ACM Awards Week was Filled with Sold-Out Events for Fans, Artists, and Industry Members
as the Academy Took Over North Texas Leading Up to the 60th ACM Awards
The 60th ACM Awards is currently available to stream on demand on Prime Video and can be found at amazon.com/ACMawards
Nashville, TN – The Academy of Country Music (ACM) hit a new level of success during ACM Awards week in North Texas, with the Academy’s events hitting capacity and selling out, including the 60th ACM Awards show, which took place one week ago on Thursday, May 8. Following the success of the show, Prime Video announced a renewal of the ACM Awards with a new three-year deal taking the show through 2028.
“The 60th ACM Awards and the events surrounding the show were a shining example of the excitement and popularity of Country Music,” said ACM Chairman Randy Bernard. “I want to thank the ACM staff for their incredible work throughout the week. The number of events and the amount of joy you’re able to bring to Country Music fans is immeasurable. I also want to thank the ACM Board and the industry as a whole for the support surrounding ACM Awards Week, making this one of the most successful weeks in ACM history.”
ACM Awards Week featured numerous events each day, including the ACM Country Kickoff on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Ford Center Plaza, which featured two days of live performances from ACM Award-nominated artists and exciting, emerging talent. The plaza hit capacity, marking the first time an event in the plaza reached capacity in Ford Center’s history. Also taking place on Tuesday was an ACM Edition of Whiskey Jam, which packed Sidecar Social in The Star District.
On Wednesday, the I’m Just Me: Charley Pride, A Celebration of Inclusion brunch returned for a second year, hosted by Mickey Guyton and honoring the achievements of special honorees. In addition to the second day of the ACM Country Kickoff, the Academy of Country Music and ACM Lifting Lives hosted the exclusive and intimate “Play Something Country,” a 60th Anniversary Gala Honoring Brooks & Dunn and Benefiting ACM Lifting Lives which raised money for ACM Lifting Lives and honored the achievements of 25-time ACM Award-winning duo Brooks & Dunn.
On the day of the show, the ACM Lifting Voices Council hosted its second annual community engagement event at Birdie Alexander Elementary School in Dallas, TX where they donated instruments for the school’s music education program. In Frisco, the festivities were kicked off by inviting 2,000 veterans through Vet Tix to attend the Dress Rehearsals for the ACM Awards, allowing our country’s heroes the opportunity to get a free sneak peak into the show before it streamed live on Prime Video that evening. The 60th ACM Awards took place in front of a sold-out crowd and featured performances that honored the Academy’s 60 years of history, as well as celebrating today’s top artists. The night culminated with the sold-out Official ACM Awards After Party celebrating the women of Country Music.
ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music, also hosted and benefited from numerous events throughout ACM Awards Week. The Lone Star Smokeout donated a portion of every ticket sale to ACM Lifting Lives in the weekend leading up to the show. On Monday, ACM Lifting Lives unveiled a unique guitar wall for patients, families, and other hospital patrons at the new Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Frisco. On Tuesday, Entertainer of the Year nominee Jelly Roll hosted Jelly Roll & Friends, an all-star concert at Billy Bob’s Texas, with proceeds benefiting ACM Lifting Lives. On Wednesday, ACM Lifting Lives brought back their industry favorite Topgolf Tee-Off event, Lily Rose hosted Keys For a Cause at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar with money raised going to ACM Lifting Lives, and along with ACM, ACM Lifting Lives hosted the exclusive and intimate “Play Something Country,” a 60th Anniversary Gala Honoring Brooks & Dunn and Benefiting ACM Lifting Lives.
ACM Country Kickoff at The Star
The annual ACM Country Kickoff at Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star returned for its third year and saw its biggest crowds to date, with the event reaching capacity, marking the first time the Ford Center Plaza had reached capacity in its history. The free two-day festival allowed fans to get up close and personal with some of Country Music’s biggest stars and celebrate the ACM Awards’ return to Frisco, TX. Some of today’s most exciting, up-and-coming artists in Country Music performed on the outdoor Carhartt Stage, including several ACM Award nominees. Performers included ACM Nominees Gavin Adcock, Kassi Ashton, Ashley Cooke, Jessie Murph, Restless Road, and Tucker Wetmore, along with Josh Abbott Band, Maggie Antone, Drew Baldridge, William Beckmann, George Birge, The Wilder Blue, Tyler Braden, Kaitlin Butts, Lanie Gardner, Dylan Gossett, Don Louis, Hudson Westbrook, and Eli Young Band.
