Before the ACM Awards kicked off on Thursday, May 8, winners had already been declared in six categories, much to the surprise of many attendees. One standout moment came when the country music traditionalist Zach Top claimed the prestigious award for New Male Artist of the Year, triumphing over Shaboozey, whose hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” had dominated the charts for an impressive 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and maintained a seven-week reign atop Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. This unexpected outcome set the stage for a night filled with surprises.
Shaboozey’s defeat was just the beginning of the surprises that awaited viewers, as the live telecast unfolded with even more unexpected twists. The anticipation was palpable, leaving fans wondering what other upsets might occur throughout the evening.
Who could have predicted that major artists like Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, and Kelsea Ballerini would leave empty-handed, despite entering the awards with a staggering 16 nominations combined? Their absence from the winner’s circle was a shocking turn of events that had fans and critics alike buzzing.
While some outcomes were anticipated, the evening still delivered memorable moments. Brooks & Dunn celebrated a remarkable milestone by winning their record-extending 17th award for Duo of the Year. Additionally, Old Dominion secured their eighth award for Group of the Year, breaking records along the way. Chris Stapleton tied a record with his fifth Male Artist of the Year award, while Lainey Wilson achieved her third consecutive win for Female Artist of the Year.
Ella Langley had a remarkable night, taking home five awards including Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, New Female Artist of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year—winning twice in that category as both artist and director. Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson took home four prestigious awards: Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Riley Green, who collaborated with Langley on the hit “You Look Like You Love Me,” also enjoyed success, winning three awards, while their producer, Will Bundy, secured two for his contributions.
Let’s delve into some of the most notable snubs and unexpected moments from the 2025 ACM Awards to better understand this year’s surprising outcomes.
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Major Snub: Morgan Wallen’s Unfortunate Shutout
Morgan Wallen faced a disappointing evening, going 0-for-7. This outcome was particularly disheartening given his recent victory as Entertainer of the Year at the 2024 CMA Awards. Despite five years of monumental success within the country music scene, Wallen has only managed to win a total of two ACM Awards in competition: once for Album of the Year in 2022 for Dangerous: The Double Album and another for Male Artist of the Year two years prior. His track record has left fans questioning what more he must achieve to gain recognition.
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Significant Snub: Post Malone’s Disappointing Night
Post Malone, known for his collaboration with Wallen on the chart-topping hit “I Had Some Help,” experienced a disappointing evening as well, finishing 0-for-5, marking the second-largest shutout of the night. He received nominations for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year (both as an artist and songwriter), and Music Event of the Year. This outcome left fans and industry insiders shocked, especially given his influence and popularity in the music scene.
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Remarkable Achievement: Old Dominion’s Record-Breaking Win
Old Dominion achieved a remarkable feat by winning Vocal Group of the Year for the eighth consecutive year, setting a new benchmark for the most wins in the history of this category. While one might not categorize this as a surprise due to their consistent excellence, it still remains a noteworthy accomplishment. In the world of music, streaks typically come to an end eventually, but this talented band continues to defy the odds.
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Another Snub: Kelsea Ballerini’s Continuing Struggles
Kelsea Ballerini experienced her own disappointing evening, going 0-for-4, which was the night’s third-largest shutout. She faced a tough competition in the Female Artist of the Year category, losing for the eighth time. Throughout her career, she has lost to other prominent artists, including Miranda Lambert three times, Maren Morris twice, and Lainey Wilson three times. Though she remains in esteemed company, having lost in such a competitive category raises questions about her future chances. However, Ballerini still has the potential to change her luck and finally secure a win in upcoming awards.
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Unexpected Snub: Shaboozey’s Surprising Losses
Shaboozey faced unexpected losses in both categories where he was nominated: Single of the Year and New Male Artist of the Year. This outcome was particularly surprising given the immense success of his single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which became a crossover hit. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-tying 19 weeks and dominated Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for seven weeks. Shaboozey was also vying to make history as the first Black artist to win Single of the Year at the ACMs and just the second to win New Male Artist of the Year, following Jimmie Allen five years ago. His losses left many in the music community astonished and hopeful for his future recognition.
