Disclaimer:
This article contains editorial predictions for the 2025 ACM Awards and is for entertainment purposes only. Official winners will be announced during the live broadcast.
The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards are shaping up to be a thunderclap of old legends and new blood. And if early wins, tour grosses, and streaming stats tell us anything, Lainey Wilson is about to run the table — but she’s not the only one making noise.
Here’s where the smart money sits for country’s biggest night.
Entertainer of the Year
Predicted Winner: Lainey Wilson
Spoiler: Luke Combs
This isn’t just Lainey Wilson’s year — it’s her era. Coming off a coast-to-coast arena sweep and a Whirlwind that crashed into Billboard’s Top 10, she’s outpacing the field on pure momentum. Luke Combs remains a monster draw, but unless Wilson trips on the finish line, she will plant her flag deep in ACM history.
Female Artist of the Year
Predicted Winner: Lainey Wilson
Spoiler: Ella Langley
Wilson is country music’s no-brainer queen right now. But Ella Langley is lurking with a nine-nomination flex that demands respect. Langley could sneak one if the Academy decides to split the love — but expect Wilson to hang onto her throne.
Male Artist of the Year
Predicted Winner: Cody Johnson
Spoiler: Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson isn’t just riding radio waves — he’s bulldozing them. Stadium tours, platinum sales, and gritty hits like “Dirt Cheap” make him impossible to ignore. Chris Stapleton’s artistry is never out of style, but this year feels like the blue-collar Texan’s coronation.
Duo of the Year
Predicted Winner: Brothers Osborne
Spoiler: Dan + Shay
If country music gave out trophies for consistency and guts, Brothers Osborne would’ve built a second trophy room already. Their fierce EP and relentless touring give them the edge but don’t sleep on Dan + Shay’s crossover magnetism pulling an upset.
Group of the Year
Predicted Winner: Old Dominion
Spoiler: The Red Clay Strays
Old Dominion has built a dynasty with eight straight wins, a billion streams, and a sold-out world tour. The Red Clay Strays have the buzz, but buzz doesn’t beat belts. Not this year.
New Female Artist of the Year
Winner (Already Announced): Ella Langley
Nine nominations. A No. 1 Country Airplay single. Viral duets with Riley Green. Langley didn’t just arrive — she kicked the door down.
New Male Artist of the Year
Winner (Already Announced): Zach Top
Pure ’90s country magic with a new-school grind, Zach Top feels like the heir to George Strait’s cool. His win was practically written in neon.
New Duo or Group of the Year
Winner: The Red Clay Strays
Predicted Spoiler: The Red Clay Strays (We Called It!)
Treaty Oak Revival’s grassroots rise out of Texas had all the makings of a surprise win, but it was The Red Clay Strays who officially took home the ACM Award for New Duo or Group of the Year — just as we predicted. The win was announced Tuesday, April 29, ahead of the May 8 ACM Awards broadcast. While Treaty Oak’s momentum is undeniable, Red Clay Strays brought something a little wilder and more genre-bending to the table, pairing southern grit with swampy soul in a way that caught fire with voters. This marks a major turning point for a band that’s been grinding on their own terms, and we’re betting this is only the beginning.
Album of the Year
Predicted Winner: Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Spoiler: Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Wilson’s Whirlwind landed like a hurricane on the charts, blending outlaw grit with stadium hooks. Jelly Roll’s tear-stained redemption arc could tug at hearts, but Wilson’s technical and commercial dominance should carry her across the line.
Single of the Year
Predicted Winner: “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
Spoiler: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
Stapleton’s weathered vocals on “White Horse” feel bulletproof. But if the ACMs want a viral chart-topper moment, Shaboozey’s TikTok tidal wave could shock everyone.
Song of the Year
Predicted Winner: “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
Spoiler: “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson
Johnson’s “Dirt Cheap” is storytelling straight out of the Merle Haggard playbook — no tricks, just real life sung beautifully. Wilson’s cinematic nostalgia bomb “4x4xU” has punch, but this feels like Johnson’s moment.
The 2025 ACMs will be remembered for two things:
✅ Lainey Wilson completing her takeover.
✅ Cody Johnson punching his ticket to the top tier of country stardom.
Ella Langley’s breakout is the subplot that could redefine the next decade, while dark horses like Treaty Oak Revival hint at country’s rugged future.
If the Academy follows the heart of the genre — storytelling, touring, grit — these winners aren’t just likely.
They’re inevitable.
