ACMs in DFW

A country music fan's 10 top takeaways from 2025 ACM Awards in Frisco

For the third year in a row, the Academy of Country Music Awards took place at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. Held on Thursday, May 8, the 60th edition of the star-studded event – considered the granddaddy country music awards – was hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire and featured performances by 26 artists, including Lainey Wilson, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, and Zach Top.

The show was broadcast live on Prime Video in 240-plus countries (and is still available for streaming).

Locally, it drew 13,000 spectators, and for the first time, I got to be one of them. A longtime country music fan, I threw on my best awards show outfit made "black tie country" (the recommended attire) with tall white boots and trekked from Fort Worth to Frisco for the chance to be part of action.

Before we get to the winners in 15 categories, here are some "insidery" observations and notable takeaways from experiencing the big event in person.

1. Classic country is making a comeback
There’s no doubt about it: Country music fans are craving classic country music. After years of “bro country” dominating the airways with its hip-hop influenced, party-focused lyrics, a new appreciation of '80s, '90s, and early 2000s country sounds have emerged, as evidenced by the excitement for numerous performances and appearances by big acts from those eras.

The show opened with a 12-minute all-star set featuring ACM Songs of the Year from past decades, including Reba McEntire singing “Okie from Muskogee,” Clint Black singing “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Wynonna Judd singing “Why Not Me," and Garland native LeAnn Rimes singing her 1996 hit "Blue."

Zach Top, a 27 year-old newcomer touted for his authentic (and unapologetic) '90s country sound, won New Male Artist of the Year. And '90s country icons Brooks & Dunn, whose last two album releases were simply reboots of their classic hits with new artist collaborations, won Duo of the Year.

Garland native LeAnn Rimes sings "Blue" as part of the opening of the 2025 ACM Awards in Frisco.Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images

2. Jelly Roll is the new Ryan Seacrest
With several recent chart-topping hits, including “Need a Favor,” “Son of a Sinner,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Liar,” and his duet with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me,” the former rapper from Tennessee has found a home in the country music scene. ACM Awards nominations for Jelly Roll included Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.

Radio personality Bobby Bones, who hosted backstage interviews with artists during ACM Awards show breaks, gave the rising country music star a new title.

“You’re like the tattooed faced Ryan Seacrest at this point,” said Bones. “You’re everywhere.”

He’s also everywhere in Dallas-Fort Worth right now.

Thousands descended on Billy Bob’s Texas on Tuesday, May 6 (myself included) for Jelly Roll & Friends, a benefit concert held ahead of the ACM Awards that benefited ACM Lifting Lives. He performed “Amen” at the ACMs with Shaboozy and a 16-member choir and is also scheduled to perform with Post Malone at AT&T Stadium on Friday, May 9.

Jelly Roll performs onstage during Jelly Roll & Friends at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth on May 6.Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images

3. Alan Jackson is the GOAT
If there was a tear-jerking moment during the ACM Awards, it was Alan Jackson’s performance of 2003 hit, “Remember When.” Written by Jackson himself, the love song recounts decades of memories with his wife, Denise. The relatable lyrics (“Remember when, thirty seemed so old, now looking back, it's just a stepping stone”) coupled with close-ups of Jackson’s authentically tender facial expressions resulted in not one dry eye in The Ford Center.

The ACMs debuted the inaugural Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of Jackson’s achievements and enduring legacy in country music. He’s sold more than 75 million records worldwide, has more than 50 Top 10 hits, and 35 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country charts. (He also sold out Fort Worth's Dickies Arena back in February with opener Zach Top. I was there, too.)

Jackson was the first recipient of the new award, which will continue to recognize an iconic artist, duo, or group that has achieved national and international prominence through concert performances, philanthropy, record sales, streaming numbers, and public representation.

4. Girl power was big
It was a night for the ladies at the 60th ACM Awards, with females taking the crown for numerous coveted categories. (See below.) The award for Female Artist of the Year went to Lainey Wilson and was presented by five past winners of the category including Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle, and Wynonna Judd.

Electrifying female performances included New Female Artist of the Year Winner Ella Langley, and Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson, who together sang their upcoming track, “Trailblazer,” for the first time exclusively on the ACM stage.

Lainey Wilson, ACM Awards Lainey Wilson, winner of the Entertainer of the Year and several other ACM Awards.Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images

5. Morgan Wallen was a no-show, again
For a guy who’s arguably the biggest superstar in country music right now (he sold out back-to-back shows at AT&T Stadium last year), Morgan Wallen has made clear he’s not a fan of awards shows. Despite being up for seven nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, the 31 year-old Tennessee native was notably absent at the 60^th ACM Awards.

He also skipped last year’s awards, along with the 2025 Grammy Awards. He was apparently hanging with Tom Brady instead. Just before those ACM Awards were set to begin, Wallen posted a photo of himself and the legendary NFL quarterback tossing a football on a golf course reportedly in Ireland. Two years ago, he was set to star in an ACM Lifting Lives fundraiser and withdrew the night before.

6. Brooks & Dunn can get a crowd out of their seat
Further proving fans are nostalgic for classic country hits, perhaps the most energetic performance of the evening was the collaboration between Brooks & Dunn and Cody Johnson for Brooks & Dunn’s “Red Dirt Road.” Stars and spectators alike danced out of their seats during the 2003 hit. No wonder they get asked back, again and again, to red-hot DFW events like Cattle Baron's Ball and the Texas Rangers' Tex Gala.

Brooks & Dunn, ACM Awards Kix Brooks (right) and Ronnie Dunn, winners of the Duo Of The Year Award, pose in the press room during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards.Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images

7. Jerry Jones arrived via helicopter
Decked-out fans walking into The Ford Center before the ACM Awards were greeted big the loud arrival (and later, takeoff) of Jerry Jones’ helicopter. The Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager is known to make flamboyant entrances via his preferred method of transportation around town. The Ford Center is the official practice center of the Dallas Cowboys, and it’s through a partnership with Jones that the ACM Awards have been hosted there since 2023.

8. The ACM Awards have a signature drink
Attendees of the 60^th ACM Awards could order a specialty cocktail called the Boot & Berry Fizz. Made with Western Son Strawberry Vodka, the fruity concoction included elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of club soda.

9. Ella Langley is the new country music “It” girl
With five big wins, including Single of the Year for her duet with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me,” Alabama native Ella Langley shined at the ACM Awards. She had two performances during the event and was also the most nominated with eight nods. At 26 years old, Langley’s just getting started.

10. Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts are the duo we didn’t know we needed
In an over-the-top finale complete with fireworks and ticker tape, the ACM Awards ended with a surprising collab between '90s boy band icons Backstreet Boys and the recently reunited Rascal Flatts. The two groups meshed performances that included “What Hurts the Most,” “I Dare You,” “Larger Than Life,” and “Life is a Highway." The jam-packed set kept the crowd dancing until the very last second - including myself, despite my plans to beat the rush.

Here is full list of winners in the 15 categories voted on by Academy members:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Lainey Wilson

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lainey Wilson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton

DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ella Langley

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Top

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Red Clay Strays

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
“you look like you love me” - Ella Langley, Riley Green

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessie Jo Dillon

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Lainey Wilson

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
“You Look Like You Love Me” - Ella Langley, Riley Green

Photo courtesy ACM Awards

"It girl" Ella Langley led ACM nominations with eight nods

acm awards country music country music awards ford center jerry jones lainey wilson morgan wallen

Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer is an unappreciated mom in Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

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