Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley steal the spotlight at the 60th ACM Awards 2025. See the full winners list and standout performances from Texas.
At the 60th Annual ACM Awards held in Frisco, Texas, Lainey Wilson won Entertainer of the Year for the second time, while newcomer Ella Langley took home five awards. The night celebrated powerful women, emotional speeches, and iconic performances.
Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley Sweep 2025 ACM Awards
The 60th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards aired live from Frisco, Texas, on May 8, and the night was full of surprises, emotions, and history-making wins.
Lainey Wilson emerged as a major winner, bagging four awards including:
- Entertainer of the Year (for the second year in a row)
- Album of the Year for “Whirlwind”
- Female Artist of the Year
- Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Newcomer Ella Langley, who led the nominations with eight nods, walked away with five awards, including:
- New Female Artist of the Year
- Single of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me”, shared with Riley Green
- Music Event of the Year
- Visual Media of the Year
Langley’s duet with Riley Green proved to be a career-defining moment, winning across multiple categories and resonating with both fans and critics.
Standout Speeches & Memorable Moments
Wilson, upon winning Female Artist of the Year, proclaimed:
“Girls are kicking down barn doors — and I’m loving it!”
While accepting Entertainer of the Year, she reflected on her struggles with imposter syndrome and urged artists to embrace their gifts with an open heart and mind. She added emotionally:
“I love making people laugh and cry. Sorry — I love making you cry.”
Langley also delivered heartfelt speeches, paying tribute to traditional country icons like Conway Twitty and David Allan Coe. On stage, she admitted:
“I feel like I’ve been holding my breath since this song came out.”
Riley Green chimed in during their shared win for Single of the Year, praising the song’s spoken verse and saying:
“It’s great to see a talking verse get this kind of recognition!”
Additional Big Winners of the Night
- Chris Stapleton reclaimed Male Artist of the Year
- Old Dominion continued their winning streak with their eighth straight Group of the Year win — an unmatched record
- Brooks & Dunn returned as Duo of the Year
- Zach Top was named New Male Artist of the Year
- Red Clay Strays won New Duo or Group of the Year
- Cody Johnson‘s “Dirt Cheap” won Song of the Year, written by Josh Phillips
Performances That Lit Up the Night
The ceremony opened with a 12-minute medley of ACM Songs of the Year across six decades. Featured performers included:
- Reba McEntire
- Clint Black
- Dan + Shay
- LeAnn Rimes
- Sugarland
- Wynonna Judd
A special tribute medley honored Keith Urban, performed by Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, and Brothers Osborne.
Alan Jackson, currently on his farewell tour, received a tribute and an award now named in his honor.
Generational Power: The Trailblazers Trio
One of the most anticipated performances was the debut of “Trailblazer,” a powerhouse collaboration by Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert. Though presented as a trio, there’s no doubt Reba shined as the central figure, symbolizing the passing of the torch to a new generation of women in country music.
The song, co-written by Lambert, Wilson, and Brandy Clark, featured lyrics like:
“Dottie and Loretta, Patsy and Tammy too / They gave me a seat at the table, and I’m saving one for you.”
Global Reach of the ACM Awards
The 2025 ACM Awards were live-streamed globally to over 240 countries and territories, available on Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, and the Amazon Music Channel, broadcasting directly from Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ HQ.
Full List of 2025 ACM Award Winners
Here are the top categories and winners:
- Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Female Artist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Male Artist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
- Album of the Year: Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- Single of the Year: You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- Song of the Year: Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
- New Female Artist of the Year: Ella Langley
- New Male Artist of the Year: Zach Top
- Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn
- Group of the Year: Old Dominion
- Visual Media of the Year: You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley
- Music Event of the Year: You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley & Riley Green