Celebrating New Talent at the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards: Ella Langley Shines

NEW YORK (VML) — The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards marks its 60th anniversary on Thursday night. Judging by the preparations, they have no intention of slowing down.

There is much to celebrate. Reba McEntire, a sixteen-time ACM Award winner, will host once again. Keith Urban will receive the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, making it the first time the award has been presented on stage since Carrie Underwood received it in 2010.

Perhaps most exciting of all, the ACM Awards will kick off with a 14-minute “Songs of the Decades” performance, celebrating 60 years of country music and featuring McEntire, Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Sugarland, and more.

The ACM celebrations kicked off even before Thursday's event. Prior to the awards show, first-time nominee Ella Langley was named female new artist, while the male award was given to Zach Top.

Here's what you need to know before the main ACM event starts.

How to watch the ACM Awards

The ACM Awards will be streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live starting at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. A Prime membership is not required to watch the livestream.

This year’s ACM Awards nominees

Langley leads the ACM Awards this year with eight nominations, six of which are for her hit “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.

Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen closely follow Langley with seven nominations each. Chris Stapleton has six nominations, while Green and Post Malone each have five.

Johnson, Wilson, Wallen, and Stapleton are contenders for the night's top honor, entertainer of the year. Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Jelly Roll are also nominated for this award.

Performers at the ACM Awards

Besides the star-studded “Songs of the Decades” performance, Langley, Wilson, Top, Stapleton, Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney, Blake Shelton, and Alan Jackson will take the stage.

There will also be several star-studded duets. The Backstreet Boys will perform with Rascal Flatts, and Jelly Roll will join Shaboozey on stage. Brooks & Dunn will collaborate with Johnson.

Presenters

Get ready for a long list of ACM presenters: Shelton, Judd, Green, Black, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, Sugarland, The Oak Ridge Boys, and NASCAR driver Chase Elliott.