The ACM Awards are turning 60, and they’re throwing one hell of a party.
The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live on Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. CST, coming straight out of Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas—home turf for country music pride. Reba McEntire, who has 16 ACM wins of her own and a stage presence built for moments like this, will host the show.
Streaming exclusively on Prime Video, the ACMs are pulling out big guns for their diamond anniversary. So far, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, and Eric Church have been announced as performers, with more names rolling in soon.
This year’s nominations are already stirring conversation. Ella Langley, a first-time nominee, leads with a jaw-dropping eight nods. At the same time, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen each landed seven, staking their claims as modern-day hit machines. Kelsea Ballerini cracks into Entertainer of the Year for the first time, joining heavyweights like Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton in what’s shaping up to be the most unpredictable top category in years.
Post Malone’s name on multiple ballots? That’s not a typo—it’s 2025, and country music is stretching in every direction. First-timers, outlaws, genre-benders, and Opry darlings share space on the same stage. It’s a wild ride, and it’s only just getting started.
RELATED: Post Malone’s Path to Country Music Began Long Ago
Below is the full list of this year’s nominees—broken into Main Awards, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards—plus a few notes along the way about who’s breaking through and what to watch for come show night.
🏆 Main Awards:
Entertainer of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini makes her first appearance in the ACM’s biggest category, a long-overdue nod for the singer-songwriter who’s been quietly rewriting country pop’s rules.
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Ella Langley, a first-timer, standing next to powerhouses like Wilson and Musgraves? That’s the kind of disruptor country’s been needing.
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
The War and Treaty
A stacked category that proves ‘90s icons and next-gen traditionalists can share space — and a few stages — in 2025.
Group of the Year
Flatland Cavalry
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
New Female Artist of the Year
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
Ella Langley
Jessie Murph
This is Langley’s category to lose — but keep an eye on Dasha, who’s had a breakout year thanks to viral momentum.
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Shaboozey
Zach Top
Tucker Wetmore
Bailey Zimmerman
Shaboozey’s genre-bending approach is a quiet revolution. He’s not here to follow formulas.
New Duo or Group of the Year
Restless Road
The Red Clay Strays
Treaty Oak Revival
Album of the Year
Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney
Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Post Malone’s full crossover effort gets official recognition. “F-1 Trillion” might not win, but it changed the conversation.
Single of the Year
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green
For You
Song of the Year
“4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson
“The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green
This is Lainey Wilson’s fourth year in a row being nominated here — and the seventh overall. She’s not just on a hot streak, she’s defining a songwriting era.
Music Event of the Year
“Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Visual Media of the Year
“4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
“I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
“Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
ERNEST
HARDY
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Songwriter of the Year
Jessi Alexander
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
🎛️ Studio Recording Awards:
Bass Player of the Year
J.T. Cure
Mark Hill
Rachel Loy
Tony Lucido
Craig Young
Drummer of the Year
Fred Eltringham
Tommy Harden
Evan Hutchings
Aaron Sterling
Nir Z
Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year
Tim Galloway
Todd Lombardo
Mac McAnally
Bryan Sutton
Ilya Toshinskiy
Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year
Dave Cohen
Ian Fitchuk
Billy Justineau
Gordon Mote
Alex Wright
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
Dan Dugmore
Jenee Fleenor
Josh Matheny
Justin Schipper
Kristin Wilkinson
Electric Guitar Player of the Year
Kris Donegan
Jedd Hughes
Brent Mason
Sol Philcox-Littlefield
Derek Wells
Audio Engineer of the Year
Brandon Bell
Drew Bollman
Josh Ditty
Buckley Miller
F. Reid Shippen
Producer of the Year
Dave Cobb
Ian Fitchuk
Charlie Handsome
Jon Randall
Alysa Vanderheym
Alysa Vanderheym’s name showing up here — and across Music Event and Album nominations — proves she’s quietly becoming one of country’s most influential producers.
🏟️ Industry Awards:
Casino of the Year – Theater
Deadwood Mountain Grand – Deadwood, SD
Foxwoods Resort Casino – Mashantucket, CT
Harrah’s Cherokee – Cherokee, NC
The Theater at Virgin Hotels – Las Vegas, NV
Yaamava’ Theater – Highland, CA
Casino of the Year – Arena
Golden Nugget Lake Charles – Lake Charles, LA
Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ
Harveys Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
Mystic Lake Showroom – Prior Lake, MN
Turning Stone – Verona, NY
Festival of the Year
C2C – London, England
CMC Rocks – Queensland, Australia
Stagecoach – Indio, CA
Two Step Inn – Georgetown, TX
Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL
Fair/Rodeo of the Year
Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA
Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
Minnesota State Fair – Falcon Heights, MN
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – Houston, TX
Club of the Year
Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
Joe’s on Weed St. – Chicago, IL
Theater of the Year
The Caverns – Pelham, TN
MGM Music Hall – Boston, MA
The Met – Philadelphia, PA
The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN
Outdoor Venue of the Year
BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
CMAC – Canandaigua, NY
Saint Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
The Wharf – Orange Beach, AL
Whitewater Amphitheater – New Braunfels, TX
Arena of the Year
Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX
Moody Center – Austin, TX
TD Garden – Boston, MA
Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN
Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
Deana Baker
Bobby Clay
Gil Cunningham
Weston Hebert
Stacy Vee
Taylor Williamson
Promoter of the Year
Brent Fedrizzi
Alex Maxwell
Patrick McDill
Anna-Sophie Mertens
Rich Schaefer
Aaron Spalding
This year’s nominations say one thing loud and clear — country music isn’t settling, it’s surging. With first-timers alongside veterans, cross-genre collaborations taking center stage, and under-the-radar names suddenly leading the pack, the 2025 ACMs aren’t just celebrating tradition — they’re rewriting it.
And with Reba at the helm, expect equal parts reverence and grit. May 8 can’t get here fast enough.
