This morning, the Academy of Country Music announced their picks for the 2025 ACM Awards. After years of being criticized for some less-than-stellar picks, it seems as if the Academy has course-corrected a bit. Though there are a couple head-scratchers present, overall, the 2025 class of nominees are pretty solid as far as a mainstream awards show goes.
Leading the way in nominations are Morgan Wallen (7 including songwriting credits), Cody Johnson (7), Lainey Wilson (7 including songwriting credits) and Ella Langley (8 including songwriting credits). Though Wallen, Johnson and Wilson are mainstays at award shows at this point, Langley’s six nominations are quite notable. Scoring a staggering four nominations for “you look like you love me” with Riley Green alone as well as New Female Artist of the Year, Langley is primed for a huge night during the show.
Noticeably absent from all nominations is none other than Zach Bryan. Despite his many appearances across multiple Billboard charts and his incredibly successful Quittin’ Time Tour which featured sold-out stadium shows, the “Something in the Orange” singer failed to score a single nod.
With that being said, fans of alt/independent country will have some of their favorite artists represented this year. The Red Clay Strays scored nods for both Group and New Group/Duo of the Year, marking their first-ever nomination. Treaty Oak Revival, Flatland Cavalry and Muscadine Bloodline also scored nominations for Group and New Duo/Group of the Year. For Treaty Oak and Muscadine, this is their first-ever ACM nomination.
Zach Top, off of the giant success of his debut album, notched his first-ever nominations, one for New Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Cold Beer & Country Music. As one of the hottest new-comers the genre has seen over the past few years, Top is primed to be a main-stay after receiving two nods in his first year of prominence.
The ACM Awards will air on Prime Video on May 8th at 8 p.m. ET live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
A full list of nominations is as follows:
Entertainer of the Year
- Morgan Wallen
- Chris Stapleton
- Cody Johnson
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Kelsea Ballerini
Male Artist of the Year
- Morgan Wallen
- Chris Stapleton
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Cody Johnson
Female Artist of the Year
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- Ella Langley
- Kacey Musgraves
- Kelsea Ballerini
Album of the Year
- Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
- F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
- Am I Okay (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney
- Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Single of the Year
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
Song of the Year
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson (Josh Phillips)
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen (Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Jonathan Hoskins, Post Malone, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen and Chandler Paul Walters)
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson (Lainey Wilson, Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere)
- “The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Ella Langley, Riley Green, Aaron Raitiere)
Group of the Year
- The Red Clay Strays
- Old Dominon
- Flatland Cavalry
- Rascal Flatts
- Little Big Town
Duo of the Year
- Dan + Shay
- Brooks & Dunn
- The War and Treaty
- Brothers Osborne
- Muscadine Bloodline
New Male Artist of the Year
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Zach Top
- Tucker Wetmore
- Shaboozey
- Gavin Adcock
New Female Artist of the Year
- Ella Langley
- Ashley Cooke
- Kassi Ashton
- Dasha
- Jessie Murph
New Duo/Group of the Year
- The Red Clay Strays
- Treaty Oak Revival
- Restless Road
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- ERNEST
- Lainey Wilson
- HARDY
Music Event of the Year
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
- “Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan
- “we don’t fight anymore” – Carly Pearce & Chris Stapleton
Songwriter of the Year
- Ashley Gorley
- Josh Osborne
- Jessie Jo Dillion
- Jessi Alexander
- Chase McGill
Visual Media of the Year
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
- “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley
Producer of the Year
- Dave Cobb
- Ian Fitchuck
- Charlie Handsome
- Jon Randall
- Alysa Vanderheym
Audio Engineer of the Year
- Brandon Bell
- Drew Bollman
- Josh Ditty
- Buckley Miller
- F. Reid Shippen
Electric Guitar Player of the Year
- Kris Donegan
- Jedd Hughes
- Brent Mason
- Sol Philcox-Littlefield
- Derek Wells
Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year
- Tim Galloway
- Todd Lombardo
- Mac McAnally
- Bryan Sutton
- Ilya Toshinskiy
Drummer of the Year
- Fred Eltringham
- Tommy Harden
- Evan Hutchings
- Aaron Sterling
- Nir Z
Bass Player of the Year
- J.T. Cure
- Mark Hill
- Rachel Loy
- Tony Lucido
- Craig Young
Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year
- Dave Cohen
- Ian Fitchuck
- Billy Justineau
- Gordon Mote
- Alex Wright
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
- Dan Dugmore
- Jenee Fleenor
- Josh Matheny
- Justin Schipper
- Kristin Wilkinson
Festival of the Year
- C2C: Country To Country Festival (London, England)
- CMC Rocks (Ipswich, Queenland)
- Stagecoach Festival (Indio, CA)
- Two Step Inn (Georgetown, TX)
- Windy City Smokeout (Chicago, IL)
Fair/Rodeo of the Year
- Calgary Stampede (Calgary, AB)
- California Mid-State Fair (Paso Robles, CA)
- Cheyenne Frontier Days (Cheyenne, WY)
- Minnesota State Fair (Falcon Heights, MN)
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (Houston, TX)
Theater of the Year
- The Caverns (Pelham, TN)
- MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Boston, MA)
- The Met Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
- The Rave/Eagles Club (Milwaukee, WI)
- Tennessee Theater (Knoxville, TN)
Casino of the Year – Theater
- Deadwood Mountain Grand (Deadwood, SD)
- Foxwoods Resort Casino (Mashantucket, CT)
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee, NC)
- The Theater at Virgin Hotels (Las Vegas, NV)
- Yaamava’ Theater (Highland, CA)
Outdoor Venue of the Year
- Banknh Pavilion (Gilford, NH)
- CMAC – Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (Canadaigua, NY)
- Saint Augustine Amphitheater (St. Augustine, FL)
- The Wharf Amphitheater (Orange Beach, AL)
- Whitewater Amphitheater (New Braunfels, TX)
Arena of the Year
- Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, TX)
- Moody Center (Austin, TX)
- TD Garden (Boston, MA)
- Thompson-Boling Arena At Food City Center (Knoxville, TN)
- Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI)
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
- Deana Baker
- Bobby Clay
- Gil Cunningham
- Weston Herbert
- Stacy Vee
- Taylor Williamson
Promoter of the Year
- Brent Fedrizzi
- Alex Maxwell
- Patrick McDill
- Anna-Sophie Mertens
- Rich Schaefer
- Aaron Spalding