Keith Urban joined an elite group of country music legends on Thursday night (May 8), when he was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s coveted Triple Crown Award during the 60th ACM Awards.

The prestigious accolade celebrates artists who have achieved wins in three of the ACM’s most prestigious categories. Urban completed his Triple Crown journey with previous wins as ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist (2001), Male Vocalist of the Year (2005, 2006) and Entertainer of the Year (2019). He is the first artist to receive this honor during the ACM Awards since Carrie Underwood in 2010 at the 45th ACM Awards.

To mark the milestone, Urban’s impact and legacy was celebrated with a special medley of performances featuring some of today’s most acclaimed artists.

Megan Moroney – “Stupid Boy”

First to take the stage in this special portion of the show was Megan Moroney. Dressed in a dazzling white jumpsuit, the songstress strummed her rhinestone guitar and delivered Urban’s 2008 hit, “Stupid Boy.” The Australian singer/songwriter alongside his wife, Nicole Kidman who was also present in the audience, could be seen smiling and singing along to the signature tune.

Chris Stapleton – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Next up was Chris Stapleton, who perfectly captured the groovy, sultry nature of Urban’s 22nd No. 1 hit of 2016, “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” His soulful vocals soared alongside the rich accompaniment of his band, and he raised the bar even higher with an impressive run at Urban’s signature guitar riffs.

Brothers Osborne – “Where The Blacktop Ends”

Stapleton ended with a loud “we love you, Keith” before Brothers Osborne brought the party with their high-energy delivery of “Where The Blacktop Ends” off Urban’s 1991 self-titled project. This performance would not have been complete without Keith Urban jumping in to do what he does best with an electric guitar in hand.

The trio of artists ended the tribute on a lively note that had the audience dancing and singing along to in full force. The, Brothers Osborne stepped back up to the mic to officially present the “Straight Lines” singer with his award.

Urban made sure to start his acceptance speech by thanking each of the artists and their bands who helped pay tribute to him just moments before. As he looked around and took in the immense amount of love and support from the country music community, he was clearly overcome with emotion.

He took a moment to collect himself before saying, “I was to thank the ACM for this, and my wife, Nicole Mary, is here tonight. I love you baby and our girls, Sunday and Faith watching at home tonight, I love you both too. And I have a massive team that I couldn’t possibly thank by name, but I want to thank my team for working so insanely hard behind the scenes because there’s no such thing as a self-made man. I want to thank my road band and my road family and I want to say a special thanks to all the fans that have been coming out to see us play. Really appreciate it.”

Wrapping up, he shared gratitude for a few more essential groups of people and shared his excitement to head back on the road at the end of May for his headlining High and Alive World Tour.

“Country Radio, my record company, Capital Records, and the most amazing promo team out there, thank you for kicking it on ‘Straight Line.’ We’re going to be out on tour at the end of this month, High and Alive World Tour. Thank you so much. We’ll see you soon.”

Keith Urban now joins the elite list of past Triple Crown winners, which includes Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, among others.

2025 ACM Awards

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards also featured performances by Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Zach Top and Megan Moroney.

The show also included a series of collaborations and milestone moments. Wynonna Judd led a powerful 12-minute medley celebrating ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, joined by Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Sugarland, Dan + Shay, and LeAnn Rimes. Meanwhile The Backstreet Boys joined forces with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teamed up with Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn stole the show alongside Cody Johnson.

Reba McEntire hosted the two-and-a-half-hour, commercial-free event, which streamed live to a global audience in over 240 countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, direct from the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

The post Keith Urban Receives Triple Crown Award With Star-Studded Tribute At 60th ACM Awards appeared first on Country Now.

Travis Denning is ushering in a new era of music with the release of “Sick of Being Sober,” a raw, mid-tempo track that leans into his traditional country sound while highlighting his knack for heart-on-sleeve deliveries.

He served as a co-writer alongside two great friends and songwriters in their own right – Cole Taylor and Drew Parker. It all started with the hook, “that kiss is just like whiskey. I’m sick of being sober,” which led Denning to roll out a storyline that captures the intense urge to call someone you shouldn’t and admit you’re not over them.

“I liked the idea of a guy calling a girl very obviously drunk and saying he was sick of being sober from her. And so it lives in that same universe as ‘After A Few’ and those kind of songs of the, ‘we probably shouldn’t, but I really want to’ love songs,” Denning explained to Country Now.

With that idea in mind, he went on to create a steady groove that hones in on the ache of a man offering a vulnerable plea for a woman to come back to him. Denning relates the addictive connection between the couple to that of someone craving a drink as soon as the effect of alcohol wears off.

“I just want to be hungover/ Laid up hurtin’ in a bed/ Still a little drunk on every one/ Of them didn’t mean it words we said/ The second you’re out my system /You’re the first thing on my mind/ Girl your touch is what I’m missing/ What I’m wantin’ bad tonight/ I need you right here with me/ So baby come on over/ that kiss is just like whiskey and I’m sick of being sober,” he sings on the chorus.

The release of “Sick of Being Sober” also marks a few firsts for the artist, including the fact that it is the first track he has ever released with pedal steel, a signature country element that added a new texture to his evolving sound. It’s also self-produced, a move that reflects the creative freedom Travis Denning is embracing as an independent artist.

“It is a little bit more just kind of traditionally country leaning. It’s the train beat. Some things I’ve really never done from a production standpoint, a little less on the rock side and all that. And I self-produced this song as well. So that’s just been a lot of fun.”

With both this song and his previous release, “Where’d That Boy Go,” Denning took a very hands-on approach in the sense that he “literally did everything,” and it was not an easy process.

He admits, “I think what made that so I’d say difficult, more just kind of really stressful was it was my first time ever doing that and I just so badly wanted to get it under my belt and knock it off the checklist of things I’ve wanted to accomplish. And once it was done and out and all the people I look up to, especially their opinions, that it sounded good, I was like, oh, okay, cool. I guess I maybe know what I’m doing a little bit.”

Before the release of “Where’d That Boy Go,” Denning hadn’t put music out for about 10 months, so he felt it fitting to choose this title to be his first new drop after the hiatus.

“We just wrote that song and I knew immediately it was going to be the first thing I’d put out independently.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travis Denning (@travisrdenning)

This biggest thing that has come from his new journey as an independent artist, has been a newfound freedom to be able to do and make whatever he wants whenever he wants. While he’s thankful to have never “butted heads” creatively with his old label, he’s now able to have the flexibility to roll out merch, content, music and more as he sees fit.

“I think that’s just really nice to not have to go through the red tape, not have to stand in line, not have to get on the calendar, and all these things that go into being a part of a really big label with a bunch of artists,” he explained. “I mean, now it’s just me, myself and I. So that is something that’s really great.”

The first example of this freedom is the fact that both of his latest releases came out closer together than he’s ever put out music before. And he hopes to continue “shrinking that gap” moving forward.

“If the music is there and is demanding to come out, then I want it out asap,” he revealed.

Aside from focusing on his music, Travis Denning is preparing to welcome his first child with his wife Madison. They are due to welcome a baby girl in July, a midst a busy summer of touring for Denning.

The post Travis Denning Talks ‘Sick Of Being Sober’ And A New Era Of Independence [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

Last night, while many members of the country music community got dressed to the nines and enjoyed a night out in Texas for the 60^th Academy of Country Music Awards, Lauren Alaina was watching the celebration from the comfort of her home. While the first-time mom-to-be was happy to see so many of her friends earn trophies she couldn’t help but feel sadness for what she was missing out on.

In a vulnerable new video, which she shared to Instagram after watching the show, Alaina gets real about the reality of working so hard to achieve her dreams, and still feeling left behind in the industry she loves.

“First of all, I just want to say I’m at home watching the ACMs and I’m so proud of everyone tonight. Everyone that’s performed, everyone that’s won, I get so excited for everyone because I have the same dream and I want to be there, and I want to be getting these awards and having these performances and presenting the awards when I’m home, 37 weeks pregnant. So I’m home this year, and I just want to be honest about something. I’m feeling left out. I’m feeling sad.”

While her life has seen some incredibly big changes over the past year, as she’s lost loved ones, gotten married and is now expecting her first child, this feeling is nothing new to her. Alaina goes on to admit that with the current state of the music industry, she has become too familiar with the constant pressure to stay visible and relevant in an era that demands so much more than just the music.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Alaina (@laurenalaina)

Her emotional message reveals both a longing to inspire her soon-to-be-born daughter and the mental toll of trying to keep up.

“I’m feeling so many feelings because I have this little girl in here and I want her to dream big, and I want her to believe in herself and go for whatever she wants to do. And the last couple of years have been a year of transition for me with music and all these things,” she explains honestly. “And I just feel like kind of left behind because I’ve got to create all this content and do all these things to try to have these moments online. And it’s not just about writing music and putting songs out anymore, you have to do all these other things. And I really just feel out of, I don’t know, I’m probably going to regret even posting this.”

