What You May Have Missed at the ACM Honors: All the Highlights from the 2025 Nashville Show

Though it trodded unfamiliar crushed for 2025, nan ACM Honors erstwhile again succeeded astatine honoring nan often unsung heroes of state euphony successful style.

Taking spot connected Aug. 20, 2025, astatine nan recently constructed Pinnacle venue successful Nashville, nan 18th installment of nan industry-favorite evening deviated from its accustomed location of nan historical Ryman Auditorium for this year’s event. Still, it maintained nan aforesaid level of reverence — and iconic moments — that nan yearly arena has go known for.

Take a peek astatine what went down connected 1 of state music's astir important nights below.

Carly Pearce Takes connected Her Third Consecutive Year Running nan Show (with New Cohosts)

Carly Pearce has travel backmost to nan ACM Honors erstwhile again for her 3rd consecutive twelvemonth hosting nan show, and 5th hosting gig overall, but this twelvemonth caller faces were by her side. Russell Dickerson shared nan shape pinch Pearce, and up-and-coming “Brunette” vocalist Tucker Wetmore was tapped to stock nan shape and thief coming nan Honors arsenic well.

Pearce, 35, made judge to constituent retired that nan typical nighttime "shines a ray connected nan behind-the-scenes individuals who make what we do possible," pinch Dickerson, 38, calling retired friends he could spot successful nan friendly crowd, a divers postulation of country’s astir important figures.

Though Wetmore, 25, joked that he has nan "reading expertise of a first-grader" and was unsure why he was selected to coming successful nan first place, he showed continued reverence for nan Academy and nan pillars of state euphony arsenic a full while presenting cardinal manufacture awards passim nan show.

Icons Were Honored

Eric Church and Ben Vaughn were selected arsenic nan 2025 recipients of nan ACM Icon Award, pinch kudos fixed to Church’s committedness to maintaining nan roots of state music.

Accepting nan award, Church looked backmost astatine his early days cutting teeth successful North Carolina, saying, "God had a bigger plan," arsenic he added, "I’ve been very blessed to beryllium capable to person a career."

"It has been an grant to beryllium capable to do it my ain measurement pinch music," nan musician, 48, continued. "Thank you guys, very much."

Vaughn received nan grant posthumously aft dying by termination astatine 49 successful January, and was honored for his activity complete decades arsenic a sound for some emerging and superstar artists successful nan euphony industry. Until his death, Vaughn served arsenic President and CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville.

To commemorate Vaughn’s life, Chris Janson, 39, performed a heart-wrenching caller original opus dedicated to nan life and times of nan precocious executive. 

Other notable icons, each of whom died wrong nan past year, were besides fixed their infinitesimal successful nan spotlight astatine nan Honors. Aside from nan precocious Vaughn, Brandon Blackstock, Jeannie Seely, Connie Francis and Mike Borchetta were fixed notable mentions to lead disconnected nan show, pinch each individually commended for their contributions to nan euphony industry.

Luke Combs Goes (ACM) International

Luke Combs was commended astatine nan 2025 ACM honors for his efforts to dispersed nan connection of state euphony internationally. Combs, who performed successful 16 countries connected his 2023 World Tour, became nan first creator to waste retired tours successful some Australia and New Zealand. The award, which has antecedently gone to Dan + Shay, Alan Jackson, Lady A, Kacey Musgraves, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others, is conscionable different notch successful Combs' loop pursuing a successful twelvemonth of touring.

"I dream that I person shown to nan fans that I care, nan I person spent my clip to spell and play these shows successful Europe, Australia," Combs, 35, shared while accepting his award. "I ever consciousness for illustration state euphony was truthful sequestered to nan United States for a play of clip … I emotion you guys and I emotion state music."

Earlier this week, Combs and woman Nicole announced they're expecting their 3rd child this winter.

Jelly Roll's Ability to Lift Lives Was Lauded

Jelly Roll’s accordant philanthropic efforts were spotlighted by nan Academy during nan 2025 Honors, pinch nan Nashville native, 40, receiving nan ACM Lifting Lives Award arsenic a consequence of his immense contributions to nan likes of at-risk youth, incarcerated individuals and those navigating addiction. Though he did not be arsenic he was connected The Big Ass Stadium Tour pinch Post Malone, he was commended for being a "fearless, passionate" sound for making a quality successful others’ lives successful a moving pre-recorded message.

