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

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma gives horror a surreal twist

Photo courtesy of MUBI

Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.

The horror genre really ramped up in the 1970s and ‘80s, bringing with it a new subgenre - the slasher - that gave audiences new visuals of gore, but also a reliance on sexism and homophobia that would come to define the era. The new film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma wrestles with that legacy in ways that are funny, thought-provoking, and downright strange.

Kris (Hannah Einbinder) is a queer filmmaker who has been hired to reboot the moldy IP that is the Camp Miasma franchise, one that was fresh in the 1970s but which numerous shlocky sequels have rendered irrelevant. In an attempt to get to know the property better, Kris has scored a meeting with the reclusive Billy (Gillian Anderson), the star of the original film who has shunned the public eye for decades.

Turns out that Billy lives deep in the woods at Camp Rivoli, which served as the location for the first film. As Kris tries to get to know Billy and convince her to be a part of the new film, she starts to fall under Billy’s spell and the lore of the franchise as a whole. That includes believing that the movie’s villain, Little Death - a transgender person who has an air conditioning vent as a head/mask - may not just be a character created for the movies.

Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow), the film at first feels like it’s going to go the straight-up comedy route, with comic explosions of blood, a strange fascination with candy brands, and a production design that does nothing to hide that the two main actors are on a movie set with painted backdrops. This is backed up by Kris’ phone conversations with her girlfriend, Mari (Jasmine Savoy Brown) and her agent (Sarah Sherman), as well as numerous other details.

But the film starts to go down the surreal route the longer Kris stays at the camp with Billy, especially when they sit down to watch the original Camp Miasma. An extended sequence shows a good amount of that film-within-the-film, demonstrating why Kris and Billy have a love/hate relationship with the property. For Kris, though, the lines between the film and the real world start to blur, and Schoenbrun uses a variety of out-there elements to drive the point home.

The final act of the film can barely be described as Kris goes deeper down the rabbit hole, with Schoenbrun using her film to comment on the horror genre as a whole, its treatment of women and LGBT people, the movie industry, and more. All the while the “camp” of Camp Miasma maintains a presence, with candy wrappers showing up everywhere and the tongue-in-cheek references to Little Death (the French term La petite mort, which means “the little death,” is a euphemism for orgasm).

Einbinder, an Emmy winner for Hacks, is the perfect person to inhabit her role. Her established real-life and fictional personas color everything she does in the film, with her enthusiasm and curiosity shining through. Anderson leans heavily into another reference - Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard - to create a character that is as mysterious as she is alluring. Supporting actors like Brown, Sherman, Patrick Fischler, Dylan Baker, and Eva Victor keep the movie at the right pitch all the way through.

While other films have made fun of horror movie tropes before, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma finds a wholly unique way of doing so. It’s a funny and daring trip into the psyches of two women who may be victims of their own obsessions, and of the movies that made them that way.

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Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is now playing in select theaters

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