The Academy of Country Music Awards were a Whirlwind for Lainey Wilson, who won not only Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year, but also Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
“I’m sure everybody [has felt] a little bit of imposter syndrome. I won’t lie to you, I have a little bit,” the “Heart Like a Truck” artist said in her acceptance speech for the night’s big award.
The event, held Thursday at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, and hosted by country great Reba McEntire, also featured big wins by Chris Stapleton, who was named Male Artist of the Year, and Ella Langley, who had eight nominations, the most of any artist, going into the night. Langley walked away with the title of New Female Artist of the Year, as well as trophies in three more categories.
In between the presentations, performances included Rascal Flatts, with an assist from Backstreet Boys, on the country group’s song “What Hurts the Most.” The tune is featured on the country trio’s album Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets, which will be released June 6.
Jason Kempin/Getty
Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys perform during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8 in Frisco, Texas
Cody Johnson also performed with Brooks and Dunn, Jelly Roll took the stage with Shaboozey, and Alan Jackson crooned an emotional version of his 2003 classic “Remember When” before scooping up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
McEntire took the mic to sing, too, alongside Wilson and Miranda Lambert, as they sang their new song “Trailblazer.”
A special Triple Crown award went to Keith Urban, putting him in the elite group of artists who’ve not only snagged the ACM awards for New Artist of the Year, Male or Female Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, but also have been deemed worthy. Urban thanked wife Nicole Kidman in his acceptance speech. “I love you, baby girl,” he said, referencing Kidman’s 2024 film Babygirl.
Country legend Alan Jackson was awarded a new award named after him, the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Here are the winners of the 2025 ACM Awards:
Entertainer of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Duo of the Year
WINNER: Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
The War and Treaty
Group of the Year
Flatland Cavalry
Little Big Town
WINNER: Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
Album of the Year
Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine), Megan Moroney
Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll
Cold Beer & Country Music, Zach Top
F-1 Trillion, Post Malone
WINNER: Whirlwind, Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“White Horse,” Chris Stapleton
WINNER: “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
Song of the Year
“4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson
“The Architect,” Kacey Musgraves
WINNER: “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Music Event of the Year
“Cowboys Cry Too,” Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“I’m Gonna Love You,” Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
“We Don’t Fight Anymore,” Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
WINNER: “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
Songwriter of the Year
Jessi Alexander
WINNER: Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
ERNEST
HARDY
Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Visual Media of the Year
“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)
WINNER: “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green; Producer: Alex Pescosta; Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
New Female Artist of the Year
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
WINNER: Ella Langley
Jessie Murph
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Shaboozey
WINNER: Zach Top
Tucker Wetmore
Bailey Zimmerman
New Duo or Group of the Year
Restless Road
WINNER: The Red Clay Strays
Treaty Oak Revival
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