I’m Just Me: Charley Pride, A Celebration of Inclusion
I’m Just Me: Charley Pride, A Celebration of Inclusion brunch returned for a second year, hosted by Mickey Guyton and honoring singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer, singer, songwriter, producer and American Idol judge Lionel Richie, Guyton, singer, songwriter and record producer Shaboozey, Mexican-American singer-songwriter, artist, actor and activist Freddy Fender, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Grandmother of Juneteenth Opal Lee, President and CEO of F2 Entertainment Fletcher Foster, The Tennessean/USA Today Country Music reporter Marcus Dowling, Head of Country Music at Amazon Music Michelle Tigard Kammerer, and CEO of mtheory Cameo Carlson.
ACM Radio Awards Winners Reception
On Wednesday afternoon, the winners of the ACM Radio Awards were celebrated for their wins in On-Air Personality of the Year categories on Radio Station of the Year categories. ACM Award-winner Carly Pearce hosted the exclusive ACM Radio Awards Winners Reception at Monarch Stag in The Star District.
”Play Something Country,” A 60th Anniversary Gala
Honoring Brooks & Dunn and Benefiting ACM Lifting Lives
On Wednesday afternoon, the winners of the ACM Radio Awards were celebrated for their wins in On-Air Personality of the Year categories on Radio Station of the Year categories. ACM Award-winner Carly Pearce hosted the exclusive ACM Radio Awards Winners Reception at Monarch Stag in The Star District.
ACM Lifting Voices Council Community Engagement Event at Birdie Alexander Elementary
Just hours before the 60th Awards, the ACM Lifting Voices Council hosted its second annual community engagement event at Birdie Alexander Elementary School in Dallas, TX. Joined by one of this year’s ACM New Duo/Group nominee, Restless Road, as well as Mexican-American artist MŌRIAH and Country singer Palmer Anthony, the Council delivered musical instruments generously donated by Conn Selmer and Jean Paul in an effort to uplift and empower local youth through music. This marks their second delivery to Birdie Elementary, which was initially hand-selected for this initiative last year due to the school’s desire to expand its musical programs but inability to do so, given limited budget.
60th ACM Awards Rehearsals with Veterans
While the week was filled with incredible fan-facing events, one unique, behind-the-scenes event served as an unforgettable highlight. On the day of the 60th ACM Awards, more than 2,000 local veterans and their families were given access into Ford Center hours before doors officially opened to the public. In partnership with Vet Tix, these servicemen and servicewomen were given the rare opportunity to attend the official dress rehearsal of the big show, earning an exclusive sneak peek at the incredible performances that millions of fans would witness when the show aired later that evening.
60th ACM Awards
The landmark 60th Academy of Country Music Awards show streamed live on May 8, 2025, from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas for an international audience across 240+ countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire and featuring 16 powerhouse performances and appearances from 40 artists including Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Lionel Richie, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, Wynonna Judd, and more, the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards was a truly unforgettable event six decades in the making. The Academy’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year, was awarded to Lainey Wilson, marking her second year in a row earning the coveted title. Ella Langley led the night in total wins with five awards, followed by Wilson with four wins. Country legend Alan Jackson received the inaugural ACM Lifetime Achievement Award, and superstar Keith Urban received the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award. The show is currently available to stream on demand on Prime Video and can be found at amazon.com/ACMawards.
Official ACM Awards After Party
The Official ACM Awards After Party presented by Amazon Music brought fans and industry alike to a party continuing the celebration post-show at the site of the Official ACM Awards Red Carpet. Brittany Spencer, Carter Faith, Crystal Gayle, and Sara Evans all performed in an evening celebrating powerhouse women of Country Music.