Old Dominion took home Group of the Year at the 60th ACM Awards Thursday night, making it eight wins in a row and extending their record as the most-awarded group in the category’s history. The band accepted the award from country legends The Oak Ridge Boys and delivered a speech that was part disbelief, part tribute, and all gratitude.
Frontman Matthew Ramsey stepped up to the mic, acknowledging a brief technical glitch that cut the audio as nominees were being read. “I don’t know if you heard, they mentioned Rascal Flatts, they mentioned the Red Clay Strays, they mentioned Little Big Town as well,” he said. “Some big names in this category.”
Ramsey took a moment to reflect on the show’s opening montage, which included a quick clip of Old Dominion alongside tributes to country legends. “That was pretty mind-blowing,” he said. “To be a part of this thing… to be in that fabric.”
In one of the speech’s more thoughtful moments, Ramsey singled out Rascal Flatts for blazing a trail that newer bands like his could follow. “We would not be here without you guys just trailblazing what a band can do in this business,” he said.
Then, in a subtle nod to the night’s host, Reba McEntire, Ramsey joked, “Trying to take Reba’s advice and slow down because there’s a lot going on.” The crowd laughed, but the moment landed as a sincere pause for the group to take in what eight straight wins really means.
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The band has long been known for their balance of clever songwriting and tight musicianship, often playing with genre boundaries while keeping one boot planted in country radio. Ramsey thanked fans for giving them room to do just that: “Thanks for letting us goof off and explore. We can’t wait to see you out there on the road.”
Before leaving the stage, Ramsey closed with a simple message that hit harder than any dramatic sendoff: “Just an unbelievable honor to be a part of the fabric of country music. Thank you for making us come up here and take that in eight years in a row.”
Old Dominion’s win caps off a year of continued success for the group, whose blend of arena-ready hooks and storytelling lyrics has made them a staple at both festivals and radio. With another ACM trophy in hand, they now stand as the undisputed leaders in their category—and still somehow manage to sound surprised every time their name gets called.
