Live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, country music’s biggest stars will be on full display during the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, streaming on Prime Video. Hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire, the 60th edition of the award show is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular events in all of music.
During the ceremony, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, and many more are set to perform. Special duets include the Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson. Plus, the show opens with a 14-minute “Songs of the Decades” performance celebrating 60 years of country music.
When to Watch
Thursday, May 8
- Time: Live broadcast begins at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT
- Stream: Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch
How to Watch the 2025 ACM Awards Live
The ACM Awards will stream live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. No Prime membership is required to watch the live broadcast, but if you want to unlock everything Prime offers. That includes thousands of movies and TV shows, Prime Music, fast shipping, and other perks. You can subscribe to Amazon Prime for $14.99/month or $139/year. If you prefer just the streaming service, Prime Video alone is $8.99/month.
If you miss the show live, you can watch the full rebroadcast the next day for free on Amazon Prime Video.
What to Know About the ACM Awards
The Academy of Country Music was founded back in 1964 in Los Angeles by a group of artists, songwriters, and club owners who wanted to spotlight country music talent from the western U.S.. The organization’s iconic “hat” trophy was introduced in 1968, and over the decades, the ACM Awards grew from a regional event to one of the biggest stages in country music.
The ACM Awards first hit television screens in 1972, making history as the first country music awards show broadcast nationwide. Over the years, it’s moved across major networks (from NBC to CBS) before becoming the first major awards show to stream exclusively online with Prime Video in 2022.
In 2015, the ACM Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, selling out in just 18 minutes and setting a Guinness World Record as the most attended live awards show with over 70,000 fans. Now, as the Academy celebrates its 60th anniversary, the ACM Awards continue to push boundaries, spotlighting both country legends and rising stars for a global audience.