Lainey Wilson
is the newest artist to win an early ACM trophy ahead of the big show on Thursday night (May 8).
During show rehearsals with
Miranda Lambert
and
Reba McEntire
, Wilson got a big surprise: She was presented with her trophy for ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
The ACM posted a photo of the moment on social media, including a shot of Wilson with her newly-minted trophy as she poses beside Lambert and McEntire.
“This is such an honor, thank you,” Wilson commented in response.
The Artist-Songwriter of the Year is one of seven categories where Wilson scored a nomination at this year’s ACMs. She’s also in the running for the most coveted awards of the night, including Entertainer of the Year.
But the Artist-Songwriter Award is special, and Wilson’s fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges explained why in a since-expired Instagram Story he posted after nominations for this year’s show were announced.
In his Stories slide, Hodges celebrated Wilson being nominated for “7 different awards for this year’s ACMs!” (quote via
iHeartCountry
).
“But this one makes me the happiest,” he continues. “She loves writing and is so damn good at it and finally good to see her get some recognition for being a bada– songwriter!!!!”
After Wilson’s win was announced on Wednesday night, Hodges shared a screenshot of to celebrate, simply writing, “Boom.”
Wilson’s 2024
Whirlwind
album is among the nominees for Album of the Year at the 2025 ACMs. That project showcases her songwriting: She co-wrote all 15 of its tracks, including singles “4X4XU” and “Hang Tight Honey,” plus a Walmart-exclusive bonus song called “Where the Sun Don’t Shine.”
Read More
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Why Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire + Miranda Lambert’s ‘Trailblazer’ Lyrics Are Personal
When she got her Artist-Songwriter of the Year award, Wilson was in the middle of rehearsals for a new song she helped write, “
Trailblazer
It’s a joint effort with Lambert and McEntire, and these three musicians will premiere it at the award ceremony.
The 2025 ACM Awards are scheduled for Thursday evening at 8 PM Eastern Time / 7 PM Central Time, taking place at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The ceremony will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video. Reba McEntire is confirmed as the host of this event.