Dolly Parton, Ella Langley, Eric Church and More Set the Stage for a Star-Packed ACM Honors
- All Country News
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
Country music’s self-proclaimed favorite night is preparing for one of its biggest celebrations yet.
The Academy of Country Music has unveiled the all-star lineup for the 19th ACM Honors, bringing together legends, hitmakers and some of the genre’s most exciting rising voices for an evening dedicated to the people shaping country music from every corner of the industry.
Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Dierks Bentley, Dylan Scott, Gabriella Rose, Gavin Adcock, Kaitlin Butts, Mark Collie, Margo Price, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum and Trisha Yearwood are all set to perform during the ceremony, taking the stage to honor this year’s distinguished class.
Brenda Lee will also appear as a special guest, while Zach John King will lead the presentation of the ACM Studio Recording and Industry Awards.
But at the center of this year’s ceremony sits one of country music’s greatest storytellers: Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton’s Pen Gets Its Flowers
Parton will receive the ACM Poet’s Award, an honor recognizing her extraordinary influence as a songwriter and the decades of stories, characters and hard-earned truths she has given country music.
She will accept the award through a special video message.
It is difficult to imagine a more fitting distinction for Parton. Before the rhinestones, theme parks, movies and larger-than-life personality, there was always the pen.
Songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” did more than establish Parton as a star. They revealed her as a careful observer of human nature, capable of turning jealousy, poverty, ambition and heartbreak into songs that felt deeply personal and universally understood.
Her work has earned multiple ACM Song of the Year nominations, including recognition for “You’re the Only One,” “9 to 5” and “When I Get Where I’m Going.” She is also a 13-time ACM Award recipient and has hosted the ACM Awards three times.
The Poet’s Award recognizes what country fans have understood for generations: Parton does not simply perform songs. She builds entire worlds inside them.
A Celebration Across Country Music
Parton joins a wide-ranging group of previously announced honorees that reflects the many forces responsible for carrying country music forward.
Bill Anderson, Brett James, C2C: Country to Country, The Carter Family, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, “Landman,” Leslie Fram, Mike Curb and Scott Zolke will all be celebrated during the ceremony.
The honoree list moves from the earliest foundations of the genre to its current cultural reach. The Carter Family’s influence can still be heard in nearly every corner of country and roots music, while artists including Church and Musgraves have expanded the genre’s creative boundaries for a new generation.
The inclusion of Paramount+ series “Landman” also reflects the increasingly close relationship between country music, television and popular culture, where songs can find new audiences through a single unforgettable scene.
ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year winner Ella Langley and ACM Songwriter of the Year winner Jessie Jo Dillon will also be recognized, alongside the previously announced Studio Recording and Industry Award recipients.
It is a reminder that ACM Honors is not merely another awards show. It is a celebration of the entire country music ecosystem, from the artists standing beneath the spotlight to the writers, musicians, executives and behind-the-scenes professionals responsible for getting them there.
Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum Take the Reins
The 19th ACM Honors will be co-hosted by Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum, two artists whose careers have balanced commercial success with a clear respect for country music tradition.
Pearce is a four-time ACM Award winner, while McCollum has earned three ACM trophies. Both will also perform during the evening, giving the ceremony hosts who are not simply guiding the program but actively participating in its musical tributes.
The event will take place Wednesday, August 19, at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
Known throughout the business as the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night,” ACM Honors traditionally offers something slightly different from the genre’s more televised, competition-focused ceremonies. The atmosphere is often more intimate, the performances more personal and the emphasis firmly placed on legacy, craft and contribution.
With this year’s combination of legends, modern superstars and breakout talent, the 19th edition appears poised to live up to that reputation.
How Fans Can Attend
ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music, is also offering an exclusive VIP package benefiting the charity. The experience includes two premium side-stage balcony seats, complimentary drinks, backstage red-carpet photo access, a private meet-and-greet and commemorative merchandise.
TennPop, Seltzer of the South, will serve as the presenting partner for the evening.
For one night in Nashville, country music will pause its constant race toward the next single, the next tour and the next breakout star. Instead, ACM Honors will look backward, forward and behind the curtain, celebrating the writers, performers and industry leaders who make the genre’s biggest moments possible.
And with Dolly Parton’s songwriting legacy at the heart of the night, the message feels especially clear: country music may be driven by voices, but it is built by stories.
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