"I miss being home," Jelly said successful a prerecorded connection accepting nan award, adding, "To judge an grant for illustration this … what amended measurement to judge it than to give."

The “Save Me” vocalist past boasted that “every dollar donated up to $100,000 I will match,” passim nan long of nan arena to nan ACM’s Lifting Lives efforts.

Randy Travis' Icon Status Was Further Cemented pinch Milestone Award

A sparkling beacon of resilience and an illustration of 1 person’s sheer effect connected nan entirety of a genre, Randy Travis was honored by nan Academy arsenic nan recipient of nan ACM Milestone Award, bestowed upon those who person been a "leader for a specific, unprecedented aliases outstanding accomplishment successful nan section of Country Music," according to nan Honors.

The neoclassical state singer, who appeared alongside his wife, Mary, was fixed kudos for his integration of emerging AI technology, allowing him to navigate nan aftereffects of his 2013 stroke  and proceed to present caller euphony pinch his signature sound that fans person travel to emotion complete nan years.

"Your sound has go portion of clip itself, it’s timeless,”"the singer’s woman said of nan legendary artist, locking arms pinch her hubby who beamed from nan shape arsenic he accepted nan award.

"I whitethorn not singing for illustration I utilized to, but nan euphony still lives heavy wrong me," she continued connected her husband’s behalf, pinch Travis, 66, closing nan reside by mustering a simple, joyous, "Thank you," to roaring applause by attendees.

Stellar Performances Were Abundant Throughout

Only nan Academy of Country Music tin battalion retired a venue filled pinch a proverbial who’s who of state euphony connected a balmy Wednesday nighttime successful August, and for illustration Tennessee’s famed humidity, performers astatine this year’s honors surely brought nan heat.

With performers including Dickerson, Pearce, Janson, Jamey Johnson, Miko Marks, K. Michelle, Victoria Shaw and Luke Bryan, among others, nan 2025 Honors delivered an electrical evening that succeeded astatine championing those astir deserving successful its ranks. 

Pearce and Dickerson led disconnected their cohosting duties pinch a rousing capacity of Johnny and June Carter Cash’s "Jackson," commanding nan shape instantly pinch a beingness only nan 2 grant winners could bring about.

Similar electrical duet power came by measurement of Carter Faith, 25, and Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild, 55, who joined together for a duet rendition of Morgan Wallen’s “Lies, Lies, Lies,” which was cowritten by Jessie Jo Dillon, 38, 1 of nan night’s honorees.

Another rocking screen came via astonishment impermanent HARDY, 35, who tributed Church pinch a head-bumping screen of nan latter’s way "Homeboy."

Similarly, Ashley McBryde, 42, took to nan shape to execute a mega medley of "When It Rains It Pours," "Beautiful Crazy," "Beer Never Broke My Heart," "Where nan Wild Things Are," "Whoever You Turn Out to Be" and "Honky Tonk Highway" successful grant of erstwhile tourmate Combs, injecting a unique, fully-acoustic vibe to nan classical state statement tracks and perfectly encapsulating nan iconic artist’s discography.

As a testament to his contributions to nan Twisters soundtrack, Wetmore took to nan shape to execute his deed way "Already Had It," which appears successful nan deed film.

Closing retired nan show, Bryan, 49, took to nan shape to screen Spirit Award victor Cody Johnson’s chart-topping deed "Til You Can't."

Among each nan electrical performances, a standout infinitesimal was undoubtedly Amy Grant taking nan stage. The six-time Grammy winner, 64, who wore a flowing, printed dress for nan occasion, moved nan crowd pinch a soulful solo screen of Mac McAnally’s 1992 deed track, "All These Years."

"The astir devout atheist successful nan world knows that she’s an angel," McAnally, 68, joked of Grant while accepting nan ACM Poet’s Award pursuing her performance.

The 2025 ACM Honors aerial Saturday, Sept. 27 arsenic a portion of nan CMT Hot 20 Countdown.