2025 ACM Awards Recap: Highlights Including Lainey Wilson and Alan Jackson's Performances
Rewritten Article:
Lainey Wilson Rocks the 2025 ACM Awards, Becoming the First Female Entertainer of the Year in Nearly a Decade! 🌟
Lainey Wilson's shining moment at the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards took everyone by storm! The powerhouse singer-songwriter, known for hits like "4x4xU," made history by snatching the Entertainer of the Year award - an accolade not won by a female artist since Taylor Swift in 2012.
Addressing the audience, Wilson admitted to experiencing moments of doubt. "I've been feeling a bit like an imposter… But I read somewhere to accept things with an open heart and mind. I just have to say, I love making people feel things. I love making them laugh and cry," she shared with heartfelt sincerity.
Wilson's incredible night didn't stop there. She stormed the stage to take home trophies for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year - two highly contested categories that she earned through her 2024 blockbuster album, Whirlwind.
During her speech for Female Artist of the Year, Wilson paid homage to the other nominees, Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Kacey Musgraves, stating, "Y'all are kickin' down some barn doors, and I couldn’t be prouder."
A Celebration of Legends
The show was packed with memorable moments, including a brand-new award honoring country music icon Alan Jackson - the first recipient of the ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award. The legendary performer, who was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2022, graced the stage with a pedal steel-soaked performance of his beloved 2003 ballad "Remember When."
"It's quite an honor," Jackson shared. "I feel a fan named their dog after me once, but this is really amazing," he added with a humbled grin. The 66-year-old music giant continued, "To be serious now. I came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream. All these years later, I'm standing here … it's just mind-blowing."
Keith Urban's Emotional Tribute
The night served as a heartfelt tribute to honoree Keith Urban, who had just nabbed the prestigious ACM Triple Crown – the career-spanning award reserved for artists who win New Artist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, and Male/Female or Group/Duo of the Year. Urban joined forces with Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, and Megan Moroney for an emotional rendition of Urban's timeless hits. Wife Nicole Kidman watched proudly from the front row, singing along with tears in her eyes.
Urban's tribute marked just one of many all-star medleys that night. In honor of its 60th anniversary, the show opened with a nostalgic run-through of six decades of ACM Award-winning songs. The ensemble included MeEntire paying tribute to Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee," followed by Clint Black’s take on Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Other highlights included Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, and Dan + Shay joining forces for a crowd-pleasing rendition of "Tequila." Newcomer Ella Langley, a first-time nominee, shined with four trophies in tow! She earned Visual Media of the Year, Music Event of the Year, Single of the Year, and the Rising Artist Award for her catchy duet "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green.
With famous collaborations from Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Brooks & Dunn, and even a pop music crossover featuring the Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts, the 2025 ACM Awards were an unforgettable night of country music magic!
Catch up on all the winners of the 2025 ACM Awards here. 🎉🙌🎤🎧🎤
Enrichment Data:
- According to the data, Lainey Wilson made history by becoming the third female artist to win the Entertainer of the Year award at the ACM two years in a row, following in the footsteps of Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, who both won it twice within their respective periods. Carrie Underwood won it back-to-back in 2009 and 2010, while Taylor Swift won it in 2011 and 2012.
- The data also reveals that Alan Jackson, the first recipient of the ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2022. This honor was introduced during the 2025 ACM Awards.
- Lainey Wilson, the 2025 ACM Entertainer of the Year, confessed she had felt like an imposter but reminded herself to accept accolades with an open heart and mind, citing her passion for creating music and the emotional connection it fosters.
- Alan Jackson, the 2025 ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, shared that his career in country music started with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream. Diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2022, he graced the stage with a moving performance of his hit song "Remember When."
- Ella Langley, the first-time ACM nominee, won four awards in 2025 - Visual Media of the Year, Music Event of the Year, Single of the Year, and the Rising Artist Award, for her duet "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green.
- The 2025 ACM Awards were a night filled with unforgettable moments, including a tribute performance by Keith Urban, who had just been awarded the prestigious ACM Triple Crown, and a star-studded opening medley featuring songs from the past six decades of ACM Award winners, like MeEntire's remake of Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" and Clint Black’s rendition of Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy."