An Important Reminder To Others

The “Those Kind Od Women” singer concludes her vulnerable video by sending a reminder to others that if they have or are experiencing something similar, they are not alone. Her words are offers a dose of powerful encouragement to anyone who’s ever felt stuck on the sidelines.

“I just want to say if there’s someone out there who has a big dream and you feel like people are getting in front of you and ahead of you, and it’s not a competition, but if you feel like you want to be somewhere and you’re not there, I see you and I feel you.”

Alaina assures her listeners that the emotions she was feeling in that moment were not due to the baby she’s currently growing, because she felt the same way last year when she did not attend the 2024 ACM Awards. It’s been a bittersweet experience to see so many of her friends and fellow songwriters get their well-deserved recognition, but at the same time she can’t help but wish she was one of those artists being celebrated for their hard work.

“I just desperately want to be there, and I want to be up for these awards and being able to even present the awards and walk the carpet and be with my friends, and I’m just feeling sad and excited because like I said, some of my dearest friends in the industry are there and they’re winning. And I know what that means to them because that’s what I want as well. And I don’t want them not to have that.”

Finding Understanding In Fellow Artists

Her comment section was flooded with fellow artists sharing that they completely understand where Alaina is coming from and thanking her for the vulnerability.

Ashley Cooke wrote, “love you and thank you for being vulnerable. this is everything.”

Caylee Hammack said, “I wrote a song about this exact feeling, thank you for sharing this bc it’s a weird feeling & I feel seen in this post 🧡”

“I love you, Junior. ❤️” added Trisha Yearwood.

“💙I feel you sister, it’s a roller coaster ride for sure,” said Priscilla Block.

Lauren Alaina just wrapped up her time on the road for Rascal Flatts’ 25^th Anniversary Life Is A Highway Tour. With her little girl set to arrive on May 29^th, she will not be touring throughout the summer, nor will she make an appearance at Nashville’s annual CMA Fest this year.

The post Lauren Alaina Gets Real About Watching the ACM Awards From Home: ‘I’m Feeling Left Out’ appeared first on Country Now.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, Naomi Johnson is sharing her new song “Mama Ain’t Jesus.” The heartfelt, soaring country ballad, out today Friday, (May 9), follows “Bricks Make Houses,” one of three solo tracks the singer/songwriter has released since parting ways with Runaway June in 2022. 

Inspired by her traumatic birth story, “Mama Ain’t Jesus” is a raw and emotional track that captures the unconditional love and special bond between a mother and her child. The introspective tune finds Johnson looking at her life with a deeper lens and a new perspective. 

The lyrics to “Mama Ain’t Jesus” play out like a love letter to her daughter as she reflects on her imperfections and rebellious nature, singing “I cuss sometimes” and “I’ve told some lies,” but despite all that, “I pray for you every single night.” 

“I love you more than the stars can shine / No, I ain’t perfect all the time / But I’ll be there when you need me / If trouble ever comes your way / I sure as hell won’t hesitate / I keep that loaded .45 for a reason / Mama ain’t Jesus,” Johnson pledges. 

Listen

The Raw Truth Behind The Story

Opening up about the meaning behind “Mama Ain’t Jesus,” Johnson told Country Now the song “is really about the duality of a mother” as mothers everywhere don’t have a blueprint on how to raise their children but are willing to go to great lengths to ensure their child’s safety at all costs.  

“You see these women, and they kind of look soft and vulnerable and helpless, but then right behind that is someone that will go to war or do anything for their children,” she shared, adding, “I almost lost my life giving birth to [my daughter]…I had this realization after I gave birth to her that a lot of women have died during childbirth. I could’ve been one of those women…. When I realized that, it was like I wanted to write something that meant something, that she could learn who I am as a mom, a wife, a friend, and an artist. This song is me telling her, ‘I’m not perfect.’ She’s going to find that out, but the other side of me is also lethal momma. I will literally kill someone for her. She has made something come alive in me that I didn’t know was there before.” 

Johnson On How Motherhood Has Changed Her Songwriting

Johnson co-wrote “Mama Ain’t Jesus” with Brad Clawson and Brandon Day. She co-produced the tune alongside Josh Kelley and Dustin Christensen. The stripped-down acoustic-driven track with soft percussion offers a glimpse into the direction Johnson is going for as she continues to unveil more songs that will be part of a larger project. 

“People hear other artists say, having kids changes the way they write music. I didn’t expect it to hit me that hard when I had [my daughter],” Johnson acknowledges. “It changes everything. It changed the music that I started to write. It made me realize that it is important that I’m super honest, raw, and truthful. I don’t sugarcoat things anymore. I tell my story no matter if people are going to relate to it and think it’s too crazy, or not believe me, or whatever. I know it’s important to tell the truth so people can get to know me better and particularly my daughter. If I were to pass away giving birth to her and she went on to Spotify or Apple to hear my music, she wouldn’t have known who I was as an artist, a mother, a friend, or a wife. So that birth experience was the catalyst for me to go, ‘Okay. No more hiding behind anything.’” 

Johnson and her husband, Martin Johnson — the frontman of The Night Game and Boys Like Girls — welcomed their first child, a daughter, into the world in 2023. Though the name of their daughter has not been released, Johnson has been open about her labor experience.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Naomi Johnson (@naomijohnson)

A Traumatic Birth Story

On social media, at the time of her delivery in a post that has since been removed, Johnson captioned, “I started with a planned home water birth. Me And 9 of my siblings were born at home, 5 of us in a bathtub, and it was important to me to give my child a similar birth experience. After an unexpected 60 hours of labor, complications arose, and I ended up delivering at the hospital.” 

She went on to address the midwives and surgeons, thanking them for helping deliver her “healthy, beautiful baby.”

“Childbirth is an incredible rite of passage for a woman. I’m proud to have made the journey and honored to be holding the ultimate reward,” she wrote.

Biggest Challenges As A Parent

Johnson’s daughter will soon be two years old, meaning the powerhouse songstress has experienced plenty of new challenges as a mother. She says, “I think the biggest surprise for me becoming a parent was, I didn’t realize, it’s so sink or swim.” 

“A child shows you your greatest strengths and your weaknesses,” she continued. “My weaknesses have been, you know, I’m a little flaky, late to everything… a little disorganized. But when you have a kid, and you want to be a good parent, you have to button that up. I’ve gotten so much better as a person. I’ve become more professional and timely. You don’t put yourself first anymore. It makes life so much better not having to be the center.”

“I used to be more anxious and worried, more depressed when I was just thinking about myself all the time. That was the biggest surprise. I know I would love this person, but I didn’t expect her to make me improve myself so much.” 

Full-Length Album Coming At A Later Date

“Mama Ain’t Jesus” and “Bricks Make Houses,” give fans a first look into a full-length album that Johnson plans to share with fans at a later date. And she says sharing her story with the world through lyrics has been years in the making. 

“I’m a little over halfway done with it,” she shared of the forthcoming project, which she says will be ‘autobiographical.’ “Gosh, I’m so excited to get this out into the world. I think there will be 17 songs on it. It’s an autobiographical record with the whole story…. I am Cherokee Indian on my dad’s side and I’ve never put any time of heritage into my music before, and I’m very proud of that. So I’ve done that in this album. It’s been incredible diving into that. It’s been amazing. So those are some hints to the album.” 

Mother’s Day Plans

As for Mother’s Day, Johnson says her sole focus is finishing up her album, which is being recorded in Utah. However, she knows her husband, whom she wed in July of 2021, will be on hand to make her day special. 

“I’m focused on making this record. It’s taking up a ton of time between that and being a mom…I don’t have any [Mother’s Day plans] right now.”

“My husband always gets me a spa day, that girly stuff I love!” she added. “He’s out of the country right now in Asia. So he’ll be home shortly after Mother’s Day, so we’ll probably do a dinner date and he always gets me a spa day, which is nice. I love a spa!”

The post Naomi Johnson Reveals How The Reality Of Motherhood Led To The Personal Song, ‘Mama Ain’t Jesus’ [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

Ella Langley made history as the winningest artist of the night at the 60th ACM Awards, taking home an impressive five trophies. Langley was awarded ACM New Female Artist of the Year, as well as ACM Single of the Year, ACM Music Event of the Year, and ACM Visual Media of the Year (as an artist and producer) for her song “you look like you love me” with Riley Green.

The Alabama native was surprised with her trophy for ACM New Female Artist of the Year at Rock The Country in Knoxville, TN on Friday, April 25. The news was delivered via a video message from Miranda Lambert. 

