60th Academy of Country Music Awards

It’s a celebration 60 years in the making! The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards are right around the corner, and country music fans, including myself, are buzzing with excitement. The longest running country music awards show is set to take place Thursday, May 8, at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

“This year’s ACM Awards is a celebration sixty years in the making, and we plan to make it one of the biggest and best shows yet!” says ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “The 60th ACM Awards will mark our third consecutive year at Ford Center in The Star District, home of the Dallas Cowboys in Frisco, Texas, and we can’t wait to bring the ACM Awards back to the loyal Country Music fan base in Texas, and to those watching all around the globe on Amazon Prime Video.”

ACM History

The ACM Awards, established in 1964, were created to honor the achievements of country music artists and professionals. The first ceremony took place in 1966, and over the years, it has grown to become one of the genre’s most prestigious events. Iconic winners have included legends like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and George Strait. Artists like Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Miranda Lambert have earned multiple ACM honors in recent years. The future of country music is alive and well with this celebration of established stars and emerging talents alike!

The 2025 ACM Awards

Where are my Reba McEntire fans at?! The 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon will mark her 18th time hosting the event, the most of any artist in Academy of Country Music history.  With performances by country powerhouses like Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Lainey Wilson there’s sure to be something for everyone at the 2025 ACM Awards.

“With Reba at the helm as our host, we’ll be commemorating the legends of Country Music while honoring the biggest and brightest stars of today,” Whiteside adds.

Ella Langley is leading the nomination pack with a whopping eight nominations, followed by Cody Johnson (seven), Morgan Wallen (seven), Lainey Wilson (seven), Chris Stapleton (six), Riley Green (five) and Post Malone (five).

Where to Watch

The 2025 ACM Awards will be free to stream exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX, on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. PDT.

Arizona Desert Country Music Association

Did you know that Arizona has its own country music association? At DDP Worldwide Entertainment Management, the goal is to help out all Arizona artists in every facet of the business. That is why they have created the AZ Desert Country Music Association to combine all the country music genres in AZ and to protect the integrity of the artists and their trade in the state of AZ.  This Association will allow for the collaboration of all the venues where artists play, peers in the country music industry and fans to reach their favorite artists and songwriters in one place.  And, to go one step further, there will be membership opportunities for voting rights to truly highlight the artists that are thriving while also allowing for a network of artists to work together for the betterment of all in this competitive business.

There will be seminars, songwriter retreats, and classes on the business of music. On September 22nd, DDP Worldwide Entertainment Management will have the Arizona Desert Country Music Association kickoff party and first annual awards ceremony to honor the top artists and bands in Arizona. When you combine all the solo artists, local and loyal to AZ, along with all the numerous clubs, Honky Tonks, songwriter’s events, and festivals there is truly an opportunity to make AZ the Nashville of the West. 

“We are excited about the country music awards and all the amazing talent we have in Arizona. That’s why we have started our own Arizona Desert Country Music Association and radio show, “Arizona on the Rise,” which features one Arizona artist per week and their original music on 96.3 Arizona’s Real Country. We are excited about the future of country music in the state of Arizona and the Arizona Desert Country Music Association!”

Denis Petty
Owner & CEO
DDP Worldwide Entertainment Management

Last Updated on 04/25/2025 by Carly Billington

About the Author:

Carly Billington

Biography:

Carly Billington is a freelance professional skilled in writing, marketing, and photography. She received a rodeo scholarship from New Mexico State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Marketing and MBA. As a proud sixth generation Arizonan, she has a deep appreciation for the western lifestyle, and has been able to work with some of the industry’s top companies and publications. In her free time, she loves roping, barrel racing, and fly fishing.

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