NEW YORK (AP) — Lainey Wilson made it a night to remember at the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, winning the prestigious Entertainer of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Wilson also took home trophies for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, capping off a dominant performance at the event.
In her final acceptance speech, Wilson thanked her fans, expressing gratitude and humility. “I really do have the best fans in the world,” she said, acknowledging her struggles with imposter syndrome. “I dreamed about entertaining… Country music has given me more than I deserve.”
The night wasn’t just about Wilson’s success, though. The ceremony was filled with other memorable moments, including a breakthrough win for Ella Langley and Riley Green. Langley’s duet with Green, “You Look Like You Love Me,” won both Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year. In their acceptance speeches, Langley and Green paid tribute to classic country songs that influenced their hit.
The evening also celebrated the history of country music. A 14-minute medley of six decades of country classics opened the show, featuring performances by country legends. Host Reba McEntire kicked things off with Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” followed by Clint Black with Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and Wynonna Judd performing The Judds’ “Why Not Me.” LeAnn Rimes sang “Blue,” while Little Big Town tackled “Girl Crush” and Dan + Shay performed “Tequila.”
The 2025 ACM Awards, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, were filled with high-energy performances and emotional moments. One of the highlights of the night was the presentation of the inaugural ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award. Jackson, who was honored after performing “Remember When,” joked about a fan naming a dog after him, but expressed pride in receiving such an award.
The first award of the night, Song of the Year, went to Cody Johnson for his hit “Dirt Cheap.”
The stage was then filled with performances by some of the biggest stars in country music. McEntire, Wilson, and Miranda Lambert premiered their new single “Trailblazer,” celebrating women in country music. Eric Church performed his new song “Hands of Time,” followed by Lambert’s “Run.” Lambert was then joined by Langley for a duet of “Kerosene,” a track from Lambert’s 2005 debut album.
Other performances included Zach Top’s “Use Me,” Blake Shelton’s tribute to George Strait with “Texas,” and Wilson’s “Whirlwind.” Kelsea Ballerini performed “Baggage,” followed by Cody Johnson with “The Fall” and a duet with Brooks & Dunn on “Red Dirt Road.” Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane performed “It Takes a Woman,” while Jelly Roll and Shaboozey performed their collaboration “Amen.”
The show also saw emotional moments, such as the Oak Ridge Boys presenting the Group of the Year award to Old Dominion. This award came with a special tribute to the Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall, who passed away in 2024 from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Another touching moment was when Reba McEntire led the audience in a sing-along of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” honoring the late legend.
Chris Stapleton was named Male Artist of the Year, and Brooks & Dunn received the Duo of the Year award. In a special moment, Keith Urban was honored with the ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has received the honor on stage since Carrie Underwood in 2010.
The 60th ACM Awards demonstrated the power of celebrating both new talent and country music legends. The ceremony, available for streaming on Prime Video and Amazon Music’s Twitch channel, was free to viewers, making it accessible to a broad audience.
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