“Every day of my life, I’ve just prayed about this and thought about it, and literally everything I’ve ever done was to be able to do this. I’m so grateful for the team I have around me,” Langley said. “I’m just really grateful to have fans that are listening to the music and see that it is truth and I’m just a real life human being going through life like the rest of everyone else, and to see the things that I go through is something that everyone else goes through.”

During the show, Langley took home Single of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Riley Green.

“I am still out of breath a little and I feel like I kind of have been since this song came out. I grew up, and I know all three of us did, we grew up on classic country with a lot of talking in it…Conway Twitty, Johnny Lee, David Allen Cole. This song really changed it for me as a songwriter, it taught me to just not care so much and write what you love and write what feels good,” she stated from the stage. “And I couldn’t have done it without Will Bundy producing it. And obviously Riley Green writing a second verse.” 

Later in the show, they were presented with the trophy for Music Event of the Year. 

“I was so stunned up here last time. I literally blacked out. I have no idea what I said…Something about Conway Twitty, I think, I don’t know this time,” she began. “First off, I want to start off by thanking God. This is his thing I’ve wanted to do my whole life. I’ve never wanted to do anything else and in dark times I know that he has put this passion on my heart for a reason.” 

She admitted she was “still flabbergasted” before thanking her team and her fans. 

The ACM winner was “on cloud nine” at the end of the night. In addition to winning five trophies, she also turned heads with two performances, including “Weren’t For The Wind” and a surprise appearance alongside Miranda Lambert in celebration of the 20th anniversary of “Kerosene.” 

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards also featured performances by Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini and Megan Moroney.

The show also featured a series of collaborations and milestone moments. Wynonna Judd led a powerful 12-minute medley celebrating ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, joined by Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Sugarland, Dan + Shay, and LeAnn Rimes. Meanwhile The Backstreet Boys joined forces with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teamed up with Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn stole the show alongside Cody Johnson.

Reba McEntire hosted the two-and-a-half-hour, commercial-free event, which streamed live to a global audience in over 240 countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, direct from the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

The post Ella Langley Dominates the 60th ACM Awards With Five Wins appeared first on Country Now.

Shaboozey and Jelly Roll delivered one of the most powerful moments of the night at the 2025 ACM Awards with a soul-stirring performance of their new collaboration, “Amen.”

Mid-way through the event, ERNEST took to the stage to introduce Jelly Roll, who first appeared solo to showcase his new single, “Heart of Stone,” off his Beautifully Broken record. As soon as he and his band wrapped the upbeat tune, the camera shifted to reveal Shaboozey dressed in a tan, fringe ensemble on the b-stage.

He delivered the opening lines of their spiritual tune while being joined by a choir of stunning harmonies that filled the room. Jelly Roll then came back into the picture, working his way through the audience and stopping to hug fellow stars like Wynonna Judd and Lainey Wilson before joining his duet partner on stage.

Blending their distinct vocal styles, the duo delivered a gritty, soul-baring anthem that captures a late-night plea for mercy from someone pushed to their limit. The lyrics paint a picture of sleepless nights, drinking until “I can’t see straight”, and a desperate search for something to believe in.

“Somebody say a prayer for me/ ‘Cause the pills ran out and I still can’t sleep/ Somebody send a word upstairs/ ‘Cause the bar’s shut down and I’m God knows where/ So should knock on Heaven’s door/ ‘Cause mine ain’t working anymore/ Somebody say a prayer for me/ All I’m asking for is a little mercy, Amen,” they sing on the chorus.

At the end, Jelly Roll left the audience with a spiritual message about God’s grace and made sure to wish Shaboozey a happy 30^th birthday.

“Not sure how any birthday will ever top this – performing on national TV with my brother @jellyroll615 at the ACMs!!,” the artist wrote on social media in a post recapping the night.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boozey (@shaboozey)

Shaboozey was a first-time nominee at this year’s ACM Awards. He received a nomination for New Male Artist of the Year as well as Single of the Year for “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Meanwhile, Jelly Roll earned nods for Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for his record, Beautifully Broken.

This isn’t the first time the pair of artists have worked together. They also previously hit the road together in 2024 when Shaboozey served as an opening act on Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Tour. More recently, the “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” singer made a surprise appearance during Jelly Roll’s Stagecoach set to perform their just-released collaboration, “Amen.”

The new single appears on the deluxe version of Shaboozey’s RIAA Platinum-certified breakthrough album, Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going, which arrived April 25.

“Amen” marks one of six collaborations on the entire 18 track-collection, the other new additions being Myles Smith and Sierra Ferrell. Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going: The Complete Edition features a total of six brand-new songs by the multi-Platinum recording artist.

2025 ACM Awards

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards featured performances by Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini and Megan Moroney.

Additionally, the show delivered an unforgettable series of collaborations and milestone moments. Wynonna Judd led a powerful 12-minute medley celebrating ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, joined by Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Sugarland, Dan + Shay, and LeAnn Rimes. Meanwhile The Backstreet Boys joined forces with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teamed up with Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn stole the show alongside Cody Johnson.

New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top also took the stage for standout performances, while Keith Urban was honored with the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, with special tributes from Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, and Megan Moroney.

Gabby Barrett, Clint Black, Jordan Davis, Gretchen Wilson, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Sugarland, Little Big Town, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Sara Evans, Parker McCollum, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Lionel Richie were among the night’s many presenters.

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards streamed live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. 

The post Jelly Roll And Shaboozey Unite For Powerful Performance Of ‘Amen’ At ACM Awards appeared first on Country Now.

Lainey Wilson had a big night at the 60^th Academy of Country Music Awards, which took place on Thursday, May 8 in Frisco, Texas. Not only did she walk away with multiple trophies, she also got to celebrate it all with her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, by her side.

The couple turned heads on the red carpet as they stepped out in sleek matching black attires. The former NFL player kept it simple with a black suit, white button-down and no tie, but added a bit of flare with his shiny belt buckle and black Stetson. Meanwhile, Wilson sported an elevated version of her signature bell bottoms that included a black lace jacket with floral appliqués, cutouts around her waist and a train that flowed along the carpet.

@countrynow.com Ain’t no where I’d rather be than at the @ACM Awards with @Lainey Wilson and her fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges❤️#acmawards #laineywilson ♬ 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson

First ACM Red Carpet As An Engaged Couple

She and Duck made their first red carpet together during the 2023 ACM Awards, shortly after fans began speculating about their relationship. The real buzz started when Wilson wore a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey on stage—matching the number Hodges wore during his time as quarterback in 2019. That moment became a sweet nod to their romance, which she confirmed not long after.

“Yeah, we’ve been together four years but I made him wait for two until I introduced him to the public,” Wilson joked in a backstage interview with Country Now.

Lainey Wilson went into the coveted evening with seven nominations under her belt, and one early win for Artist-Songwriter of the Year, which she earned just one day prior to the show. She’s was vying for a win in the categories of Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”), Visual Media of the Year (“4x4xU”), and the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.

Wins For Female Vocalist And Album Of The Year

By the end of the evening, the “4x4xU” singer had racked up four awards and made some ACM history along the way. She started off by winning Female Artist of the Year for the third year in a row, making her the first artist to achieve that feat since Miranda Lambert won nine years in a row from 2010-18.

“I just want to say to every single one of these girls in this category, I couldn’t do this without y’all. I couldn’t. This is a wild ride and it’s nice to be able to have people to call and relate to, and I’m so proud of every single one of y’all, y’all are whooping butt. The girls are kicking down some barn doors and I like it,” Wilson said in her acceptance speech, celebrating her fellow nominees – Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves.

Her name was then called for Album of the Year with her fan-favorite project, Whirlwind. She previously took home the award for her album Bell Bottom Country. As a result, she is now the seventh artist in ACM history to win the category for two consecutive studio albums and is one of only three female solo artists to earn the title more than once, joining Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves.

Lainey Wilson Named ACM Entertainer Of The Year

To cap it all off, Lainey Wilson took home Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row. She’s the first artist to score back-to-back awards in that category since Jason Aldean’s three-year streak from 2016-18. Additionally, she’s the first female to do so since Taylor Swift achieved consecutive Entertainer of the Year titles in 2009 and 2010.

After giving a shoutout to her fellow nominees in the category – Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen, the Louisiana native got real with the audience.

“I will tell you this, I’m sure everybody deals with a little bit of imposter syndrome, but I won’t lie to you, I have a little bit. I read something not long ago that just said, ‘if something is given to you, then you need to accept it with an open heart and open mind.’ And I just appreciate it. I really do have the best fans in the world,” she shared humbly.

The songstress then took a moment to reflect on how she got to this point, starting in her childhood when her dreams of entertaining truly began.

“I was thinking about it earlier this morning. I was just trying to wrap my head around today and I remember my parents had this old hunting spotlight that we used to take off the charger all the time. And my sister would turn all the lights off in the house and she would shine the spotlight on me as I was running back and forth across the living room. And I dreamed about entertaining. I love making people feel things. I love making people laugh and smile and cry. I’m sorry. I like to make you cry because I love to feel things. Everybody loves to feel things.”

