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MUSIC PEOPLE
NEWS
JUNE 2025 Volume 56 Number 6 Issue 664
Editor Kelly Gregory
Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Jonny Brick, Chris Brown, Tony Byworth, Larry Delaney, Rosie Carter, Don Cusic, Julie Flaskett, Michael Hingston, Stan Hitchcock, Tony Ives, Sianna King, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III, Bryce Martin, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Chris Smith, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Dan Wallace, Dave Watkins, Jack Watkins
New release consultant Steve Tidbury
Photographers Patricia Presley, Barry Dixon
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Lainey Wilson © Gilbert Flores / Penske Media
60TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
T he 60th Academy of Country Music
Awards took place on May 8, 2025, and was a night to remember for country music fans around the world. The event, hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning icon Reba McEntire, was a commercial-free, two-and-a-halfhour show that streamed live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The show kicked off with a twelve minute all-star set celebrating the 60th anniversary of the ACM Awards, featuring live performances of Songs of the Year from the past six decades. The performances included Reba McEntire singing Okie from Muskogee, Clint Black singing Rhinestone Cowboy, Wynonna Judd singing Why Not Me, LeAnn Rimes singing Blue, Little Big Town singing Girl Crush, and Dan + Shay singing Tequila.
The night’ s biggest honour, Entertainer of the Year, was awarded to Lainey Wilson( pictured above), marking her second consecutive win. Ella Langley led the night with five wins, including ACM New Female Artist of the Year, ACM Single of the Year, and ACM Music Event of the Year. At the end of the night, Langley said she was“ on cloud nine.”
Other notable winners included Riley Green, who took home three awards for his collaboration with Ella Langley
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