Lainey Wilson emerged as the biggest winner at the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8, 2025, taking home four awards, including the highly coveted Entertainer of the Year. This marks her second consecutive year winning the ACM’s top award. In addition to the Entertainer of the Year title, Wilson won Album of the Year for her record Whirlwind, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

Key Highlights of the Night

• Ella Langley entered the evening with the most nominations (eight) and became the leading winner of the night, securing five awards. Among her victories were Best New Female Artist, Single of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me” (a collaboration with Riley Green), and Visual Media of the Year for the same track.

• Cody Johnson won the Song of the Year award for his hit “Dirt Cheap,” shared with co-writer Josh Phillips. Johnson notably praised Phillips, who was the sole writer of the song—an unusual feat in modern country music.

• Chris Stapleton claimed his usual victory as Male Vocalist of the Year, while Old Dominion extended their reign, winning Group of the Year for the eighth consecutive time.

• Brooks & Dunn triumphed as Duo of the Year.

Notable Performances and Tributes

The show opened with a 12-minute medley of ACM Songs of the Year from six decades of the awards, featuring performances from Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland, and Wynonna Judd. In a heartwarming tribute, Keith Urban was honored with the ACM Triple Crown Award, and stars like Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, and Brothers Osborne performed in his honor.

A major highlight was a trio performance by Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, debuting their new single “Trailblazer,” which they co-wrote with Brandy Clark.

Full Winners List

Entertainer of the Year

• Lainey Wilson – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen

Female Artist of the Year

• Lainey Wilson – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves

Male Artist of the Year

• Chris Stapleton – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen

Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline, The War and Treaty

Group of the Year

• Old Dominion – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Flatland Cavalry, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Red Clay Strays

New Female Artist of the Year

• Ella Langley – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Kassi Ashton, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Jessie Murph

New Male Artist of the Year

• Zach Top – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Gavin Adcock, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Bailey Zimmerman

New Duo or Group of the Year

• The Red Clay Strays – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Restless Road, Treaty Oak Revival

Album of the Year

• Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson – WINNER
  Other Nominees: Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) by Megan Moroney, Beautifully Broken by Jelly Roll, Cold Beer & Country Music by Zach Top, F-1 Trillion by Post Malone

Single of the Year

• You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER
  Other Nominees: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson, “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton, “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

Song of the Year

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson – WINNER
  Other Nominees: “4x4xU” by Lainey Wilson, “The Architect” by Kacey Musgraves, “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley, Riley Green

Music Event of the Year

• You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER
  Other Nominees: “Cowboys Cry Too” by Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood, “We Don’t Fight Anymore” by Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton

Visual Media of the Year

• You Look Like You Love Me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER
  Other Nominees: “4x4xU” by Lainey Wilson, “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson, “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood, “Think I’m In Love With You” by Chris Stapleton

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

• Lainey Wilson – WINNER

Songwriter of the Year

• Jessie Jo Dillon – WINNER

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Other Notable Moments
The 2025 ACM Awards were streamed globally via Prime Video and Twitch, with over 240 countries and territories tuning in for the 2.5-hour show. Despite leading the nominations, Morgan Wallen and Post Malone did not win any awards this year.

This year’s ACMs proved to be a standout night for Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley, cementing their places in country music with Lainey dominating the top categories and Langley shining as the evening’s breakout star.