In conclusion, Wilson shared, “Country music has given me more than I deserve. And I appreciate everybody in this room. My heart is so full. Thank you so much. God bless every single one of y’all. I don’t even know what else to say.”

Unforgettable Performances

In between claiming her wins, Wilson took the stage multiple times, first to perform solo with the title track to her award-winning album, “Whirlwind.” Later in the night she reappeared alongside fellow country queens Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert for an unforgettable delivery of their new single, “Trailblazer.”

With show-stopping performances, four new trophies in hand, and her biggest supporter by her side, Lainey Wilson’s night at the 60th ACM Awards was one for the books. 

2025 ACM Awards

The milestone award show was hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

Throughout the evening, viewers watched a slew of star-studded performances by Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini and Megan Moroney.

Additionally, the show delivered an unforgettable series of collaborations and milestone moments. Wynonna Judd led a powerful 12-minute medley celebrating ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, joined by Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Sugarland, Dan + Shay, and LeAnn Rimes. Meanwhile The Backstreet Boys joined forces with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teamed up with Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn stole the show alongside Cody Johnson.

New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top also took the stage for standout performances, while Keith Urban was honored with the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, with special tributes from Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, and Megan Moroney.

Gabby Barrett, Clint Black, Jordan Davis, Gretchen Wilson, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Sugarland, Little Big Town, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Sara Evans, Parker McCollum, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Lionel Richie were among the night’s many presenters.

The 60th ACM Awards streamed live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. 

The post Inside Lainey Wilson’s Big Night At The 2025 ACM Awards With Fiancé Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges appeared first on Country Now.

Miranda Lambert, who remains the winningest artist in ACM Awards history, returned to the ACM stage on Thursday for a powerful two-song performance and had quite the surprise up her sleeve: a special guest appearance from newly crowned ACM New Female Artist of the Year, Ella Langley. 

Lambert first took the stage to perform her latest single, “Run.” Donning a hot pink fringe jacket and jeans with coordinating hot pink embellishments, the Texas native delivered a goosebumps-inducing rendition of the emotional ballad. 

“Run” is a deeply personal song Miranda Lambert wrote a decade ago, but as she recently told Kelleigh Bannen on Today’s Country Radio, it took years before she felt emotionally ready to record it.

“I wasn’t ever ready to perform it until now… That’s what songs are for, and you may not be ready at that one time to sing about something really raw or sing about alimony. You might be going through divorce or whatever, you know what I mean? At the time it might not be funny or at the time it might feel too raw, but then it can come back around,” she said. “And it’s an admission of human error too. It’s an apology… But it’s also a resolve.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Prime Video (@primevideo)

After performing “Run,” which is featured on her latest album, Post Cards From Texas, Lambert surprised the audience by welcoming Ella Langley to join her for a performance of her career-changing single, “Kerosene.” 

“I cannot believe this, but my very first album, Kerosene, turned 20 years old this year,” Lambert shared from the stage before introducing Langley.

Langley threw it back to 2005 by rocking a “Mama Tried” tank top and jeans on stage — a tribute to Miranda Lambert’s iconic “Kerosene” music video look.

The crowd went wild as the pair of female artists joined forces for the fiery performance. 

Lambert and Langley have formed a tight friendship in recent months. Langley previously opened up about their friendship in an interview with Country Now and admitting that she is one of her longtime inspirations. 

“I mean, just growing up listening to Miranda Lambert, she hates when I say that, but she’s been an inspiration for me. I think Miranda has always just done what she wanted to do and the way that she’s wanted to do it. And she doesn’t really take a lot of crap and she kind of just is herself a hundred percent of the time,” she noted. “And I look up to women like that and we definitely need a lot of ’em like that.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

This performance was just one of many memorable moments that took place on the ACM Awards stage. Lainey Wilson, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Zach Top, Eric Church, and more also took the stage throughout the night. 

Several collaborations also took place, including Jelly Roll teaming up with Shaboozey for “Amen,” Cody Johnson and Brooks & Dunn joining forces to perform “Red Dirt Road,” and Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys uniting for a show-closing performance of “What Hurts the Most,” “I Dare You,” “Larger Than Life,” and “Life is a Highway.”

Additionally, Lambert returned to the stage with Reba McEntire and Lainey Wilson to debut their song “Trailblazer.” 

Reba McEntire hosted the two-and-a-half-hour, commercial-free event, which streamed live to a global audience in over 240 countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, direct from the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

The post WATCH: Miranda Lambert Surprises With Ella Langley ‘Kerosene’ Duet After Emotional ‘Run’ At ACM Awards appeared first on Country Now.

Cody Johnson and his wife Brandi had a very exciting surprise to share when they stepped onto the red carpet for the 60^th Academy of Country Music Awards. While posing for photos, Brandi was seen cradling a growing baby bump, revealing the couple is expecting.

With a big smile on his face, the Texas native donned a plaid sports coat, blue jeans and white button-up, a look that wouldn’t be complete without his cowboy boots and cowboy hat. His beautiful other half on his arm offered true elegance in her floor-length one shoulder silk gown and glamorous earrings.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

The couple is currently proud parents to their two daughters Clara Mae, who was born in 2015 and Cori, who arrived in 2017. Soon, they will be a family of five with the addition of their newest family member who a member of his team confirmed will be their first baby boy.

Johnson and his wife’s love story goes all the way back to their teenage years. Brandi was first to lay eyes on the former professional bull rider and four years later, she caught his attention and the finally got to meet. Things moved pretty fast between them from there, as they promptly moved in together one month after their first date and got engaged one year later. The pair tied the knot in 2008.

Johnson Takes Home ACM Song Of The Year

Their appearance at the 2025 ACM Awards was a special one. Johnson went into the night the most nominated Texas artist with seven nods, which marks the most ACM nominations he’s received in one single year. He’s also tied with Morgan Wallen for the most nominations of any male artist this year.

The “That’s Texas” singer is recognized in the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Dirt Cheap”), Single of the Year (“Dirt Cheap”), and Music Event of the Year (“I’m Gonna Love You”). Plus, he is competing with himself for Visual Media of the Year with his duet with Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You” as well as “Dirt Cheap.”

So far, he has claimed the win for Song Of the Year with the powerful storytelling of “Dirt Cheap.” As he stepped up to the mic to accept the trophy, Cody Johnson reflected on his musical journey and then gave the floor to the song’s sole writer, Josh Phillips.

“I feel like Ronnie Dunn just a minute ago, whenever he was said he was betting on the people backstage. I literally said, well, she’s got it, or she’s got it or he’s got it,” he admitted. “I started as a songwriter in Texas and I came to Nashville and got a publishing deal because what I wanted to be was a songwriter and I didn’t know that it was going to be a career where I get to record the greatest song country music written by some of the best songwriters in the world…God bless you. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Set To Perform With Brooks & Dunn

Along with his impressive list of nominations Johnson has been tapped to perform Brooks & Dunn’s iconic hit, “Red Dirt Road,” alongside the best-selling duo. The collaborative version appears on Brooks & Dunn’s first-ever entirely collaborative project, REBOOT, which was unveiled in 2019.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Johnson admitted, “I think my favorite part of playing ‘Red Dirt Road’ with Brooks & Dunn is the fact that it’s not the original, that it’s kind of a broken down acoustic thing. All the guitar signatures are different. And me and my band play it every now and then on stage, just us, so it kind of feels like it’s part of our career now. So I think that’s my favorite part of it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

2025 ACM Awards Performance Lineup

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards featured performances by Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini and Megan Moroney.

Additionally, the show delivered an unforgettable series of collaborations and milestone moments. Wynonna Judd led a powerful 12-minute medley celebrating ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, joined by Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Sugarland, Dan + Shay, and LeAnn Rimes. Meanwhile The Backstreet Boys joined forces with Rascal Flatts and Jelly Roll teamed up with Shaboozey.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top also took the stage for standout performances, while Keith Urban was honored with the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, with special tributes from Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, and Megan Moroney.

Gabby Barrett, Clint Black, Jordan Davis, Gretchen Wilson, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Sugarland, Little Big Town, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Sara Evans, Parker McCollum, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Lionel Richie were among the night’s many presenters.

How To Watch

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. 

The show aired from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

The post Cody Johnson And Wife Brandi Debut Baby Bump On ACM Awards Red Carpet appeared first on Country Now.

Here’s a look at every winner from the 2025 ACM Awards. Winners in select categories, including New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year, and New Duo or Group of the Year, were announced ahead of the star-studded show.

