NEW YORK (AP) – The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards are set to celebrate their 60th anniversary with a star-studded event on Thursday night. As the accolades continue to flow, the ACM Awards show promises a spectacular evening that honors the evolution and milestones of country music.
Renowned country singer and sixteen-time ACM Award winner, Reba McEntire, will reprise her role as host for the event, ensuring an entertaining and engaging experience for the audience. Adding to the excitement, Keith Urban will be receiving the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, marking a significant moment as it is the first time since Carrie Underwood's honor in 2010 that an artist will be awarded this prestigious trophy live on stage.
One of the highlights of the evening is set to be the opening performance, “Songs of the Decades,” which will feature a 14-minute showcase celebrating 60 years of country music. This performance will include appearances from iconic artists such as McEntire, Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland, and many more, further enhancing the celebratory atmosphere of the show.
The ACM festivities aren’t just confined to the main award show; they kicked off prior to Thursday's event with first-time nominee Ella Langley winning the title of Female New Artist. Meanwhile, the Male New Artist award went to Zach Top, setting the stage for an evening filled with fresh talent and recognition.
For those eager to watch the ACM Awards, the show will be streamed live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. Importantly, viewers do not need a Prime membership to access the livestream, making it more accessible to fans.
This year, Ella Langley leads the nominations with an impressive eight nominations, six of which are attributed to her hit song, “You Look Like You Love Me,” featuring Riley Green. Joining her in the nominations, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen each have seven nominations. Chris Stapleton follows closely with six nominations, while both Riley Green and Post Malone are tied with five nominations.
Among the nominees for the top award of the night, the Entertainer of the Year, are celebrated artists like Johnson, Wilson, Wallen, and Stapleton. Additional contenders for this prestigious category include Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Jelly Roll, showcasing a wide array of talent within the country music genre.
In addition to the highlight performances, numerous artists are set to take the stage for their individual performances. These include Langley, Wilson, Top, Stapleton, Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, among others. Moreover, special pairings will feature duets with notable collaborations, as Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts will perform together, alongside Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Brooks & Dunn will also take the stage with Johnson for a memorable performance.
The list of presenters for the ACM Awards is extensive and includes a multitude of stars, ensuring a night full of surprises. Presenters will include Shelton, Judd, Green, Black, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, Sugarland, The Oak Ridge Boys, and NASCAR driver Chase Elliott.
For continuous updates and coverage of the ACM Awards, fans are encouraged to visit the official ACM hub for the latest news and insights into this landmark event in country music history.
