The Academy of Country Music (ACM), Prime Video, and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) revealed Country superstar, Keith Urban, will be honored with the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award and honored with numerous performances of his songs by fellow artists at the Academy of Country Music Awards Presented by Carnival Cruise Line. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories 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 from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

The monumental show will feature performances honoring ACM Triple Crown Award recipient Keith Urban, with must-see performances of his chart-topping hits by Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, and Brothers Osborne. The ACM Triple Crown Award is a special recognition presented by the Academy of Country Music to artists who have won three distinct, prestigious awards, including New Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Urban achieved this honor by winning Top New Male Vocalist in 2001, Male Vocalist of the Year in 2005 and 2006, and Entertainer of the Year in 2019, and he is the first artist to receive this honor on the ACM Awards since Carrie Underwood in 2010 at the 45th ACM Awards.

As previously announced, the milestone show will feature performances you won’t want to miss, including:

The celebration of 60 years of the ACM Awards will feature an opening with 12 minutes straight of music highlighting ACM Songs of the Year from six decades in an all-star performance that brings together Clint Black, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Sugarland, and Wynonna Judd. Powerhouse duets, including a collaborative performance between Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts; a standout performance from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey; and Brooks & Dunn will take the stage with Cody Johnson. Performances from Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert, as well as New Artist of the Year winners Ella Langley and Zach Top.

This Emmy-nominated, star-powered experience will feature unprecedented performances, exclusive collaborations, and unexpected moments from the biggest Country Music stars of the past, present, and future, all while celebrating the genre’s most iconic and emerging talent. A limited number of tickets to the landmark 60th ACM Awards are available for purchase on SeatGeek, offering fans exclusive entry into a nonstop celebration packed with performances by their favorite country stars and seats closer to the action than ever.

Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards is the longest-running Country Music awards show and made history in 2022 as the first major awards ceremony to exclusively livestream, in collaboration with Prime Video. The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions (DCP). Raj Kapoor is executive producer and showrunner, with Patrick Menton as co-executive producer. Damon Whiteside serves as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music, and Jay Penske and Barry Adelman serve as executive producers for DCP. John Saade will also continue to serve as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios.

In an extraordinary resurgence, 90-year-old entertainment icon and philanthropist Pat Boone has returned to the music charts. The most recent in an ongoing release of singles and albums, “One – Voices For Tanzania,” debuts at No. 28 on the A/C Adult Contemporary chart, marking his first Top 30 hit in decades. Boone’s last major chart success was in 1997 with In A Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, which landed at No. 125 on the Billboard 200. The song is also receiving airplay on country radio, further broadening its reach and impact.

This accomplishment highlights not only Boone’s lasting influence in the music industry but also his unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts. “One – Voices For Tanzania” is more than a song—it’s a call to action supporting essential water projects in Tanzania, transforming Boone’s musical triumph into a dynamic force for global change. The proceeds from the song aid in funding clean water initiatives and providing essential services such as food, health care, and education for the Tanzanian people. Thanks to a generous WorldServe donor, all contributions will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of each donation. “One – Voices For Tanzania” is now available across all streaming platforms.

As a result of the campaign associated with the single, significant strides have been made towards sustainable development; contributions raised are enough to finance a solar-powered well in Tanzania. This well is a sustainable water resource for a village of 2,000 to 5,000 people, showcasing the profound impact music can have on humanitarian projects.

Pat Boone is supported on the “ONE” recording by an illustrious group of artists, including Alabama, Deborah Allen, Billy Dean, Larry Gatlin, Vince Gill, Aaron Goodvin, Lee Greenwood, David B. Hooten, Jet Jurgensmeyer, MARK209, Wendy Moten, Pam Tillis, and Due West. The track also features Nashville’s Legacy Mission Village Singers—comprising refugees from Tanzania and Congo —and Tanzanian gospel artist Sebastian Silas & God Is Love, who recorded the song in Swahili titled “WAMOJA.”

The project was brought to life by Nashville-based producer-arranger Jimmy Nichols and renowned songwriter Frank Myers at the esteemed Starstruck Entertainment and Blackbird Studio.

