Chris Stapleton Wins New Best Male Artist at ACM Awards
Chris Stapleton won the Best Male Artist award during the sixtieth annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards hosted by Reba McEntire in Frisco, Texas.
Jordan Mailata performs Tennessee Whiskey for Chris Stapleton pic.twitter.com/KHmlg5oWzX
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) May 11, 2025
The singer beat out fellow nominees Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, and Morgan Wallen. After receiving his award from presenter Clint Black, Stapleton claimed he’s happy to be in the room since there are so many other deserving candidates.
“I have to thank everybody who worked so hard to make these things possible,” he stated. “All the men and women in our crew, my lovely wife, Morgane, who keeps me in line all the time.”
The artist continued by dedicating his trophy to a close friend and late Nashville music producer Ben Vaughn. “I’m thinking a lot about my friend Ben Vaughn, who we lost this year, so I’m [going to] send this one out to Ben,” The “White Horse” singer added. “Thank you, Ben. Thank y’all.”
The 47-year-old won the award in 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024 before winning his fifth. He has a total of 10 consecutive nominations in the category. All five candidates received nominations for Entertainer of the Year alongside female artists Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson.
Combs has earned seven consecutive nominations for Male Artist of the Year and secured a win in 2020. Wallen has received four nominations and won in 2023. Jelly Roll and Johnson have both been nominated twice but have yet to win.
Johnson received nominations for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Visual Media of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. Wallen was in the race for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year with Post Malone. Combs was also nominated for the Artist-Songwriter of the Year, while Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken was in the Album of the Year race.
He received numerous nominations, including Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year for his work on tracks such as “We Don’t Fight Anymore” and “Think I’m in Love With You.”
Man, I could put on Chris Stapleton at the Masterpiece Lounge and the place would be popping. He's a combo of Bill Withers and Bobby Womack.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 11, 2025
"Oh! Why you gotta be so Cold?"
Watch Stapleton’s full award acceptance speech below.
