59th Academy of Country Music Awards: A Night to Remember

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards was a spectacular celebration of country music, hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire. This two-hour, commercial-free concert event streamed live to an international audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. The event took place at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Adding to the excitement, Reba McEntire announced she would return as host for the monumental 60th ACM Awards in 2025.

Photos Thanks To ACM

The night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year, went to Lainey Wilson, marking a significant milestone in her career. Chris Stapleton led the evening with four awards, followed by Lainey Wilson with three. Luke Combs and Jordan Davis each took home two awards. The show featured 18 breathtaking performances from 19 artists, showcasing both country music’s biggest stars and its emerging talent. Exclusive collaborations and unexpected moments captivated fans worldwide.

Lainey Wilson’s Triumphant Moment Lainey Wilson’s first win for Entertainer of the Year was a historic moment. This win qualifies her for the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, celebrating artists who have won New Female/Male Artist/Duo or Group of the Year, Female/Male Artist/Duo/Group of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Wilson is the first woman to achieve the Triple Crown in three years and the first artist to do so since The Chicks (1998-2000). Her three wins tonight bring her total ACM Awards count to 10. Wilson’s heartfelt speech resonated with fans and fellow artists alike, marking a high point of the evening.

Jelly Roll’s Emotional Speech Jelly Roll delivered an emotional speech for his win with Lainey Wilson for their hit song "Save Me." His heartfelt words and genuine emotion brought a touching moment to the awards, showcasing the deep connections forged through country music.

Jason Aldean’s Tribute to Toby Keith Jason Aldean had the crowd singing along tearfully as he honored Toby Keith with a stripped-down version of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” This touching tribute highlighted the enduring legacy of Keith’s music and left the audience in awe.

Ashley McBryde’s Hilarious Debut as Presenter Ashley McBryde brought the laughs with her first-time presenting. She charmed the audience by singing parodies of each of the Single of the Year nominees, adding a lighthearted and entertaining twist to the evening’s proceedings.

Cody Johnson’s Emotional Performance Five-time ACM Award nominee and Texas-born artist Cody Johnson slowed things down with his emotional ballad “Dirt Cheap.” His powerful performance struck a chord with the audience, adding a poignant note to the night’s festivities.

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards was a night filled with memorable moments, heartfelt speeches, and spectacular performances. From Lainey Wilson’s historic win to Ashley McBryde’s comedic debut, the event celebrated the very best of country music. As we look forward to the 60th ACM Awards in 2025, hosted once again by the incomparable Reba McEntire, we can’t help but feel excited for what’s to come. Until then, the music and memories from this year’s show will continue to resonate in the hearts of fans around the world.

Following is the full list of winners in the 14 categories voted on by Academy members:

MAIN AWARDS:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Lainey Wilson

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Lainey Wilson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Chris Stapleton

DUO OF THE YEAR

• Dan + Shay

GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Megan Moroney

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Nate Smith

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Tigirlily Gold

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Higher - Chris Stapleton

Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton

Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Fast Car - Luke Combs

Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton

Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• Next Thing You Know - Jordan Davis

Songwriters: Chase McGill, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, Josh Osborne

Publishers: Family Farm Songs; Hold On Can I Get A Number 1 Music; Songs of Universal Inc.

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• Burn It Down - Parker McCollum  

Produces: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry

Director: Dustin Haney 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Jessie Jo Dillon

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Chris Stapleton

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Save Me - Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)

Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens

Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville