Louisiana stars win big at 2025 ACM Awards, with country favorites headed near you soon
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana showed up at the 2025 ACM Awards, which aired live from Frisco, Texas, on May 8, 2025. Some of the night's biggest stars are either from right here in our backyard or headed our way soon.
Kix Brooks, born and raised in Shreveport, took the stage once again as one half of Brooks & Dunn, who grabbed another Duo of the Year win. The legendary pair's long connection to Louisiana's music roots was front and center, proof that Shreveport's influence on country music hasn't slowed down a bit.
Jordan Davis, another hometown name, was also in the building. The Shreveport native served as a presenter this year, standing among the top names in country music. Davis has long credited his time growing up in Shreveport for shaping his sound, and now he's bringing that local legacy to national stages.
Several artists who lit up the ACM stage are set to perform in the Shreveport-Bossier area over the next few months, making the celebration feel even closer to home.
Lainey Wilson, who dominated the night with four major wins, including Entertainer of the Year, is coming to Bossier City later this year as part of her Whirlwind Tour. Wilson, a Baskin, Louisiana native, also took home Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. She's no stranger to northwest Louisiana and now she's bringing that winning streak back to the region.
Parker McCollum, who stepped in as a presenter during the show, is also Shreveport-bound. The Texas artist has a stop booked at Brookshire Grocery Arena this July, keeping his strong fan base in Louisiana close.
Gretchen Wilson to headline R&B Jazz festival after winning The Masked Singer
Gretchen Wilson also made an appearance at the ACM Awards as a presenter. Fresh off her win on The Masked Singer Season 13, Wilson will be in Natchitoches for the upcoming Jazz R&B Festival May 10, 2025.
The 2025 ACM Awards may have been held in Texas but make no mistake the heart of country music was pulsing from right here in northwest Louisiana.
And with all these artists headed our way soon, the celebration's far from over.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Spotify House: See Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Shaboozey for free at CMA fest
The "Spotify House" pop-up at Lower Broadway's Ole Red will feature more than a dozen artists during the 52nd CMA Fest. Access is free, but capacity is limited; admission is first-come, first-served, for ages 18 and up, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. each day of the festival. Like Spotify's well-regarded "Hot Country" collection of 50 songs, its pop-up roster will include both established superstars and rising acts on the stages of the main floor and rooftop of the 26,000 square foot venue. Artists scheduled to perform include Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Shaboozey, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Parker McCollum, Brothers Osborne, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Midland, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell, Warren Zeiders, Dylan Scott and Ashley Cooke. "It's a real honor to be returning to Spotify House this year. Spotify and Hot Country have been behind me since the jump, helping my music reach fans everywhere," Wilson said in a conversation with The Tennessean. "Streaming has brought so many new people into the country fold. I can play a show anywhere in the world now and the crowd is singing along." The Spotify country playlist "Fresh Finds" inspired the selections for the rooftop line-up. Acts scheduled to perform there include 2025 Tennessean artists to watch, Noeline Hofmann and Chandler Walters. Spotify launched the "Hot Country" playlist 10 years ago and has had a presence at CMA Fest for the past six. "Country's ability to use its core of authentic storytelling has appealed to every cultural and social shift since COVID-19's quarantine," said Spotify's Claire Heinchen. "The result? It's removed barriers of entry into being someone (for whom) a country inspires and soundtracks their lives." Wilson exemplifies how Spotify's "Hot Country" playlist opens a door for pop crossover success. After signing to Nashville's BMG office in Sept. 2019, she released her debut major label EP "Redneck Hollywood." One year later, her eventual first No. 1 country hit "Things A Man Oughta Know" followed. Those releases coincided with the success of a pair of streaming-beloved No. 1 sales hits — her label mate Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" and Dan + Shay's "10,000 Hours." As well, Lil Nas X's country hit "Old Town Road" topped the all-genre Hot 100 for nineteen consecutive weeks. The COVID-19 pandemic era followed, resulting in a more than 700% increase in monthly American country music streams, according to Spotify data. 'Lainey didn't let the pandemic stop her from engaging with fans on social media and industry professionals in the Nashville and country communities,' BMG president Jon Loba said in a 2021 interview. The year also saw Wilson added to its inaugural "Hot Country Artists to Watch" list. The growth of streaming super-spiking country artists impacted the genre, as it churned out three-dozen different chart-topping radio and sales stars in 2021 alone, Wilson among them. Other venues where Wilson has headlined in the past 12 months include New York City's Radio City Music Hall and London's O2 Arena. J.J. Italiano is responsible for Global Music Curation and Discovery at Spotify. Yes, he's aware that Hot Country has added 33 percent more listeners in the past five years, but the Nashville country industry's impact on playlists like all-genre New Music Friday and Today's Top Hits has him the most intrigued. "Taking an early bet on songs is exciting, but discovering how country organically impacts people's lives has made those songs grow (on the platform)," he said. Watching acts, including rapper BigXThaPlug pairing with Bailey Zimmerman and country stars like Morgan Wallen collaborating with pop acts like Tate McRae, embrace their fans' desires to hear them work with artists from genres whose vibes they enjoy. "Streaming allows for country to embrace a moment where the genre's emerging voices, superstars and various musical influences and tastes have a seat at country's mainstream table," Heinchen said. "Spotify House allows artists, fans and country's industry to accept and celebrate what the genre is becoming." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to see Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Shaboozey for free during CMA fest
