had his jar. You can’t make this stuff up!
- Baggage Claim: Kelsea Ballerini’s performance of her hit “Baggage” featured… actual baggage! An impressive tower of gold suitcases, to be exact. She called it “the biggest performance I’ve had on an award show.” It was certainly memorable!
6. Snubs, Surprises, and “Wait, What?!” Moments from the ACM Awards 2025 Winners List
Every awards show has its share of head-scratchers and “aww, man!” moments. This year, despite five consecutive years of nominations, Kelsea Ballerini went home empty-handed again. She was up for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. Tough break! In a January interview, she’d philosophically said, “I don’t win things… and I’m cool with it.” Still, fans were rooting for her.
Another big talking point? Some major names were shut out. Despite multiple nominations, both Morgan Wallen and Post Malone (who was up for five awards, including Album of the Year for *F1 Trillion*) didn’t pick up any trophies. Newcomer Shaboozey, who had a viral hit with “A Bar Song,” also left empty-handed. That’s showbiz, folks! It just goes to show how competitive the winners acm awards categories can be.
Want to dive deeper into the wins, losses, and all the drama? The folks at Etalk have a great breakdown of the winners, snubs, and surprises that kept everyone buzzing.
7. Key Award Winners ACM Awards 2025: A Quick Recap
For those who like their info neat and tidy, here’s a snapshot of some of the night’s major award winners acm awards 2025:
| Award Category | Winner(s) | Why It’s a Big Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainer of the Year | Lainey Wilson | Second consecutive win! Cementing her superstar status. |
| Female Artist of the Year | Lainey Wilson | Dominating the female categories. |
| Male Artist of the Year | Chris Stapleton | A consistent powerhouse in country music. |
| Album of the Year | Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce) | Critically acclaimed, fan favorite, and a testament to her artistry. |
| Single of the Year | “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green (Producer: Will Bundy) | A massive hit for the rising stars. |
| Song of the Year | “Dirt Cheap” – (Songwriter: Josh Phillips; Artist: Cody Johnson) | A powerful storytelling anthem. |
| New Female Artist of the Year | Ella Langley | A massive night for the breakout star! |
| New Male Artist of the Year | Zach Top | A promising start for this traditionalist. |
| Group of the Year | Old Dominion | An unprecedented 8th straight win! |
| Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn | Legends proving they’re still at the top. |
| Artist-Songwriter of the Year | Lainey Wilson | Highlighting her incredible songwriting talents. |
8. The Afterparty Buzz: What’s Next for Country’s Brightest & How to Keep the Music Playing!
Whew! What a night, right? The ACM Awards 2025 winners have been crowned, the acceptance speeches have been given (some more coherent than others, Ella!), and the glitter is probably still being vacuumed up in Frisco. But just because the show’s over doesn’t mean the music stops. In fact, for many of these artists, this is just the beginning of an even bigger chapter!
We’re especially keeping our eyes peeled for what Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley do next. With Lainey now a two-time Entertainer of the Year and her album Whirlwind living up to its name, expect her tour dates to be hotter than a Texas summer. And as for Ella Langley, after sweeping up four awards for “You Look Like You Love Me,” you can bet her star is only going to rise faster. We’re predicting more chart-climbers and sold-out shows in her very near future!
And let’s not forget about Chris Stapleton, who’ll likely continue his reign of soulful country, or Old Dominion, who might just be aiming for a full decade of Group of the Year wins! Plus, newcomers like Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays have got a serious springboard from their ACM recognition. The country music scene is buzzing, y’all!
Keep the Country Vibes Going:
Don’t want the ACM Awards excitement to fade? Here’s how you can keep up with your favorite artists and discover new ones who might just be the next award winners acm awards are celebrating:
- Follow the Stars: Jump on Instagram, TikTok, X (or whatever it’s called this week!) and give your faves a follow. It’s the best way to get behind-the-scenes peeks, new music announcements, and maybe even another adorable appearance by Jessie Murph’s pig, Wilbur!
- Stream Supreme: Add the winning songs (and the nominated ones too – justice for Kelsea!) to your playlists on Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your audio fix. “Dirt Cheap” on repeat, anyone? Or maybe “You Look Like You Love Me” for the tenth time today? No judgment!
- Catch ‘Em Live: Keep an eye on artists’ websites and platforms like Bandsintown or Ticketmaster for tour dates. There’s truly nothing like experiencing the energy of live country music.
- Tune into Country Radio & Playlists: Discover the next big hitmakers and keep tabs on how the ACM Awards 2025 winners are dominating the airwaves and streaming charts. You might find your next obsession!
- Re-watch the Highlights: Still buzzing from the performances? Prime Video will likely have the show available for re-watching, and YouTube is your friend for clips of those unforgettable moments and performances.
The 60th ACM Awards certainly gave us plenty to talk about, from jaw-dropping collaborations and heartfelt tributes to the rise of new talents and the continued dominance of established superstars. It’s a thrilling time for country music, with artists pushing boundaries while honoring tradition. So, what was your absolute standout moment from the night? Which acm awards 2025 winners had you cheering the loudest? And who are you most excited to see take over the charts in the coming year? Share your thoughts and keep the country conversation going!