Kelsea Ballerini, Nicole Kidman and Lainey Wilson dazzle at ACM Awards

by · Mail Online

Kelsea Ballerini, Nicole Kidman and Lainey Wilson led the glamour parade on the red carpet of the glitzy Academy Of Country Music Awards.

Hosted by Reba McEntire at the Ford Center At The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, the dazzling event welcomed the leading lights of the country music world.

A standout among them was Kelsea, who was nominated for three awards that night - entertainer of the year, female artist of the year and music event of the year.

The 31-year-old blonde bombshell radiated her megawatt showbiz magnetism on the red carpet, draping her willowy frame in a flattering nude gown.

Her frock featured a low-cut neckline with black fabric over her bust, then flowed down into a ruched mesh skirt that billowed back into a train.

Sharpening her screen siren features with makeup, she wore her hair styled into an elegant updo and aimed an enigmatic smile at the camera.

Kelsea Ballerini , Nicole Kidman and Lainey Wilson led the glamour parade on the red carpet of the glitzy Academy Of Country Music Awards
Thrown at the the Ford Center At The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, the dazzling event welcomed a wide array of celebrities including Lainey (left) and Nicole (right)

Kelsea attended the fete on the arm of her dashing boyfriend Chase Stokes of Outer Banks fame, wearing a black top that plunged to emphasize his bronzed chest.

The country songstress, who has raved publicly about her steamy sex life with Chase, clung amorously to him as they posed together on the red carpet.

Read More

Kelsea Ballerini does not want to become 'the poster child for divorce' after very public split from Morgan Evans

Meanwhile Nicole was action star chic in a sleek black MONSE ensemble that included a sleeveless leather turtleneck and raven-colored cargo grousers.

Amplifying the effect, she struck a bold pose with her legs wide apart, placing her hands firmly at her sides as if on a poster for an upcoming blockbuster.

She hit the red carpet that night in support of her country star husband Keith Urban, who was being favored with a top honor that night.

Keith was there to be garlanded with the ACM Triple Crown Award, given to an artist who has over the years won a new artist award, a best male or female artist award and an entertainer of the year award. 

Nicole was seen standing proudly beside her husband, who matched her in head-to-toe black, leaving a few top buttons beguilingly undone to hint at his chest tattoos.

Kelsea attended the fete on the arm of her dashing boyfriend Chase Stokes of Outer Banks fame, wearing a black top that plunged to emphasize his bronzed chest
The 31-year-old blonde bombshell radiated her megawatt showbiz magnetism on the red carpet, draping her willowy frame in a flattering nude gown
The country songstress, who has raved publicly about her steamy sex life with Chase, clung amorously to him as they posed together on the red carpet
Meanwhile Nicole was action star chic in a sleek black MONSE ensemble that included a sleeveless leather turtleneck and raven-colored cargo grousers
She hit the red carpet that night in support of her country star husband Keith Urban, who was being favored with a top honor that night
Nicole was seen standing proudly beside her husband, who matched her in head-to-toe black, leaving a few top buttons beguilingly undone to hint at his chest tattoos
Lainey was the image of timeless country style, with her heavily brocaded jacket, flared trousers, cowgirl hat and long single braid
She was accompanied to the awards show by her dashing fiancé, ex-NFL quarterback Devlin 'Duck' Hodges, who matched her black cowboy hat

ACM Awards 2025 Winners: AT A GLANCE

Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year: Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year: Chris Stapleton

Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn

Group of the Year: Old Dominion

New Female Artist of the Year: Ella Langley  

New Male Artist of the Year: Zach Top

New Duo or Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays

Album of the Year: Whirlwind — Lainey Wilson

Single of the Year: you look like you love me — Ella Langley, Riley Green

Song of the Year: Dirt Cheap — Cody Johnson

Music Event of the Year: you look like you love me — Ella Langley, Riley Green

Visual Media of the Year: you look like you love me — Ella Langley, Riley Green

Artist–Songwriter of the Year: Lainey Wilson

Songwriter of the Year: Jessie Jo Dillon

Lainey was the image of timeless country style, with her heavily brocaded jacket, flared trousers, cowgirl hat and long single braid.

She has a formidable six nominations that night, including for entertainer of the year, female artist of the year and artist-songwriter of the year.

Lainey is also up for song of the year for 4x4xU, her trio with Aaron Raitiere and Jon Decious, for visual media of the year for the single's music video and for album of the year for her latest LP Whirlwind.

She was accompanied to the awards show by her dashing fiancé, ex-NFL quarterback Devlin 'Duck' Hodges, who matched her black cowboy hat.

Wynonna Judd, who heartbreakingly performed her and her late mother's classic duet Why Not Me onstage that night, put on a brave smile on the red carpet.

Reba, back to host the ACM Awards for the 18th time for its 60th anniversary, exuded a simple elegance in a black trousers suit and blouse.

Songstress Morgan Wade, who has been at the swirl of romance rumors with Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, was also among the attendees.

So was Jelly Roll, nominated for three awards including entertainer of the year, who shared a sweet kiss with his wife Bunnie Xo on the red carpet.

Wynonna Judd, who heartbreakingly performed her and her late mother's classic duet Why Not Me onstage that night, put on a brave smile on the red carpet
Reba, back to host the ACM Awards for the 18th time for its 60th anniversary, exuded a simple elegance in a black trousers suit and blouse
Songstress Morgan Wade, who has been at the swirl of romance rumors with Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, was also among the attendees
So was Jelly Roll, nominated for three awards including entertainer of the year, who shared a sweet kiss with his wife Bunnie Xo on the red carpet
LeAnn Rimes, who performed her hitmaking single Blue that night, wore a tantalizingly flesh-flashing dress as she strode the red carpet with her husband Eddie Cibrian
Chris Stapleton, the reliable toast of the country music awards shows, also turned the event into a date night, arriving with his wife Morgane
A number of the attendees put on a sparkly display in silver, including country songstress Carly Pearce (left) and Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson (right)
Chris Stapleton, the reliable toast of the country music awards shows, also turned the event into a date night, arriving with his wife Morgane
Jessie Murph, attending the ACM Awards for the first time, made sure to make a splash on the red carpet by carrying a pig there with her

LeAnn Rimes, who performed her hitmaking single Blue that night, wore a tantalizingly flesh-flashing dress as she strode the red carpet with her husband Eddie Cibrian.

