Alan Jackson held back tears while accepting the first-ever ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 ACM Awards on Thursday, May 8.
Live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, ACM Awards host Reba McEntire presented the country music legend with the coveted award after his tear-jerking performance of “Remember When.”
“Alan, you know we love you,” McEntire before handing the trophy to Jackson. “It’s quite an honor.”
Alan Jackson Accept ACM Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award
Jackson then stepped up to the microphone to make an acceptance speech. “Usually one of my fans tells me they named their dog after me, and I thought that was really something,” the 66-year-old country music icon said while accepting the prestigious honor. “I came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream, and that all these years later I’m standing here receiving such an honor is mind-blowing. I thank God all the time, for all the people that have been part of my life and career, that helped me get here and maintain this all this time.”
He then went on to thank his wife of 45 years, Denise Jackson, “the one person, who’s been my best friend since I was 17 years old — That’s my wife Denise out there. She’s loved me through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. Influenced me, gave me three beautiful daughters, and she’s helped me keep my feet on the ground all these years. I would not be here without her.”
2025 ACM Awards
The 2025 ACM Awards kicked off in a big way, celebrating 60 years of country music with a must-see opening performance on Thursday, May 8. An all-star lineup — including Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland — took the stage for a special 12-minute medley honoring ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades.
The night was packed with incredible performances from top artists such as Jackson, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Zach Top, and Brooks & Dunn — with plenty of surprises along the way.
Fans were also treated to star-studded collaborations, including the Backstreet Boys with Rascal Flatts, a powerful duet from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and a high-energy joint performance by Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson. Plus, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson debuted their new track, “Trailblazers.”
A-list presenters included Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Jordan Davis, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, The Oak Ridge Boys, Chase Elliott, Amber Anderson, Kelly Sutton, and many more.
Hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire — a 16-time ACM Award winner — the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards streamed live exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch for a global audience in over 240 countries and territories. The show aired Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8/7 PM CT, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas — the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.