In 2010, Boone and his late wife, Shirley, established the Pat Boone Family Life Center in Loiborsoit, Tanzania, in cooperation with GOD TV and WorldServe International, a non-profit organization committed to providing clean water, sanitation, education, and economic opportunities in Africa. Through Pat Boone World Missions, the couple provided foundational funding for a deep water well, a school, and the Shirley Boone Vegetable Garden, which continues to feed multiple villages. Their contributions have also helped develop a community center offering critical health services to families in surrounding areas.

According to WorldServe International, 319 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live without access to reliable drinking water, and 79 percent of rural households are without running water. Every day, women and children walk an average of three miles to the nearest water source to collect rationed, contaminated water for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing.

Multi-time Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 2 for his 16th annual “Darius and Friends” concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $4.3 million to date, will feature a surprise all-star roster of friends as has become tradition at the annual celebration.

“As usual, the evening featured multiple servings of the country music industry’s past, present, and future for an essential cause,” noted the Tennessean in their review of last year’s show. “‘Darius and Friends’ has become a showcase for how much his superstar talents have expanded across genres after four decades of performing. Buying a ticket for the event ensures you’ll hear his country chart-toppers…And yes, there’s assuredly going to be some Hootie & the Blowfish classics…But the real win of the night is when Rucker steps out of his pre-supposed ‘comfort zones’ and as he did on Monday evening, performs songs like Bell Biv DeVoe’s ‘Poison,’ Tim McGraw’s ‘I Like It, I Love It’ and TLC’s ‘Waterfalls.’”

Rucker, who was honored as the 2023 CMA Humanitarian of the Year for always prioritizing philanthropic work throughout his career, made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nearly two decades ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Following that impactful 2008 visit, Rucker’s effort has since become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Dan + Shay, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others.

Tickets to the 16th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert are available via AXS.com. Pre-sale access begins tomorrow, May 1 at 10 a.m. CT, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. CT. The event is made possible with support from generous sponsors AMD and The Law Office of Jennifer McCoy.

About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (22x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and he won his third career GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. His latest album Carolyn’s Boy (featuring recent single “Never Been Over” with Jennifer Nettles) is available everywhere now as is his New York Times bestselling memoir “Life’s Too Short,” released via Dey Street in 2024.

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $4.3 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics line of NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA apparel available via Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.

Amazon MGM Studios, in partnership with Amazon Music and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), announced the second annual I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion taking place on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the new Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas. Trailblazing Country artist, and two-time ACM Award nominee, Mickey Guyton will host the event ahead of the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon, Reba McEntire, the ACM Awards will be free to stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. PDT.

I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion is named after the legendary Country music artist and baseball player. Pride (1934 – 2020) persevered through racial discrimination throughout his career, eventually earning international superstardom for his musical talents and receiving prestigious accolades, including three Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Pioneer Award (1994), and a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (2017). The iconic star broke down racial barriers and became the first Black artist to have a No. 1 Country record, paving a path for other Black Country artists. His legacy as a team owner lives on through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Charley Pride Fellowship Program.

“We’re honored to support this celebration that uplifts trailblazers pushing the genre forward, while reaffirming our commitment to broadening the narrative and welcoming a wider range of voices into the spotlight,” said Ryan Redington, GM of Amazon Music.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter and trailblazing figure in country music, Guyton, a Texas native, has advocated for racial diversity in Country music for over a decade, and amidst her efforts achieved historic career milestones. Guyton has earned four Grammy nominations and became the first Black female artist to earn a Grammy nod in a Country music category (2020), made history as the first Black female solo artist to perform her own song at the ACM Awards (2020), and was also the first Black woman to host the ACM Awards (2021). She performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVI (2022) and cemented her status as a powerful voice and changemaker in the Country music community. Guyton released her dynamic sophomore album House On Fire in Sept. as she continues to captivate listeners worldwide with standout tracks “Scary Love,” “Make It Me,” and “My Side of the Country.”

The private event will recognize and celebrate the achievements of more than ten honorees – artists, executives and allies in Country music who embody Pride’s triumphs and actively serve as trailblazers and representatives of hope, advocacy, and innovation in the music industry.

