Context:

The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire at The Star in Frisco, Texas, were live-streamed on Prime Video for the fourth consecutive year. Lainey Wilson emerged as a standout winner, securing the prestigious Entertainer of the Year as well as Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year. Ella Langley, a newcomer, was the most nominated artist with seven nods and claimed five awards, including New Female Artist of the Year. Chris Stapleton was awarded Male Artist of the Year, while Brooks & Dunn won Duo of the Year, and Old Dominion was crowned Group of the Year. The event featured an array of awards recognizing top achievements in country music, with notable wins for Cody Johnson and Ella Langley in various categories.

Dive Deeper:

• The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards took place at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and were hosted by Reba McEntire, marking its fourth year of streaming live on Prime Video instead of airing on CBS. The event celebrated outstanding achievements across multiple categories in country music.

• Lainey Wilson was a major winner, securing Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for 'Whirlwind', showcasing her significant impact on the country music scene.

• Ella Langley, a newcomer, led the nominations with seven nods and won five awards, including New Female Artist of the Year and Single of the Year for her collaboration with Riley Green on 'you look like you love me'.

• In the male categories, Chris Stapleton triumphed as Male Artist of the Year, proving his continued influence and popularity in the genre.

• Brooks & Dunn were honored as Duo of the Year, while Old Dominion took home the award for Group of the Year, underlining their dominant presence in country music groups.

• Cody Johnson's song 'Dirt Cheap' won Song of the Year, highlighting its strong songwriting and impact within the industry.

• The ACM Awards emphasized the diversity and talent within country music, with notable awards in new artist categories and collaborative efforts, reflecting the evolving landscape of the genre.

• The winners have been revealed at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards!

• The ACM Awards winners were announced during a live show that took place on Thursday night (May 8) The Star in Frisco, Texas.

• Reba McEntire hosted the show, which streamed on Prime Video for the fourth year in a row. The show previously aired on television on CBS.

• Newcomer Ella Langley was nominated for seven awards and was the big winner of the night with five wins, but someone else took home Entertainer of the Year.

• Head inside to check out the list of winners…

• Keep scrolling to see the full list of winners…

• ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Kelsea Ballerini
  Luke Combs
  Cody Johnson
  Jelly Roll
  Chris Stapleton
  Morgan Wallen
  Lainey Wilson – WINNER

• FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Kelsea Ballerini
  Ella Langley
  Megan Moroney
  Kacey Musgraves
  Lainey Wilson – WINNER

• MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
  Cody Johnson
  Jelly Roll
  Chris Stapleton – WINNER
  Morgan Wallen

• DUO OF THE YEAR

• Brooks & Dunn – WINNER
  Brothers Osborne
  Dan + Shay
  Muscadine Bloodline
  The War And Treaty

• GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Flatland Cavalry
  Little Big Town
  Old Dominion – WINNER
  Rascal Flatts
  The Red Clay Strays

• NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Kassi Ashton
  Ashley Cooke
  Dasha
  Ella Langley – WINNER
  Jessie Murph

• NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Gavin Adcock
  Shaboozey
  Zach Top – WINNER
  Tucker Wetmore
  Bailey Zimmerman

• NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Restless Road
  The Red Clay Strays – WINNER
  Treaty Oak Revival

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney

• Producer: Kristian Bush

• Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville

• Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll

• Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder, Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym

• Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records

• Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top

• Producer: Carson Chamberlain

• Record Company-Label: Leo33

• F-1 Trillion – Post Malone

• Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

• Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson – WINNER

• Producer: Jay Joyce

• Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville

• SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey

• Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry

• Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson

• Producer: Trent Willmon

• Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

• Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

• Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• White Horse – Chris Stapleton

• Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton

• Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER

• Producer: Will Bundy

• Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

• SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson

• Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson

• Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent

• The Architect – Kacey Musgraves

• Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne

• Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson – WINNER

• Songwriter: Josh Phillips

• Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

• Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak

• Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing; Universal Music Corporation

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green

• Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

• Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

• MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Cowboys Cry Too – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan

• Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym

• Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

• Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

• Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

• Producer: Trent Willmon

• Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

• we don’t fight anymore – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton

• Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

• Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER

• Producer: Will Bundy

• Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

• VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson

• Producer: Jennifer Ansell

• Director: Dano Cerny

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson

• Producer: Dustin Haney

• Director: Dustin Haney

• I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

• Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry

• Director: Dustin Haney

• Think I’m In Love With You – Chris Stapleton

• Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis

• Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER

• Producer: Whale Tale Music

• Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

• ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
  ERNEST
  HARDY
  Morgan Wallen
  Lainey Wilson – WINNER

• SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Jessi Alexander
  Jessie Jo Dillon – WINNER
  Ashley Gorley
  Chase McGill
  Josh Osborne