The 2025 ACM Awards just announced a wave of new performers—a lineup that spans three decades of country music. But as the roster grows, so do the questions about who’s missing.
Alan Jackson, Cody Johnson, and Wynonna Judd were announced as part of the expanded list on April 24. They join an already star-stacked show that now includes Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Clint Black, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, and Rascal Flatts.
It’s a welcome mix of country legends and modern chart-toppers, with the ’90s represented heavily thanks to the additions of Jackson, Judd, Rimes, Black, and Brooks & Dunn. The ACMs are clearly aiming for cross-generational appeal in their 60th anniversary show, which airs May 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch.
Reba McEntire returns as host, marking her fourth straight year emceeing the show for Amazon and her third from The Star in Frisco, Texas—a venue fast becoming the ACM’s modern home base.
While the classic-country presence is a strong hook, it’s hard not to notice who’s been left off the performer list—at least so far.
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Despite earning multiple nominations this year, Ella Langley, Jelly Roll, and Megan Moroney are all absent from the current lineup. That’s especially glaring considering Johnson and Wilson, both big nominees, are confirmed to perform. It raises some eyebrows about whether the show is leaning too far into nostalgia at the expense of showcasing the genre’s current momentum.
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At least one song has been confirmed: Blake Shelton will perform “Texas.” Setlists for the rest of the lineup haven’t been officially revealed, though it’s expected many will stick to their current singles, just as last year’s artists did. The 2024 show included a handful of tribute segments, including a standout moment honoring Toby Keith—and with this being the 60th ACMs, it wouldn’t be surprising if more legacy tributes show up in the final program.
Cody Johnson’s inclusion is a win for fans of Red Dirt grit and arena-ready country. And having Alan Jackson back on stage adds real weight—especially as he’s been largely absent from major live TV performances in recent years. Wynonna, who continues to carry the torch for The Judds and their legacy, rounds out the trio of additions that feel more like statements than filler.
But the longer we go without seeing newer acts like Langley or Moroney confirmed, the more it feels like the ACMs are playing it safe when they could be planting a flag.
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With the CMT Awards canceled this year, the ACMs now open the country awards calendar—and how they balance honoring the past while spotlighting the future will say a lot about where the genre is headed.
Right now, the lineup is loaded. But until the next wave of performers is revealed, it’s hard not to feel like some of country’s freshest voices are still waiting for their mic check.
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