Honestly, the biggest mistake most people make is checking their local TV listings for the ACMs. If you’re scrolling through your cable guide looking for a channel number, you’re going to miss the whole thing. The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards isn't on a traditional network anymore. It’s a streaming-first world now, and the Academy has leaned all the way into that.
The 2025 ACM Awards went down on Thursday, May 8, 2025, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. This was a massive milestone—the big 6-0. If you missed the live broadcast, don't sweat it. You've still got plenty of ways to catch up on the performances everyone is talking about, but you have to know where to look. Basically, it's all about Amazon.
How to Watch ACM Awards 2025 Right Now
Since the live show has wrapped, the "how to" part has shifted. Prime Video is the exclusive home for the full rebroadcast. Unlike the live stream, which was actually free for anyone with an Amazon account (even without a paid Prime membership), the on-demand replay usually sticks behind the Prime subscription wall.
If you’re trying to watch ACM Awards 2025 and you don't have Prime, you might find yourself stuck with just the highlight clips on YouTube. But for the full "Party of the Year" experience—the transitions, the jokes, the emotional speeches—you’ll want to log into your Prime account and search "ACM Awards."
The Streaming Technicalities
- Platform: Prime Video is the primary hub.
- Accessibility: You can stream it on basically anything—Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, your phone, or even a game console.
- Twitch Factor: The Amazon Music channel on Twitch also hosted the live event, which was a cool way to see fans reacting in real-time.
Who Ran the Show? (The Reba Factor)
You can't talk about the 60th anniversary without mentioning Reba McEntire. She hosted for a record-breaking 18th time. Think about that for a second. That's more than any other host in the history of the show. She has this way of making a massive football-stadium-sized venue feel like a living room.
There’s a reason they keep bringing her back. She’s the bridge between the old-school legends and the new kids like Shaboozey and Zach Top. Honestly, her opening "Songs of the Decades" medley with Clint Black and Wynonna Judd was probably the highlight of the night. It reminded everyone that country music has a deep history that didn't just start with TikTok trends.
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The Big Winners and Surprises
If you’re watching the replay, keep an eye on Lainey Wilson. She absolutely cleaned up. She took home Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Whirlwind. It’s wild to see her trajectory over the last few years; she’s basically the face of the genre at this point.
The awards weren't just a victory lap for the usual suspects, though. Ella Langley was the surprise powerhouse of the night. She led the nominations and picked up New Female Artist of the Year, plus a couple of wins for "you look like you love me," her viral hit with Riley Green.
Quick Winner Breakdown
- Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Male Artist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
- Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn (Showing the legends still got it)
- New Male Artist: Zach Top
What You Might Have Missed
People often skip the "Triple Crown" moments or the Lifetime Achievement awards because they want to get to the big performances. Big mistake. Watching Keith Urban receive the Triple Crown Award (given to those who have won New Artist, Male Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year in their career) was a masterclass in longevity.
Also, the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement tribute? Pure gold. He performed "Remember When," and there wasn't a dry eye in the Ford Center. If you're scanning through the replay, do not fast-forward through that.
Why the Move to Streaming Matters
A lot of fans were annoyed when the ACMs left CBS. I get it. It’s a change. But streaming allows the show to run without those rigid 3-minute commercial breaks every ten minutes. It feels more like a concert and less like a TV production. Plus, it’s available in over 240 countries. Country music is a global export now, and Amazon’s reach is a big reason why.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to catch the best of the 2025 show or prepare for the next cycle:
- Check the Prime Video "ACM Awards" Hub: This is where the full 60th-anniversary show lives. You can watch the red carpet arrivals and the full ceremony there.
- Follow the Official YouTube Channel: If you don't have three hours to kill, the Academy's YouTube channel has individual performance clips of Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, and Kelsea Ballerini.
- Mark Your Calendar for 2026: The Academy already signed a deal to stay on Prime Video through 2028. Expect the May 2026 show to follow a similar pattern—streaming on a Thursday night from Texas.
- Sign up for the ACM A-List: If you actually want to go to Frisco for the 61st awards, this newsletter is where the pre-sale codes go first. Tickets usually start around 100 bucks, but they go fast.
The 60th ACMs proved that country music is in a really healthy spot. Whether you're there for the 90s nostalgia or the new-school crossover hits, the show delivered exactly what it promised. Just remember: stop looking for it on your TV's antenna. It's in the app.