Introduction
FRISCO, Texas — The 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, live from the Ford Center at The Star, delivered a memorable evening blending cherished classics with the genre’s freshest voices. A clear theme of the night was a heartfelt nod to country music’s rich history, evident from the spectacular opening medley to the introduction of a new, prestigious honor.
One of the evening’s early triumphs went to first-time nominee Ella Langley and her collaborator Riley Green, whose widely popular duet “You Look Like You Love Me” was crowned Single of the Year. Both artists acknowledged the traditional “talking songs” that influenced their modern hit in their acceptance speeches, highlighting a recurring thread throughout the show.
The celebratory atmosphere kicked off with a sprawling, 14-minute musical journey through six decades of country music, featuring an impressive lineup of genre titans. Host Reba McEntire set the tone with Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” followed by Clint Black’s rendition of Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Wynonna Judd’s powerful take on The Judds’ “Why Not Me.” LeAnn Rimes revisited her iconic 1997 ballad “Blue,” while Little Big Town offered their 2014 hit “Girl Crush” and Dan + Shay closed the segment with “Tequila.”
A deeply moving moment arrived with the unveiling of the inaugural ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to its namesake, Alan Jackson, following his poignant performance of “Remember When.”
The coveted Song of the Year trophy was awarded to Cody Johnson for his chart-topping track “Dirt Cheap.”
The stage then became a whirlwind of dynamic performances. Eric Church debuted his new single “Hands of Time,” before Miranda Lambert, the most awarded artist in ACM history, captivated the audience with “Run.” She was then joined by Ella Langley for a powerful duet of “Kerosene” from Lambert’s 2005 debut. Langley later returned for a solo performance of “Weren’t for the Wind.”
Other notable performances included Zach Top’s stripped-down “Use Me,” Blake Shelton’s George Strait-esque new single “Texas,” Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind,” Kelsea Ballerini’s “Baggage,” and Chris Stapleton’s harmonious “It Takes a Woman” with his wife, Morgane.
A touching moment of recognition saw The Oak Ridge Boys present the Group of the Year award to Old Dominion, a poignant gesture following the 2024 passing of Oak Ridge Boys’ beloved tenor, Joe Bonsall. The sentiment continued with Reba McEntire leading the crowd in a heartfelt sing-along of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Individual honors for the night included Chris Stapleton receiving Male Artist of the Year and Brooks & Dunn taking home Duo of the Year.
The night also celebrated significant career milestones. Keith Urban was slated to receive the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has been honored with this trophy on stage since Carrie Underwood in 2010.
Earlier in the week, pre-show awards were announced, with Ella Langley earning New Female Artist and Zach Top named New Male Artist. Lainey Wilson was recognized as Artist-Songwriter of the Year, presented by McEntire and Lambert, and Jessie Jo Dillon received her second consecutive Songwriter of the Year award.
Ella Langley led the nominations this year with eight nods, six of which stemmed from her massive hit “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green. Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen each garnered seven nominations, while Chris Stapleton received six, and Riley Green and Post Malone were tied with five. The night’s ultimate prize, Entertainer of the Year, saw nominations for Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Jelly Roll.
The evening’s excitement also featured more star-studded collaborations, with Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts sharing the stage, as well as Jelly Roll performing with Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn joining Cody Johnson for a special duet. Megan Moroney was also scheduled to perform.
Fans across the globe could experience the 60th ACM Awards live, streaming for free on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live.