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If you were watching the 60th ACM Awards on Prime Video, you probably noticed the energy was just... different. It wasn’t just the glitz of Frisco, Texas, or Reba McEntire being, well, Reba. There was a genuine sense of a changing of the guard, mixed with some heavy-duty nostalgia that actually landed for once.
Honestly, the ACM Awards 2025 award winners list tells a story of a genre that's finally stopped apologizing for what it is. We saw traditionalists like Zach Top getting their flowers right alongside the whirlwind success of superstars who are basically household names at this point.
Lainey Wilson’s Historic Night
Lainey Wilson didn't just win; she kind of owned the building. When she took home Entertainer of the Year, it wasn't a shocker, but it was significant. This was her second year in a row winning the big one. To put that in perspective, she’s now in the same rarefied air as Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood—the only other women to go back-to-back in that category.
She also scooped up Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Whirlwind. Watching her accept these, you could tell the "imposter syndrome" she mentioned in her speech is real, but at this point, it's totally unnecessary. She’s the face of country music right now.
Ella Langley: The New Queen of the Collaboration
If Lainey was the veteran of the night (it feels weird saying that, but it's true), Ella Langley was the breakout story. She actually led the entire night in total wins. Think about that for a second. A newcomer walking away with five trophies.
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Her duet with Riley Green, "You Look Like You Love Me," was basically inescapable last year, and the Academy rewarded it heavily. It won Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year. Plus, she took home the New Female Artist of the Year title.
The Big Winners: A Quick Look
Since everyone usually just wants the "who won what" without the fluff, here's how the major categories shook out. It wasn't exactly a night for the underdogs, but there were a few surprises.
- Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Male Artist of the Year: Chris Stapleton (His 5th win in this category—he's chasing Merle Haggard's record now)
- Female Artist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn (Their first win in 15 years! They joked about us paying their rent for three decades)
- Group of the Year: Old Dominion (This was their 8th consecutive win, which officially broke the record previously held by Rascal Flatts)
- New Male Artist of the Year: Zach Top
- New Female Artist of the Year: Ella Langley
- New Duo or Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays
- Album of the Year: Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- Song of the Year: "Dirt Cheap" – Cody Johnson (Written by Josh Phillips)
- Single of the Year: "You Look Like You Love Me" – Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
Why Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays Matter
Let’s talk about Zach Top for a second. Winning New Male Artist of the Year is a massive signal. If you’ve heard his stuff, it sounds like 1994 in the best way possible. In a year where Post Malone (who was nominated for F-1 Trillion) and Shaboozey were huge talking points, the Academy leaning toward Zach Top shows they still value that "High-Tech Redneck" sound.
Same goes for The Red Clay Strays. They’ve been grinding on the road for years. Seeing them win New Duo or Group felt like a win for every band currently living in a van. It’s that grit that country fans crave, even when the mainstream side of things gets a little too "pop" for some.
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The Moments People Will Actually Remember
The awards are the "stats," but the performances are the "vibe." The night opened with a 12-minute medley of past Songs of the Year to celebrate the 60th anniversary. Reba doing "Okie from Muskogee" and LeAnn Rimes singing "Blue" was a reminder of why we’re all here.
But then... things got weird.
The closing performance featured Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys. Look, I love "Life is a Highway" as much as the next person, but the collaboration felt a bit like a fever dream. Some people loved it, others called it a "train wreck," but hey, that’s live TV for you.
The Legend: Alan Jackson
The inaugural Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award went to—shocker—Alan Jackson. It was a beautiful moment. He performed "Remember When," and honestly, there wasn't a dry eye in the Ford Center. When Keith Urban was honored with the Triple Crown Award, we got a killer tribute with Chris Stapleton and Megan Moroney covering his hits. It was a solid reminder that while we're obsessing over the new kids, the foundations are still solid.
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What This Means for You
If you’re a fan or someone trying to keep up with the industry, the 2025 winners list is your new playlist. The shift toward artists who write their own stuff—Lainey Wilson also won Artist-Songwriter of the Year—is a trend that isn't going away.
Next Steps to Stay Ahead of the Curve:
- Listen to the "Dirt Cheap" lyrics. There's a reason Cody Johnson won Song of the Year. It’s a masterclass in storytelling that resonates with anyone who values roots over money.
- Follow the New Artist winners. Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays are going to be headlining festivals by next summer. Catch them in smaller venues while you still can.
- Watch the "Trailblazer" performance. Reba, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson debuted a new song together. It’s basically the new anthem for women in the genre.
The 60th ACM Awards proved that country music is in a weirdly healthy place. It’s big enough to host a global stream on Prime Video, but still small enough to feel like a community when a legend like Alan Jackson walks on stage.