ACM Awards 2025 Recap: Highlights Including Lainey Wilson, Alan Jackson – Here's What You Might Have Missed Out
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Lainey Wilson blazed a trail at this year's ACM Honors. The "Dirt Road Dyin'" vocalist snatched the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the annual ceremony, making her the first woman to claim the title in successive years since none other than Taylor Swift in 2011 and 2012.
Accepting her award for Entertainer of the Year - the night's top prize - Wilson confessed to experiencing a smidgen of imposter syndrome but acknowledged the importance of embracing accolades with an open heart and mind. Speaking to the crowd, she expressed her love for evoking emotions, be it laughter or tears, explaining that country music has blessed her with more than she deserves.
The night pulsed with high-voltage moments featuring established legends and emerging stars alike. Reba McEntire helmed the three-hour spectacle, which aired on Amazon Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb.
Beyond Wilson's victory, the 2025 ACM Awards delivered a stellar showcase of talent. Here are the highlights from this amazing event.
Lainey Wilson: A Glimmering Winner
In addition to the Entertainer of the Year accolade, Wilson also took home Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year awards, both of which were fiercely contested categories. These victories landed in the wake of her 2024 album, Whirlwind.
Accepting her Female Artist of the Year prize, Wilson gave a shout-out to fellow nominees Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Kacey Musgraves. She expressed gratitude for having people to confide in and related to during this incredible journey.
The Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Honors
The ACM Awards introduced a new honor dubbed the ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award., named after its inaugural recipient and inspiration. Jackson delivered a pedal steel-soaked performance of his 2003 ballad "Remember When," upon receiving the award.
A jubilant Jackson shared his elation at being honored, reminiscing about coming to Nashville with little more than a bag full of songs and dreams, and marveling at standing there today, more than three decades later.
A Tribute to Keith Urban
The moving homage to Keith Urban was another show-stopping moment of the evening. Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, and Megan Moroney united for an emotional tribute that showcased Urban's influential discography. Highlights included Stapleton's outstanding rendition of "Blue Ain't Your Color" and the Brothers Osborne cranking up the wattage for the country-rock classic "Where The Blacktop Ends." Urban joined his wife, Nicole Kidman, for a heartfelt moment as they sung along to the tribute.
ACM's 60 Years of Hits
Urban's tribute wasn't the only conversation-starting medley of the night, either. The show commenced with a thrilling run through six decades of ACM-winning tunes. The medley unfolded with MeEntire channeling Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" before Clint Black took over with a rendition of Glen Campbell classic "Rhinestone Cowboy."
The memorable opening segment continued with Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, and Dan + Shay, culminating in a roaring rendition of 2018 chart-topper "Tequila."
Ella Langley's Magical Night
Langley left the ACM Awards with four awards under her belt, an impressive feat for a first-time nominee. The rural Alabama native bagged New Female Artist of the Year, Visual Media of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Single of the Year. She picked up Visual Media, Music Event, and Single of the Year for "You Look Like You Love Me," a frothy duet with Riley Green that features spoken-word verses.
Upon accepting the Single of the Year trophy, Langley expressed her anxiety, the resemblance of which she has felt since the release of her breakout single, "Weren't For The Wind." Recalling how the song inspired her to write fearlessly, she shared her belief that this shift in perception has revolutionized her songwriting experience.
Collaboration Station!
No country show would be complete without some dance-worthy collaborations. Several notable performances included:
- Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, and Lainey Wilson united for a mesmerizing debut of new track "Trailblazer."
- Jelly Roll and Shaboozey teamed up for the uplifting duet "Amen," which they sang earlier at Stagecoach Festival.
- Cody Johnson shared the stage with Duo of the Year winner Brooks & Dunn for the evergreen melody "Red Dirt Road."
- In a nod to the past, the Backstreet Boys joined Rascal Flatts in an unofficial medley that featured "What Hurts The Most," "Larger Than Life," and "Life Is A Highway."
However, the real show-stealer may have been Ella Langley's electric team-up with Miranda Lambert for a fiery performance of Lambert's career-defining hit, "Kerosene." Between swapping lines, the duo burst into synchronized dance moves, with Langley strutting her stuff in a rebellious "mama tried" top echoing the Music Video for the 20-year-old song.
See a comprehensive list of 2025 ACM Awards winners here.
Lainey Wilson, the 2025 Entertainer of the Year, shared her experience of experiencing imposter syndrome while accepting her awards, acknowledging the importance of embracing accolades with an open heart and mind. Alan Jackson, after being honored with the ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, expressed his gratitude for having come to Nashville with little more than a bag full of songs and dreams, standing there today, more than three decades later. Ella Langley, a first-time nominee, left the ACM Awards with four awards under her belt, expressing her anxiety and believing that the shift in her perception has revolutionized her songwriting experience. Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert collaborated for a fiery performance of Lambert's career-defining hit, "Kerosene," with synchronized dance moves that showcased their chemistry on stage.
