By Jessica Wedemeyer
2:24am PDT, May 12, 2025
_
The 2025 ACM Awards had a little something for everyone — from a surprise
Keith Urban performance to "a magical moment" courtesy
LeAnn Rimes, a tearjerker from a country music legend, a collaboration with a boy band that brought the house down and so much more.
But not every act hit it out of the park during the May 8 show in Frisco, Texas…
Join us as we look back at every performance from the 2025 award show, which aired on Prime Video — from worst to best.
Keep reading to see the evening's top performer…MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news and photo galleries
No. 22: Eric Church
We hate to say it, but
Eric Church sounded a little pitchy while performing his new single "Hands Of Time."
No. 21: Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney didn't quite hit the right note with her cover of
Keith Urban's 2006 single "Stupid Boy" during the medley tribute to the Australian superstar.
No. 20: Ella Langley
Ella Langley's high energy couldn't make up for her thin vocals during her performance of her 2024 single "weren't for the wind."
No. 19: Clint Black
Clint Black's cover of Larry Weiss' 1974 song "Rhinestone Cowboy" (which Glen Campbell popularized) in the opening medley was nice but ultimately forgettable.
No. 18: Little Big Town
Little Big Town performed their 2014 single "Girl Crush" as part of the opening medley. And it was totally fine!
No. 17: Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton performed his 2024 single "Texas," and while there was technically nothing wrong with his performance, it was also nothing to write home about. Next!
No. 16: Zach Top
Zach Top delivered a lovely but route rendition of his 2024 single "Use Me."
No. 15: Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire — who pulled double duty as the evening's host — kicked off the 2025 ACM Awards with a lovely though basic rendition of Merle Haggard's 1969 hit "Okie From Muskogee." Her later performance wasn't particularly memorable either — more on that next!
No. 14: Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson
Reba McEntire,
Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson donned coordinating suede ensembles while performing their new single "Trailblazer" live for the very first time. Their vocals were nice; their fits were nicer. Ultimately, we were left wanting more.
No. 13: Miranda Lambert with Ella Langley
Miranda Lambert's energy was sadly lacking during her performance of her 2024 single "Run." Fortunately, Ella Langley helped her take things up a notch when she joined her onstage for a duet of her 2005 single "Kerosene." If nothing else, the flames shooting behind them held our attention.
No. 12: Jelly Roll and Shaboozey
We love Jelly Roll, but his live vocals leave a lot to be desired – as evidenced by his rendition of his 2024 single "Heart of Stone" during the 2025 ACM Awards. Fortunately, that was just the first half of his set: He got an able assist from Shaboozey and a group of singing backup dancers on a well-executed performance of their 2024 collaboration "Amen."
No. 11: Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys
Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys closed out the 2025 ACM Awards with a medley of some of their biggest hits: "What Hurts the Most," "I Dare You," "Larger Than Life" and "Life Is a Highway." Their vocals weren't always perfect, but we couldn't help getting pumped with that much star-power on one stage!
No. 10: Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd's powerful vocals were on full display when she performed The Judds' 1984 hit "Why Not Me" as part of the opening medley.
No. 9: Lainey Wilson
Thank goodness for Lainey Wilson, who captured our attention with her high-energy rendition of her 2024 single "Whirlwind," dancing her away across an increasingly smoke-filled stage.
No. 8: Cody Johnson with Brooks & Dunn
Cody Johnson's performance — a rendition of his 2023 single "The Fall" — was shaping up to be lovely but forgettable until Brooks & Dunn joined him on stage for a team-up of their 2003 hit "Red Dirt Road."
No. 7: Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson had the crowd in tears when he performed his 2003 single "Remember When" before accepting the inaugural Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2025 ACM Awards.
No. 6: Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini knocked it out of the park with her performance of her 2024 single "Baggage" clad in a sparkly silver jumpsuit while perched atop a set piece comprised of piled gold suitcase. Pyrotechnics capped off her high-energy number. Well done!
No. 5: Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton proved to be the night's VIP with his flawless cover of
Keith Urban's 2016 single "Blue Ain't Your Color" during the medley tribute to the Australian superstar. But his earlier performance was the true showstopper — more on that next!
No. 4: Chris Stapleton with Morgane Stapleton
Chris Stapleton's performance of his 2023 single "It Takes A Woman" proved that you don't need pyrotechnics or fancy staging when your voice sounds this good – especially not when your wife, Morgane Stapleton, has an equally impressive voice and is available for backup!
No. 3: Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay shut down the opening medley with their rendition of their 2018 hit "Tequila." Our jaws dropped when Shay Mooney held the final note (for a very, VERY long time), sparking thunderous applause from the audience.
No. 2: Brothers Osborn with Keith Urban
Brothers Osborne brought the house down with their cover of
Keith Urban's 2001 single "Where the Blacktop Ends" during the medley tribute to the Australian superstar. The cherry on top? Keith joined them onstage to close out the number.
No. 1: LeAnn Rimes
She's still got it!
LeAnn Rimes absolutely killed a slowed-down version of Bill Mack's "Blue" backed by a string quartet during the opening medley. (She famously covered the 1958 ballad back in 1996 as her debut single.) Bobby Bones said it best later it the show: It was "a magical moment."
