The 60th ACM Awards don’t officially get underway until May 8 in Frisco, Texas, at the Ford Center at the Star, but the Academy of Country Music is already announcing winners. On Thursday, trad-country revivalist Zach Top was awarded the trophy for New Male Artist of the Year backstage before his concert in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“I couldn’t be more honored, and I can’t say a big enough thank you to my fans for loving music and loving what we do on the road and listening to the songs every day,” Top said in a statement. “It means the world to me, I’ve always wanted to just play and sing for a living, and I get to do that now and it’s cool to be able to get a little trophy every now and then to let us know that we’re doing good doing it.”
Expect other winners to be announced before the the ACM Awards stream live on Prime Video next month. Ella Langley leads all nominees with eight nominations, driven by her hit duet with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me.” Green received five nominations. Other top nominees include Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, and the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, with seven each. Chris Stapleton scored six, and Post Malone, on the strength of his F-1 Trillion country foray, earned five.
Reba McEntire, a perennial host of the ACMs since 1986, returns to emcee for the 18th time. Eric Church, Blake Shelton, and Wilson are among those set to perform.
2025 ACM Awards Winners List
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
The War And Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Flatland Cavalry
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
Ella Langley
Jessie Murph
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
Treaty Oak Revival
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine), Megan Moroney
Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll
Cold Beer & Country Music, Zach Top
F-1 Trillion, Post Malone
Whirlwind, Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“White Horse,” Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
SONG OF THE YEAR
“4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson (Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
“The Architect,” Kacey Musgraves (Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson (Josh Phillips)
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen (Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak)
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green (Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere)
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Cowboys Cry Too,” Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
“I’m Gonna Love You,” Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
“We Don’t Fight Anymore,” Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
“4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“Im Gonna Love You,” Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
“Think I’m in Love With You,” Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley, Riley Green
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
ERNEST
HARDY
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessi Alexander
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