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award winner and entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live around the world on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. The show will be available exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, broadcasting from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas — the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

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

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Kelsea Ballerini 
• Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney 
• Kacey Musgraves 
• Lainey Wilson – WINNER

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
• Cody Johnson
• Jelly Roll
• Chris Stapleton – WINNER
• Morgan Wallen

DUO OF THE YEAR

• Brooks & Dunn  – WINNER
• Brothers Osborne  
• Dan + Shay  
• Muscadine Bloodline
• The War And Treaty 

GROUP OF THE YEAR

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

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Kassi Ashton 
• Ashley Cooke 
• Dasha
• Ella Langley – WINNER 
• Jessie Murph

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Gavin Adcock
• Shaboozey
• Zach Top – WINNER
• Tucker Wetmore
• Bailey Zimmerman

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Restless Road
• The Red Clay Strays – WINNER
• Treaty Oak Revival

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney

Producer: Kristian Bush

Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville

• Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll

Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder,  Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym

Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records

• Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top

Producer: Carson Chamberlain

Record Company-Label: Leo33

• F-1 Trillion – Post Malone

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson – WINNER

Producer: Jay Joyce

Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey 

Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry

Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson 

Producer: Trent Willmon

Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen 

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• White Horse – Chris Stapleton

Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton

Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER

Producer: Will Bundy

Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson

Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson

Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent

• The Architect – Kacey Musgraves

Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne

Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson – WINNER

Songwriter: Josh Phillips

Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak

Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing; Universal Music Corporation

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green

Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Cowboys Cry Too – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan

Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym

Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

• I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

• I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

Producer: Trent Willmon

Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

• we don’t fight anymore – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton

Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER

Producer: Will Bundy

Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson

Producer: Jennifer Ansell

Director: Dano Cerny

• Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson

Producer: Dustin Haney

Director: Dustin Haney 

• I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry

Director: Dustin Haney

• Think I’m In Love With You – Chris Stapleton

Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis

Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)

• you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER 

Producer: Whale Tale Music

Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
• ERNEST 
• HARDY 
• Morgan Wallen 
• Lainey Wilson – WINNER 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Jessi Alexander
• Jessie Jo Dillon – WINNER 
• Ashley Gorley 
• Chase McGill 
• Josh Osborne 

The post 2025 ACM Awards Winners List appeared first on Country Now.

Gretchen Wilson has officially claimed the Golden Mask Trophy as the winner of “The Masked Singer” Season 13.

With her identity hidden behind the elaborate sea-themed character known as “Pearl,” Wilson wowed both the audience and judges with eight standout performances throughout the season.

She kept judges Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, Rita Ora, and Robin Thicke, along with host Nick Cannon, throwing out a variety of incorrect guests until the very end. Then, following her final performance, Thicke correctly identified “Pearl” as Gretchen Wilson.

“This is without a doubt the craziest thing I ever agreed to do, and it ended up being one of the most rewarding,” Gretchen shared after taking home the grand title. “The cast and crew were some of the craziest people I’ve ever worked with, and they all became like family.”

Each week, “Pearl” took the stage to deliver a wide range of song choices that kept the panel scratching their heads. She effortlessly shifted from Dolly Parton to Whitney Houston, grooved through Gloria Estefan’s “Conga,” rocked out to Blue Öyster Cult and The Outfield, and brought the house down and landed a spot in the Top four with her rendition of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.”

Gretchen Wilson got closer to claiming the trophy with KT Tunstell’s “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” and then delivered her final performance of the season, “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders.

While the “Redneck Woman” singer revealed that Pearl is “safely back in the ocean” her iconic blue ombre gloves could make an appearance on the ACM Awards red carpet tonight.

Brian Kelley’s Identity Also Unveiled In Final Episode

Gretchen Wilson wasn’t the only country star who made a stand-out appearance on this season of “The Masked Singer.” Brian Kelley, former half of country duo Florida Georgia Line, also showcased his talent under the identity of the “Mad Scientist Monster.”

The four panelists threw out a slew of country star names such as Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, and Blake Shelton but fans were quick to put the pieces together thanks to the performances and clues that were personal to his life story. During the Season’s final episode, Kelley was finally unmasked after many incorrect guesses.

Both artists are set to make an appearance at tonight’s star-powered show.  

Wilson has been announced as the presenter for the coveted “Female Artist of the Year Award,” 20 years after winning the same award and “Top New Artist of the Year.” She will take the stage at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys to announced the winner and celebrate a fellow female artist.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gretchen Wilson (@gretchenwilson27)

This full circle moment will take place during the show’s milestone 60^th anniversary. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. 

The post Gretchen Wilson Crowned Season 13 Winner Of ‘The Masked Singer’ appeared first on Country Now.

Country Thunder, North America’s leading country music festival, made its highly anticipated debut in Tampa, FL with a weekend full of superstar headliners, rising talent, line dancing, delicious eats and nonstop fun. From sunup to sundown, the 2025 event brought the heat for an unforgettable three-day celebration of country music featuring headliners Riley Green, Blake Shelton and Jelly Roll.

Fans came from near and far to attend this year’s festival which was held on the grounds just outside the Raymond James Stadium from May 2-4. Day one kicked off strong with rising stars Kevin Smiley, Abby Anderson, Owen Riegling and Dillon Carmichael, warming up the crowds with their feel-good anthems and authentic storytelling.

By the time ACM New Female Artist of the Year Ella Langley and Riley Green hit the stage for their respective sets, the energy was electric as the crowd sang every word and danced their hearts out.

Langley packed in fan-favorites off her latest project like “Weren’t For The Wind,” “Better Be Tough,” “Nicotine,” “20-20,” “Paint The Town Blue” and more before Green stepped out with his own collection of fast-rising tracks.

He kicked things off with his No. 1 hit, “Different ‘Round Here,” and kept the energy high with “Damn Good Day To Leave,” “Half Of Me” and more. In the midst of his set, Green traded his baseball cap for a cowboy hat and paid tribute to the late Toby Keith with classics such as “Courtesy of the Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)” and “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” during which he welcomed Dillon Carmichael back to the stage.

Riley Green And Ella Langley Surprised With ACM Win

A big highlight of the night came following his performance of the hit duet, “You Look Like You Love Me” with Ella Langley when the pair of artists were surprised with a very special video message from Reba McEntire. The country music icon informed them they had just won ACM Visual Media of the Year for their collaboration ahead of the 2025 award show.

“Reba? What?” Langley said with shock in her voice before giving a special shoutout to the music video directors, John Park and Wales Toney.

As the first of three nights concluded, many concert goers headed out to get a good night’s sleep before day two, however, those who weren’t ready to call it a day headed inside the Electric Thunder tent for a rowdy afterparty hosted by DJ Griffin Green.

Day Two Brought Heartfelt Stories And Rowdy Sing-Alongs

As soon as the gates opened at noon on Saturday, fans began to flood inside the grounds, making their way to the other experiences and branded activities the festival had to offer before the first artist of the day, Angie K, kicked things off.  

The Kentucky Headhunters, Bayker Blankenship and Chayce Beckham followed Angie K’s performance, setting the tone for the night’s biggest acts, Jake Owen and Blake Shelton. Owen, being a Florida native, expressed the utmost pride for getting to perform in his home state and made sure to treat the crowd to a high-energy set of tunes that rounded out with his final delivery – “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”

“Anytime I get to come back to the sunny homeland of Florida, it’s always really fulfilling and being here tonight with Blake Shelton, you get the Blake and Jake show,” Owen joked in an interview with Country Now before predicting, “we’re gonna have fun.”

Blake Shelton Owned The Stage

For nearly 90 minutes, Shelton made the stage his own, showcasing his signature charm and powerhouse vocals while effortlessly blending party anthems like his collaboration with Post Malone, “Pour Me A Drink,” and “Texas” with heartfelt tracks including “Nobody But You” and “Honey Bee.” The Oklahoma native also took a trip back in time to celebrate timeless country music with a medley of classics like George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live In Texas.”

“I’m absolutely honored to have been here singing for you guys tonight. Thank you so much for having us, everybody. I love this place, man,” he yelled to the massive crowd.  

Shelton’s set felt like a backyard hangout with thousands of your closest friends, serving as a reminder of why he remains one of country music’s biggest stars.

Emerging Acts And Country Hitmakers Set The Tone For The Night

Even on the final day of the festival, fans were showing no sign of slowing down. They braved the heat to catch performances from emerging acts Nolan Sotillo and Dallas Smith, as well as rising hitmaker, Drew Baldridge and country music legend, Clint Black.

Ashley McBryde used up the last bit of sun in the day to give fans an unforgettable golden hour set full of honesty, humor, and her powerhouse vocals elevated by her talented bandmates. Prior to taking the stage, the songstress told Country Now that for each of her 2025 festival sets “everyone’s bringing their own dish.”

Expanding further she shared, “Each festival is a potluck…all we have to do is compliment the meal. That’s how to best serve the bands and best serve the festival. If everybody brings mash potatoes, we’re all gonna be bored. But if some of us bring a nice salad, it might be refreshing…plus then you get to say ‘we served,’” she added.