Chris Stapleton, the reliable toast of the country music awards shows, also turned the event into a date night, arriving with his wife Morgane.

A number of the attendees put on a sparkly display in silver, including country songstress Carly Pearce and Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson.

Jessie Murph, attending the ACM Awards for the first time, made sure to make a splash on the red carpet by carrying a pig there with her.

Jessie James Decker was the image of a busty bombshell in a clinging, sparkling gown done in a color stream of dark gold to nude.

The 37-year-old country star swung around to reveal her dress was topless and highlight how it emphasized her voluptuous figure.

Zach Top, who captivated the audience with a performance of his haunting ballad Use Me, beamed on the red carpet beforehand with his girlfriend Amelia Taylor.

Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion stood together for a magnetic group shot to remember - shortly before they won the group of the year award for a record-breaking eighth time.

Jessie James Decker was the image of a busty bombshell in a clinging, sparkling gown done in a color stream of dark gold to nude
Zach Top, who captivated the audience with a performance of his haunting ballad Use Me, beamed on the red carpet beforehand with his girlfriend Amelia Taylor
Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion stood together for a magnetic group shot to remember
Shaboozey (left) wore a brown leather look straight out of an old Western, while Rhys Rutherford (right) made a splash in a checked suit
Cody Johnson glowed with pride alongside his wife Amber, whom he joyously announced was pregnant while attending the red carpet
Some names skipped the red carpet but appeared at the show, including Miranda Lambert, who was glimpsed backstage with her husband Brendan McLoughlin 
She took the stage that evening alongside rising 26-year-old country singer Ella Langley, singing a duet of Miranda's breakthrough single Kerosene
Another example was musical icon Lionel Richie, who noted that he wrote Lady for Kenny Rogers before presenting song of the year to Cody's Dirt Cheap

Shaboozey wore a brown leather look straight out of an old Western, while Rhys Rutherford made a splash in a checked suit. 

Cody Johnson glowed with pride alongside his wife Amber, whom he joyously announced was pregnant while attending the red carpet. 

Some names skipped the red carpet but appeared at the show, including Miranda Lambert, who was glimpsed backstage with her husband Brendan McLoughlin.

She took the stage that evening alongside rising 26-year-old country singer Ella Langley, singing a duet of Miranda's breakthrough single Kerosene.

Another example was musical icon Lionel Richie, who noted that he wrote Lady for Kenny Rogers before presenting song of the year to Cody's Dirt Cheap.

ACM Awards 2025 WINNERS

Entertainer of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Luke Combs

Cody Johnson

Jelly Roll 

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson — WINNER

Lainey Wilson was one of the night's big winners

 

Female Artist of the Year 

Kelsea Ballerini

Ella Langley

Megan Moroney

Kacey Musgraves

Lainey Wilson — WINNER 

 

Male Artist of the Year

Luke Combs

Cody Johnson

Jelly Roll

Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Morgan Wallen

Chris Stapleton beat out a tough crowd to win Male Artist of the Year

 

Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn — WINNER

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Muscadine Bloodline

The War and Treaty

 

Group of the Year

Flatland Cavalry

Little Big Town

Old Dominion — WINNER

Rascal Flatts

The Red Clay Strays

 

New Female Artist of the Year

Kassi Ashton

Ashley Cooke

Dasha

Ella Langley — WINNER

Jessie Murph

 

New Male Artist of the Year

Gavin Adcock

Shaboozey

Zach Top — WINNER

Tucker Wetmore

Bailey Zimmerman

New Duo or Group of the Year

Restless Road

The Red Clay Strays — WINNER

Treaty Oak Revival

 

Album of the Year

Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) - Megan Moroney

Beautifully Broken - Jelly Roll 

Cold Beer & Country Music - Zach Top 

F-1 Trillion - Post Malone

Whirlwind - Lainey Wilson — WINNER

 

Single of the Year

A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey

Dirt Cheap - Cody Johnson

I Had Some Help - Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

White Horse - Chris Stapleton

you look like you love me - Ella Langley, Riley Green — WINNER

 

Song of the Year

4x4xU - Lainey Wilson

The Architect - Kacey Musgraves

Dirt Cheap - Cody Johnson — WINNER

I Had Some Help - Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

you look like you love me - Ella Langley, Riley Green

 

Music Event of the Year

Cowboys Cry Too - Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan

I Had Some Help - Post Malone, Morgan Wallen

I’m Gonna Love You - Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

we don’t fight anymore - Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton

you look like you love me - Ella Langley, Riley Green — WINNER

 

Visual Media of the Year

4x4xU - Lainey Wilson

Dirt Cheap - Cody Johnson

I’m Gonna Love You - Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood

Think I’m In Love With You - Chris Stapleton

you look like you love me - Ella Langley, Riley Green — WINNER

Riley Green (L) and Ella Langley (center) won multiple awards for their single, you look like you love me

 

Artist–Songwriter of the Year

Luke Combs

ERNEST

HARDY

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson — WINNER

 

Songwriter of the Year 

Jessi Alexander

Jessie Jo Dillon — WINNER

Ashley Gorley

Chase McGill

Josh Osborne