The 2025 honorees thus far are:

Brittney Spencer (Country singer and songwriter)
Lionel Richie (Singer, songwriter, producer and American Idol judge)
Mickey Guyton (Country music singer and songwriter)
Shaboozey (ACM Award nominated singer, songwriter, and record producer)
Freddy Fender Estate (Mexican American Singer Songwriter, Solo Artist, Actor and activist; as well as a member of both The Texas Tornadoes and Los Super Seven supergroups)
Opal Lee (Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient, Grandmother of Juneteenth)
Fletcher Foster (President and CEO, F2 Entertainment)
Marcus Dowling (Nashville Country Music Reporter for The Tennessean/USA Today)
Michelle Tigard Kammerer (Head of Country Music, Amazon Music)
Cameo Carlson (CEO, mtheory)

About Prime Video:
Prime Video is a one-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one application available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports – including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Saltburn, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, and AIR; licensed fan favorites Dawson’s Creek and M3GAN; Prime member exclusive Thursday Night Football; and programming from partners such as Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+ via Prime Video Channels add-on subscriptions, as well as more than 450 free ad-supported (FAST) Channels. Prime members in the U.S. can share a variety of benefits, including Prime Video, by using Amazon Household. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles, including blockbusters such as Captain America: Brave New World and Wicked, via the Prime Video Store. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favorite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access.
About Amazon Music:
Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices.

About Academy of Country Music:

Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown in the 60 years since into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Headquartered in Nashville, TN and boasting record-high membership of more than 5,000 worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2025 is a landmark year for the Academy with the 60th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, returning to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas for a third consecutive year and streaming live for a global audience on Prime Video. Throughout our 60 year history, the Academy of Country Music has always proudly stood as a progressive, welcoming organization for all, including an active, community-leading commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion stretching across all facets of the industry. We know change may not come overnight, but as our mission statement reads, we are and remain “relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups, encompassing but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, LatinX and Women in the Country Music industry, from the boardroom to the stage. and proudly presents ACM LEVel Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, among other initiatives. ”

Doug Gray, lead singer and founding member of legendary southern rock and country group The Marshall Tucker Band (MTB), is taking a hiatus from the road due to health concerns. The MTB will journey ahead and continue performing live on its 2025 All Our Friends Tour as planned.

“Taking care of business as I always do,” says Gray. “Thanks and see you soon.”

Though Gray will be temporarily absent, MTB’s tour will roll on with scheduled dates starting with May 9 in West Wendover, NV at the Peppermill Concert Hall. This includes all live performances with JJ Grey & Mofro, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) and Jefferson Starship.

“The band can’t wait to jam with JJ Grey & Mofro, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Jefferson Starship,” adds Gray. “It’ll be a jam you’ll never forget!”

Gray will be fully involved in all aspects of the tour and looks forward to rejoining the band on the road as soon as possible. “Everyone knows I’m not one to sit on my hands,” he explains. “I’ll be making sure all of the stars are aligned. Let’s rock!”

About The Marshall Tucker Band
Thanks to hits like “Can’t You See,” “Heard It in a Love Song,” “Fire on the Mountain,” and “24 Hours At a Time,” The Marshall Tucker Band, a 5x Gold, 3x Platinum-selling southern rock and country group has sold millions of albums worldwide. MTB songs have been featured in major motion picture films and television shows including Breaking Bad, Blow, The Box, Swing Vote, Half Nelson, My Name Is Earl, Cold Case Files and Good Guys with many more to come.CMT (Country Music Television) named the MTB’s “Can’t You See” the #4 Greatest Southern Rock Song. The MTB’s debut album, The Marshall Tucker Band, reigns as Gibson Guitar’s #5 Greatest Southern Rock Album. Ultimate Classic Rock crowned the MTB’s “Can’t You See” as the #1 Southern Rock Song and GRAMMY® Magazine named the group’s logo as one of the most distinctive and iconic brands in music. In 2023, the MTB was awarded Pandora’s Billionaires Plaque, recognizing over one billion streams on the platform. The Marshall Tucker Band was founded in Spartanburg, SC over five decades ago.