There’s no denying that McBryde “served” with her stacked setlist of “Never Will,” “Ain’t Enough Cowboys,” the hilarious “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” “The Devil I Know” and more.

Jelly Roll Brough Pyro, High Energy And Unforgettable Memories

Then, it was time for Jelly Roll to make his grand entrance. He closed out the festival in style, complete with pyrotechnics, special on-stage moments with fans, a whole lot of cowboy hats in the air and the rowdiest energy of the weekend.

He evoked a massive sing-along that lasted the entire duration of his 90-minute set — running through fan-favorites like “Country Roads Take Me Home,” “Son of a Sinner,” “I Am Not Okay,” and “Winning Streak.”

At one point, he brought out Drew Baldridge for an unforgettable rendition of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” and later invited a few young fans on stage to help sing in a dream-come-true moment they’ll never forget.

He capped the night with an epic encore featuring powerful deliveries of “Need a Favor” and “Save Me,” leaving the crowd on a high note.

“God bless the troops, God bless country music, God bless America, God bless Country Thunder, baby” he said as sparks flew around him

The show ended with fireworks lighting up the sky and fans already talking about next year.

Shopping, Tattoos, Delicious Food & more

Country Thunder Tampa had a something for everyone. Along with all the incredible music, attendees had plenty to explore – from carnival rides to pop-up vendors selling cowboy hats, clothing, and crave-worthy bites, surprise meet & greets and more. Plus, Inside the Electric Thunder tent, fans could catch intimate songwriter rounds, take part in Dancing With The Thunder partner and line dance competitions, or simply cool off in the shaded area.

The merch tents also offered plenty of items for guests to take home in memory of their time at Country Thunder, but those looking for a more permeant souvenir took advantage of the onsite mobile tattoo parlor.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

While this is Country Thunder’s first time hosting the festival in Tampa, it’s nothing new to the Sunshine State. For the last few years, the event was held in Kissimmee, however Hurricane Milton forced the organizers to make a change and find a new home in Tampa.

With a 21-year legacy, Country Thunder Music Festivals has grown into one of the most recognized names in country music events. In addition to its recent Florida stop, the brand hosts five other major multi-day festivals across North America, including in Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Drawing in more than 625,000 fans annually, these festivals bring together a wide range of country music lovers from across the U.S. and Canada to experience top-tier talent and unforgettable fan experiences.

The next Coutnry Thunder festival will take place July 10-13 in Saskatchewan.

The post Country Thunder Florida Brought The Heat To Tampa With Superstar Performances, Surprise Fan Moments & More appeared first on Country Now.

Eric Church has just released his new eight-song album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, and to celebrate, he’s taking the stage of the 60^th Academy of Country Music Awards to showcase the project’s lead single, “Hands of Time.”

The tune that’s packed with references to musical greats, finds the North Carolina native reflecting on the power of music. He leans into a nostalgic sound while name-checking some of his musical heroes like Bob Seger Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra, Waylon Jennings and more.

The Message Behind The Song

Through these references, Church aims to send the message that between all of life’s ups and downs, music is always there to guide you. This is his opportunity to remind listeners not to take their favorite tracks for granted because they are more important than we may realize.  

“As I get older, as the gray hair comes out, I’m always looking for ways to make myself feel younger. Music does that for me,” he admitted to Country Now. “I can hear a song even now, I remember where I was at 18, 20 or 25, and that’s what the song is about. It’s about being able to handle the ‘Hands of Time’ with music.”

The seven-time ACM Award recipient joins a stacked lineup of artists who have been tapped to perform their newest releases during the milestone evening at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 8. He will take the stage to deliver “Hands Of Time,” showcasing the power behind very lyric.

“Music has got me through every good and bad thing I’ve ever been through one. And there’s a song on this record called ‘Johnny’ that was written about the Covenant shooting that happened in Nashville. Hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life is drop my boys off at school the day after. And that’s what this, so that’s how I got through. I wrote this. So that’s a lot of what this record,” he shared.

The sentiment behind this tune captures his overall mission with the record, which is to provide fans with a unique listeners experience that runs from track one to eight with no breaks in between.

“It just takes you for 38 minutes to at that moment in time and it’s not done a lot these days. I think becomes a little bit what’s happening in the background of our lives…That’s not how I grew up and that’s not what music means to me. So it was important to give a different perspective, I think is what this is for.”

2205 ACM Awards Performances

To kick things off, the show will open with a can’t-miss tribute to ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, featuring performances by Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

Throughout the night, viewers will also see epic performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Brother Osborne, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Lainey Wilson.

The night will also feature several collaborations from Backstreet Boys with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teaming up with Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson.

How To Watch

16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire is returning to reclaim her hosting duties yet again. This will mark the country icon’s 18th time hosting or co-hosting the event, more than any other artist in ACM history.

The 60th ACM Awards will stream live around the world on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT, exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, reaching audiences in over 240 countries and territories.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Eric Church Talks The Powerful Message Behind ‘Hands Of Time’ Ahead Of ACM Awards Performance appeared first on Country Now.

Brian Kelley has officially been unveiled as the singer behind the Mad Scientist Monster costume on the reality singing competition, The Masked Singer.

Brian Kelley Revealed As Mad Scientist Monster On The Masked Singer

While it was clear since the Mad Scientist Monster made his debut on the March 26 episode of Season 13 that the person singing was a country star, the four panelists weren’t so quick to guess Brian Kelley. Instead, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora threw out names such as Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Blake Shelton.

Kelley may be a country star at his core, but his character made sure to showcase songs across all genres, including “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, “Stay” by Sugarland, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” by Shawn Mendes, “Unwell” by Brett Young, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey and more.

As the season went on, Kelley still had the panelists stumped as they added to the list of potential country stars with names like Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban. However, between the performances and clues that involved messages about how he met his wife, milestones in his career as part of the duo Florida Georgia Line as well as his solo venture, nods to his days as a college baseballs player and more, many fans were able to put the pieces together.

Unmasked On May 7 And Opened Up About His Experience

On the latest episode that aired on Wednesday evening (May 7), the rumors were finally confirmed – Brian Kelley was behind the mask.

“It was a blast to watch it all go down. You kind of think maybe you know how it may play out and maybe not many people are going to know, and I feel like for the first couple weeks some people were guessing, and then after every episode the last couple of weeks, I’m like, alright, I think they’re onto me for sure. People are doing their research and I think the super fans that know me were instantly, that’s BK,” he explained to Country Now during Media Row at 2025 ACM Awards.

Kelley Is Grateful For The Opportunity

Overall, the “Beach Cowboy” singer stated that his time on the show was a “great experience” and that he is “forever grateful for that opportunity.” He noted how it gave him the chance to relieve any pressures he may have been feeling and simply enjoy the ride.

“It was such a fun time. It was such a different way to go about getting my voice out there and getting my story out there some. And I’m competitive. I grew up playing college baseball, love a challenge. I love competing. And so that was a different way to do that, and it was freeing,” he admitted. “It was oddly freeing and recentering and recalibrated myself during that experience. Just taking off any, I have to be a certain way, or I’m only this kind of singer and just truly being myself and letting it fly was awesome. It was a great experience. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Since his time on the show has come to an end, it’s time for Kelley to say goodbye to the costume that has kept his identity a secret throughout the entire journey. He joked that despite the green and purple ensemble being “pretty hot,” it was nothing he couldn’t handle as a Florida native.

“Growing up in Florida, it’s nothing I hadn’t faced, so I had a hand up in that area, but they were real collaborative with songs and everything, and they really knocked out the creative the first call. They’re like, ‘Hey, we’re thinking mad scientist monster.’ I’m like, love it. And then they showed me kind of a picture of what that is. I’m like, I’m in. Love it. That’s totally me. Yes, it’s weird. It’s awesome.”

New Music On The Way From Brian Kelley

Now Brian Kelley, formerly of award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line, is ready to get back to the music. His latest solo release, “Palm Tree Country” serves as the perfect coastal introduction to his just announced Sunshine State Of Mind Tour. The trek will feature a full band and a full projection, which Kelley noted is his “favorite” way to tour.

“We love doing our Surf Post Sessions down where we live, a more stripped-back vibe, but when we’re touring, we got full production, full band. And my team, we’ve been building for a couple good years now, and I feel like we’ve got our travel, our show, our vibe, everything’s really dialed in, and we’ve been waiting for this moment to get out there and do another headline tour. It’s been a couple of years since we’ve done a proper headline tour, and we’ve been kind of in build mode. We’ve done festivals, we’ve done a bunch of radio shows, we’ve done different things and excited to circle back and show fans like how we’ve grown in those couple years with our show.”

In these few years off the road, he has grown his catalog of songs and is ready to showcase his current chapter as an independent artist while leaning into fans’ desire to hear more and more music.