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Man arrested after guitar, mandolin belonging to the band Heart stolen from Atlantic City casino
Atlantic City police detectives were "straight on" the case after a guitar and mandolin were stolen from the band Heart before they performed at Hard Rock Atlantic City on Friday, May 30. Now, a suspect has been arrested as police look to recover the instruments. Officers were called to Hard Rock's Etess Arena on Friday for a report of the theft. They soon found surveillance video leading them to a suspect, Garfield Bennett. He was seen walking through Atlantic City and attempting to sell the instruments, police said in a news release. Bennett, a 57-year-old Pleasantville resident, was charged with burglary and theft Wednesday. He was arrested on South Kentucky Avenue. A guitar and mandolin were stolen from the Heart concert at the Hard Rock Atlantic City on May 30 and police are searching for them. Atlantic City Police Department The missing instruments are a 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin, which performer Paul Moak has played for over 25 years. The other is a six-string electric Telecaster guitar, with a purple body and a multicolored floral design on the headstock. The baritone guitar was specially made for Heart's Nancy Wilson. One of the two instruments has been sold and the whereabouts of the other are unknown. Police said anyone who possesses the stolen instruments should contact police and voluntarily surrender them — if not, they could be arrested and charged with receiving stolen property. Wilson shared that the instruments were taken after gear was set up at the venue a day prior to the show. A reward is being offered for the instruments' safe return, no questions asked. "These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they're extensions of our musical souls," Wilson said in a statement posted on her Instagram. "We're heartbroken, and we're asking for their safe return, no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable." Anyone with information should contact Atlantic City police or Tony Moon (TonyMoon@ Heart postponed several shows in 2024 until this year after Ann Wilson announced she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth and preventative chemotherapy.
Elle
5 hours ago
- Elle
Dress Like a French Open Champion With Wilson's Latest Tennis Gear
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Perfectly timed to the French Open, Wilson has unveiled a fresh take on the 'tenniscore' aesthetic with new clay court-inspired pieces that channel the late '90s, when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf dominated the rankings. Equal parts practical and stylish, the twofold drop reimagines heritage silhouettes with a modern edge—bringing the brand's illustrious history with the game to life both on and off the court. Since its founding in 1914, Wilson has built a legacy that spans generations of athletes and sports. Best known as the leading manufacturer of tennis racquets and balls, it's also the official supplier for NCAA basketball tournaments. 'Being a 111-year-old brand allows us the unique ability to pull from our own past and bring it to life in a new and iconic way,' says Joelle Michaeloff, Wilson's VP of design. 'If you look up what happened at this same time 26 years ago—you will find all sorts of cues that inspired this collection.' Take, for instance, bold color-blocking and piping that juxtaposes with the iconic terre battue (red clay) surface. The pieces also are engineered to perform under the specific demands of playing on clay. 'The clay itself can be dusty and stain, so we make sure that is not an issue for our players,' Michaeloff continues. 'We also make sure everything is light and breathable, so you cannot see sweat, and our players do not get too hot even when things heat up on court. We carefully articulate seams and engineer ventilation, so it not only performs but looks beautiful.' Ranging from $12 for socks to $128 for a dress, the assortment includes everything you could possibly need to play—hats, bags, you name it—created with vintage-inspired prints and high-tech fabrics built for elite-level hitting. It's all in the details: think stealthy zippered pockets, skirts designed to hold both a phone and a tennis ball, and a sleek 'brami' that blurs the line between bra and camisole. As far as outerwear, there's a relaxed pullover and a waterproof zip-up jacket, perfect for layering pre- or post-match, weather be damned. 'We are constantly pushing innovation and then figuring out ways to disguise it by engineering each garment to look like you could hang out or go out in it,' Michaeloff adds. Among other standout pieces is a dress worn on the court by Wilson player Marta Kostyuk herself, paired with new footwear she described as 'performing like a running shoe but helping me like a race car.' According to Michaeloff, Kostyuk plays an integral role in Wilson's design process: 'She gives excellent feedback that pushes us to make better products.' For all the aspiring pros, to quote the old saying: If the shoe fits…
