The 2025 music awards season has been marked by a series of events honoring both contemporary stars and legendary figures for their contributions to the industry.
At the 60th annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Lainey Wilson dominated the evening, winning Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year, along with Female Artist and Album of the Year. The event celebrated both contemporary stars and legendary acts. Ella Langley and Riley Green won for Single and Music Event of the Year with “You Look Like You Love Me.” Cody Johnson secured Song of the Year with “Dirt Cheap.”
A nostalgic medley kicked off the show, featuring hits from six decades by performers like Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes. Alan Jackson received the inaugural ACM Lifetime Achievement Award and performed “Remember When.” Other standout performances included a collaborative debut by McEntire, Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, as well as appearances by Eric Church, Zach Top, Blake Shelton, and Chris Stapleton. The night also honored legends like the late Kris Kristofferson with a moving sing-along, and the late Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall was remembered as Old Dominion received Group of the Year. Keith Urban received the prestigious Triple Crown Award. The awards streamed live on Prime Video and Twitch.
At the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) in Las Vegas, Kendrick Lamar led with 10 nominations, competing against Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Beyoncé, and others. The event, hosted by Jennifer Lopez and broadcast live on CBS, featured fan-voted winners, with “Artist of the Year” as the top prize. Swift, already the most decorated AMA artist with 40 wins and fresh off a record-breaking tour, was among the key contenders. Other nominees for the top honor included Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, SZA, and more. Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us,” targeting Drake, was up for Song of the Year following its Grammy sweep. Post Malone contended in eight categories, including favorite male country artist, while Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” was nominated for both album of the year and favorite country album. The ceremony paid tribute to Janet Jackson with the Icon Award and Rod Stewart with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Performers included Lopez, Jackson, Stewart, Gwen Stefani, and others.
MusiCares, an organization providing assistance to music professionals in need, honored The Grateful Dead as its 2025 Persons of the Year, recognizing their philanthropic efforts and substantial impact on American music. The original band members, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir, were acknowledged for supporting causes like environmental conservation, mental health, music education, social justice, and poverty alleviation. The tribute ceremony was held on January 31, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, just before the Grammy Awards. The Grateful Dead, formed in 1965 in the Bay Area, have significantly influenced the music industry with their unique improvisational style and have built a devoted community known as Dead Heads. They have previously been honored with a Lifetime Achievement award from the Recording Academy and were included in the 47th class of the Kennedy Center Honorees.
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025, and broadcast live on Fox, were hosted by LL Cool J. At the ceremony, Mariah Carey was honored with the Icon Award for her “incredible and influential career as singer, songwriter, and producer, who has broken virtually every chart and touring record around the globe.” Lady Gaga was honored with the Innovator Award for being a “modern day artist innovator,” who has taken “beyond creating music and performances that have inspired the world, and an outspoken activist, philanthropist and supporter of many important issues.” Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour was honored with Tour of the Century. Nelly was honored with the Landmark Award, which honors artists whose album releases have inspired and shaped culture over multiple decades. Swift and Morgan Wallen led the nominations with 10 each; Swift was the most awarded artist of the ceremony, winning nine awards.
The 25th anniversary of the BET Awards, airing live on June 9 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will honor iconic figures Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin with the Ultimate Icon Award for their significant contributions to entertainment and community advocacy. Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with 10, driven by his acclaimed album “GNX” and the hit diss track “Not Like Us,” following his Grammy wins and pioneering Super Bowl halftime performance. Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla follow with six nominations each. The event will be hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, marking his return to BET after previous successes with the network. Performances by Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Teyana Taylor, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas are confirmed. A tribute to BET’s influential show “106 & Park” will reunite its former hosts and artists like Bow Wow and T.I. Notable nominees for best actor and actress include Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Viola Davis, and Zendaya, while athletes like Stephen Curry and Simone Biles vie for sports honors.
These events underscore the music industry’s commitment to honoring both emerging talents and established legends, celebrating their contributions to the cultural landscape.
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