“Just enjoying it. Life is good. I got no complaints and it’s been a fun year. It’s been my favorite year of life so far this year, honestly. It’s been great. It’s been a lot of work and also a lot of play. It’s been a good mix,” he shared.

Named after his 2021 project, the upcoming trek will kick off July 24 in Savannah, GA and continue through South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, NC on September 7.

The post Brian Kelley Speaks Out After Being Revealed As The ‘Mad Scientist Monster’ On ‘The Masked Singer’ appeared first on Country Now.

As Wynonna Judd prepares to grace the stage of the milestone 60th Academy of Country Music Awards, the eight-time ACM winner can’t help but reflect on her deep-rooted history with the show.

While speaking with Country Now, she was reminded of a particularly special memory with her late mom/former musical partner, Naomi Judd.

“My mom and I singing ‘Young Love’ in the audience, looking at Tanya Tucker weeping is one of my memories. We connected with her on some level that was just out of this world,” she shared proudly.

Female Legends Turned Family Members

Wynonna Judd also spoke about the legendary women who have shaped her journey in country music and have become much more than just fellow singer/songwriters to her over the years.

“The thing that rambles through my brain at night, last night I was laying in bed thinking about how I’ve been here 42 years of those 60 and I grew up with the legendary Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn and Dolly [Parton] sang it at my mom’s funeral. So these people are my family.”

Wynonna To Appear In Special 2025 ACM Awards Opening Performance

In addition to serving as a presenter for the night, Wynonna Judd will help honor the award show’s major anniversary year with a very special 12-minute performance dedicated to tributing ACM Songs of the Year from six decades. She will share the stage with Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

“It doesn’t get any better than this. It just doesn’t,” she said of the upcoming performance. “It’s like I’ve done everything twice. I started out on the back end of a pickup truck singing at rodeos in Texas and here I am in a suite getting room service and looking at my rhinestones and thinking, how in the world did I get here? And I’m still here. It’s unbelievable.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

Full Star-Studded Lineup

The show will also feature powerhouse duets, including a collaborative performance between Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts; a standout performance from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey; and Brooks & Dunn will take the stage with Cody Johnson.

Plus, these must-see moments will join the previously announced performances by Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, as well as New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top.

How To Watch

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.

The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Wynonna Judd Looks Back History With ACM Awards Ahead of Milestone Performance [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

As Wynonna Judd prepares to grace the stage of the milestone 60th Academy of Country Music Awards, the eight-time ACM winner can’t help but reflect on her deep-rooted history with the show.

While speaking with Country Now, she was reminded of a particularly special memory with her late mom/former musical partner, Naomi Judd.

“My mom and I singing ‘Young Love’ in the audience, looking at Tanya Tucker weeping is one of my memories. We connected with her on some level that was just out of this world,” she shared proudly.

Female Legends Turned Family Members

Wynonna Judd also spoke about the legendary women who have shaped her journey in country music and have become much more than just fellow singer/songwriters to her over the years.

“The thing that rambles through my brain at night, last night I was laying in bed thinking about how I’ve been here 42 years of those 60 and I grew up with the legendary Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn and Dolly [Parton] sang it at my mom’s funeral. So these people are my family.”

Wynonna To Appear In Special 2025 ACM Awards Opening Performance

In addition to serving as a presenter for the night, Wynonna Judd will help honor the award show’s major anniversary year with a very special 12-minute performance dedicated to tributing ACM Songs of the Year from six decades. She will share the stage with Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

“It doesn’t get any better than this. It just doesn’t,” she said of the upcoming performance. “It’s like I’ve done everything twice. I started out on the back end of a pickup truck singing at rodeos in Texas and here I am in a suite getting room service and looking at my rhinestones and thinking, how in the world did I get here? And I’m still here. It’s unbelievable.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

Full Star-Studded Lineup

The show will also feature powerhouse duets, including a collaborative performance between Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts; a standout performance from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey; and Brooks & Dunn will take the stage with Cody Johnson.

Plus, these must-see moments will join the previously announced performances by Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, as well as New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top.

How To Watch

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.

The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Wynonna Judd Looks Back On History With ACM Awards Ahead of Milestone Performance [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

Rascal Flatts are bringing a major crossover moment to the 60th ACM Awards in Frisco, TX, performing alongside 2000s pop icons, Backstreet Boys. The legendary bands will team up for a long-awaited collaboration on the Rascal Flatts’ emotional hit, “What Hurts The Most,” plus an extra surprise or two.

The two groups are set to perform together in Frisco, TX at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards. Prior to taking the stage, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys revealed how the bands from different genres ended up working together to create this pop-country blend.

“So we ran into Rascal Flatts over the years, gosh, the past 20 years. So it just kind of happened,” Brian explained to Country Now. “They just reached out ‘Hey, we want you guys to sing a song with us.’ We were like, ‘tell us which one.’ They were like, ‘you pick.” I was like, ‘we have to do ‘what hurts the most’ because its just a classic…it was just a perfect matchup.”

How The Collaboration Came To Be

Rascal Flatts’ lead singer Gary LeVox noted that the “I Want It That Way” singers were the first artists they reached out to when putting this duets project together.

“We’ve been friends for a long time and it was finally awesome to be on a project with them and rehearsals went incredible. You don’t want to miss the show.”

Kevin then jumped in to tease that “What Hurts The Most” might not be the only song that the groups will be performing on the ACM stage this week.

“We might throw a few more in there. We don’t want to give it all away right now. You’re going to have to tune in and watch but yeah we’ve got a few more tricks up our sleeves,” he hinted.

Jay DeMarcus added, “We’re doing medley, but we can’t give anything away. It’s a surprise.”

‘LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: REFUELED DUETS’ Album Coming Soon

The performance is set to be part of a larger moment tied to the country trio’s upcoming LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: REFUELED DUETS album. The project, out June 6 via Big Machine Records, finds them reimagining nine of their beloved hits including “What Hurts The Most” with Backstreet Boys, “Mayberry” with Blake Shelton, “I’m Movin’ On” with Kelly Clarkson, “I Dare You” with Jonas Brothers and more.

Meanwhile, The Backstreet Boys are cooking up a milestone project of their own. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of their chart-topping, 5-time GRAMMY- nominated album, Millennium, the group will release 25 tracks, including all 12 remastered originals, live recordings, demos, including “I Want It That Way” and B-sides, including the alternate version of “I Want It That Way” and a new song titled, “Hey.”

The project, titled Millennium 2.0, will coincide with their summer residency fittingly named Into The Millennium. They will kick things off in July with select dates at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Rascal Flatts Reclaim Their Spot In ACM Group of the Year Category

For the first time since 2017, Rascal Flatts are back in the running for ACM Group of the Year, marking their 12th career nomination in the category and their first since taking the trophy home in 2009 for a record seventh time. This year, they are vying for the win against Flatland Calvary, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and The Red Clay Strays.

“I don’t know what to say really. It’s been a blessing and I hope we beat Old Dominion,” LeVox joked before adding, “We’re thrilled to be in the category, thrilled to have the performance. Just thrilled to be part of ACMs for 60 years.”

Their most recent nod comes on the heels of wrapping their nearly sold-out Life Is a Highway Tour. According to the group, more shows could be on the horizon.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

2025 ACM Awards Performers

Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys appear among a stacked lineup of country acts, including Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Brothers Osborne, and Lainey Wilson, who will each bring their talent to the ACM Awards.

The show will open with a can’t-miss tribute to ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, featuring performances by Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

Viewers will also get to experience several collaborations from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson.

How To Watch

16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire is returning to reclaim her hosting duties yet again. This will mark the country icon’s 18th time hosting or co-hosting the event, more than any other artist in ACM history.

The 60th ACM Awards will stream live around the world on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT, exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, reaching audiences in over 240 countries and territories. The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Rascal Flatts And Backstreet Boys Tease Surprise ACM Awards Moments appeared first on Country Now.

Lainey Wilson admits she couldn’t hold back her emotions while rehearsing with Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert for their debut performance of their new single, “Trailblazer” at the 2025 ACM Awards.

With each of these women spanning three generations of country music — and all trailblazers in their own right — their upcoming performance is shaping up to be one of the most emotional moments of the show.

“We were all just trying to hold it together out there. All of us had tears in our eyes. It just felt, we could just feel the energy and we were also happy to be able to share the stage with each other. So I hope other little girls are watching at home and can just see that women who stick together get it done and that’s what its about,” Wilson told Country Now.

The Idea Behind The Song’s Powerful Meaning

She went on to say that the idea for the collaboration came from McEntire, who inspired a powerful conversation between the Louisiana native, Lambert, and Brandy Clark. They discussed the legacy of women in country music and those who’ve not only broken barriers but lifted others up along the way. For Wilson, that kind of unwavering support has come most forcefully from McEntire and Lambert.

