Ella Langley and Zach Top to Take the Stage at the 60th ACM Awards After Big Wins

The Academy of Country Music is making dreams come true — and this year, two of country’s hottest rising stars are living proof.

According to the press release, Ella Langley and Zach Top will both take the stage at the 60th ACM Awards, following their wins for ACM New Female Artist of the Year and ACM New Male Artist of the Year, respectively. The star-studded show, hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire, streams live exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT, broadcasting globally from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas — a.k.a. the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

In true country music fashion, both Langley and Top found out about their wins in the most unforgettable ways. According to the press release, Langley, who leads this year’s ACM nominations with a whopping eight nods, was surprised mid-set at the Rock The Country festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. In front of a packed crowd, a special video message from none other than Miranda Lambert — the most awarded artist in ACM history — lit up the screens to deliver the exciting news.

Meanwhile, Top was blindsided (in the best way) backstage before his sold-out show in Wilmington, North Carolina, when a heartfelt video from country icons Brooks & Dunn congratulated him on his first ACM win.

The newly crowned winners didn’t waste a second soaking it all in.

"I couldn’t be more honored, and I can’t say a big enough thank you to my fans for loving music and loving what we do on the road and listening to the songs every day," Top shared after receiving his trophy. "It means the world to me... it’s cool to be able to get a little trophy every now and then to let us know that we’re doing good doing it."

Langley, overwhelmed with gratitude, shared a heartfelt message with her fans: "Every day of my life, I’ve just prayed about this and thought about it, and literally everything I’ve ever done was to be able to do this," she said. "I’m just really grateful to have fans that are listening to the music and see that it is truth... I'm a real-life human being going through life like the rest of everyone else."

Their victories couldn’t come at a hotter time. According to the press release, Langley's career has been on a skyrocketing trajectory following the release of her debut album hungover, hailed by The New York Times and Rolling Stone as one of 2024’s best. Her hit single “you look like you love me” featuring Riley Green has already made serious waves — charting Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, scoring her first No. 1 at Country radio, and helping her become one of just two women to top the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in 2024.

Top has been making serious noise of his own. His debut album Cold Beer & Country Music racked up over 3.5 million streams in its first week, and his headline tour — complete with two sold-out nights at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium — has been selling out venues across the country. He’s also gearing up to hit the road with legends like Alan Jackson on the "Last Call Tour" and Dierks Bentley on the upcoming "Broken Branches Tour."

Of course, the 60th ACM Awards stage will be packed with country music royalty. Langley and Top will join a jaw-dropping lineup that includes Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Clint Black, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, and Wynonna Judd.

It’s safe to say, when Ella Langley and Zach Top step into the spotlight on May 8, they won’t just be new artists anymore — they’ll be bonafide stars.