“We just started talking about really the history of country music and how the females have stuck together and kind of just blazed those trails and went down with the weed whackers and done whatever they could to help the next person up. And I owe it to them. I do,” Wilson shared humbly.

“I mean they’re two of the ladies that have really been just willing to share any kind of wisdom with me and lift me up and encourage me and that’s what it’s about. So it’s not just a song for people in the music industry. This is a song for just people in general who feel like they are paving paths for others.”

Wilson Could Make ACM Awards History

Lainey Wilson’s seven nominations include: Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”), Visual Media of the Year (“4x4xU”), Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

She is one of four artists who could tie the record for the most ACM Awards won in a single night—a feat currently held by Chris Stapleton (2016), Faith Hill (1999), and Garth Brooks (1991), each of whom collected six ACM Award wins in one night. She shares nominations across six categories this year with Morgan Wallen, Ella Langley, and Cody Johnson.

Since Lainey Wilson, Wallen, and Langley are all contenders in the Song of the Year category as both performers and songwriters, each of them also have a shot at taking home up to seven trophies, which would break the long-standing record.

The Louisiana native also has the potential to make ACM history in several other ways. She could join Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves as one of only three female solo artists to win Album of the Year multiple times. Wilson first earned that title in 2023 with Bell Bottom Country and is now nominated again for her latest project, Whirlwind.

Hoping To Reclaim Her Title Of Entertainer Of The Year

Additionally, the “4x4xU” singer is already among the elite group of females who have previously won the title including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, The Chicks, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. And if she wins Entertainer of the Year again, she’ll become the first woman in over a decade to take home the title two years in a row—the last was Taylor Swift in 2011 and 2012.

“It don’t feel real, I’ll be honest,” she said of being nominated for the highest honor of the night. “It puts a lot of things into perspective. I don’t take it lightly. I don’t at all. It’s a huge honor just to feel like those 15 years of me being in Nashville, I feel like I’ve gained the respect of my peers who I’ve love too. So that’s a good feeling.”

Full List Of 2025 ACM Awards Performers

Along with Wilson’s must-see performance with Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire, there will be several other star-studded collaborations including Backstreet Boys with Rascal Flatts Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson.

In honor of the award show celebrating 60 years, a very special opening performance has been announced. The all-star lineup of Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland will take the stage for a 12-minute performance that highlights ACM Songs of the Year from six decades

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

The show will also feature deliveries by Megan Moroney, Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne as well as New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top.

How To Watch

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Lainey Wilson Opens Up About Emotional ACM Awards Rehearsal With Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

Gabby Barrett may be walking the ACM Awards red carpet alone this year, but she has a very special reason for it.

Normally, the songstress makes an appearance at big events with her husband, Cade Foehner by her side, however she reveals her other half will not be making an appearance this time as he is celebrating a major milestone of his own—his college graduation.

“My husband’s graduating from, he’s been doing online college at TMU for the past four and a half years. So he’ll be graduating with a degree in biblical studies,” Barrett told Country Now.

Foehner is currently in California getting ready for the commencement ceremony while Barrett is in Texas preparing to present at the 2025 ACM Awards. After wrapping up her ACM duties, she will hop on a plan and fly over to meet up with her husband and their kids to celebrate.

Barrett didn’t attend college herself, but she recognizes how meaningful the moment is for her husband.

“I am so glad he gets to do it and walk and that’s such a special, I didn’t go to college, but I know that that’s a special thing.”

Feeling The Nerves Before Hitting The ACM Award Stage

The American Idol alum is no stranger to the Academy of Country Music Awards stage, but presenting this year comes with its own set of nerves and excitement. The chart-topping singer reveals she is set to introduce ACM New Female of the Year, Ella Langley for her highly anticipated performance on Thursday, May 8.

Although the pair of female singer/songwriters have never officially met in person, Barrett reveals she is “very pumped” for the opportunity to help introduce the rising star to the stage.

“I think she’s cool. She is a vibe, a breath of fresh air a little bit. I’ve never met her in person though, so hope to bump into her. Excited to see her live too,” Barrett told Country Now while backstage of the upcoming awards show.

The mom of three goes on to say she still gets a bit nervous anytime she has to speak in front of such a large crowd.

“I get all the butterflies. I’m like, I never thought I’d be the person talking. I don’t know how you guys do it,” she admits.

Barrett Reveals Major Life Change

This year’s 60^th celebration feels especially meaningful for Gabby Barrett, who revealed she and her family now call the Lone Star State home

“Texas is such an amazing state. I love living here. We’re actually based out of Texas now,” she shared. “My husband’s through and through a cowboy from Texas, east Texas. So yeah, he’s actually from, not far from where Miranda Lambert is and grew up. So we’re over there. We love it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabby Barrett Foehner (@gabbybarrett_)

Barrett was raised in the middle of Pennsylvania, so living in Texas is quite a change from the environment she grew up in.

“It’s definitely very different from what I grew up around. I’m a northeast, like Pittsburgh, right in the middle of Pennsylvania girl, so it’s very different for me. But I love it. I feel like I was made to be in the south. I was just born in the wrong spot sort of. No, I’m kidding,” she joked. “But I love it. Texas is very special. It’s an awesome state and so glad to be here this year.” 

2025 ACM Awards Performers

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Academy of Country Music (ACM) (@acmawards)

In honor of the show’s milestone year, a very special opening performance has been announced. The all-star lineup of Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland will take the stage for a 12-minute performance that highlights ACM Songs of the Year from six decades

The show will also feature powerhouse duets, including a collaborative performance between Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts; a standout performance from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey; and Brooks & Dunn will take the stage with Cody Johnson.

Plus, 2024 ACM New Female Artist of the Year,Megan Moroney, joins this year’s star-packed show featuring previously announced performances by Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Brothers Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, as well as New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top.

Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Why Gabby Barrett Is Flying Solo At The 2025 ACM Awards [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

First-time ACM nominee Jessie Murph might be snagging an unofficial award for “Best Red Carpet Guest.” While many artists bring family, friends, or significant others to major award ceremonies, the songstress revealed to Country Now that for her ACM Awards debut, she is going to be accompanied by an adorable pig named Wilbur.

“It’s a real pig. He’s a little guy. His name’s Wilbur,” she shared. I just decided that I wanted a pig and I’ve always wanted one my whole life. I’ve always wanted a mini pig and then I find out that miniature pigs don’t exist.”

Not only will the four-legged pet be walking the red carpet with her, but he will be doing it in style with an accessory to match her look.

“He’s supposed to wear a matching bow,” she said with excitement.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Country Now (@countrynow)

Nominated For New Female Artist of the Year

Murph will be lucky to have such a great companion by her side, as she celebrates her nominated for New Female Artist of the Year. The title has since been claimed by Ella Langley, but while reflecting on the recognition, Murph admits she was a bit surprised to see her name among country acts like Langley, Dasha, Ashley Cooke and Kassi Ashton.

“It was so mind blowing. I was not expecting it. I don’t feel like I’m a country artist. I was a little bit like, what? But I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to be here supporting everybody,” she shared honestly.

Jessie Murph Was Surprised By ACM Nod

The Alabama native’s catalog might not lean to heavily on the country side, however she has dipped her toe in the genre through collaborations with country acts like Koe Wetzel and Bailey Zimmerman.

“I think that’s why I was a little shocked because it’s a mix of a bunch of different things. It’s mostly just the stuff I grew up listening to. I’m from Alabama, so I heard a lot of country growing up, but I also heard a lot of rap and a lot of pop and all this stuff. So it’s just a culmination of all that I’d say.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Koe Wetzel Music (@koewetzelmusic)

With new music and a headline tour on the way, there is potential for even more country music to enter her repertoire as she hinted that her next project will feature “lots of collaborations.”

She will launch her next run dubbed, Worldwide Hysteria The Tour, on July 27 in Phoenix, AZ and continue with stops across the U.S. as well as Germany, New Zealand, Denmark and more.

Who’s Performing At The 2025 Ceremony?

This year marks a milestone 60^th anniversary for the ACM Awards, and to celebrate, the show on May 8 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas will open with a can’t-miss tribute to ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades. This portion of the show will feature performances by Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

Throughout the night, viewers will also see a run of epic solo performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Lainey Wilson.

Plus, several collaborations will take place, welcoming Backstreet Boys with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll with Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson to the stage.

How To Watch

16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire is returning to reclaim her hosting duties yet again. This will mark the country icon’s 18th time hosting or co-hosting the event, more than any other artist in ACM history.

The 60th ACM Awards will stream live around the world on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT, exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, reaching audiences in over 240 countries and territories.

More details can be found HERE.

The post Jessie Murph Reveals She’ll Be Walking The 2025 ACM Awards Red Carpet With A Pig [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.