Ella Langley is the ACM New Female Artist of the Year! The 25-year-old was surprised with the news while performing at Rock the Country in Knoxville, Tennessee over the weekend. Miranda Lambert delivered the news in a video during Langley’s set.
“I’m here to tell you how proud I am of you for being the top-nominated artist for the Academy of Country Music Awards this year,” Lambert says. “You are my friend, first and foremost, a fellow dog rescue advocate, you are a co-writer, you are my soul sister in country music and a partner in crime.”
“I’m also going to tell you that you, my friend, have won New Female Artist of the Year at the ACMs this year,” Lambert continues. “We are gonna celebrate so big in Dallas, Texas! They ain’t even ready!”
An emotional Langley can be seen walking off stage, saying “God Bless America,” before returning to her performance. Later, Langley reflected on what the award means to her.
“Every day of my life, I’ve prayed about this and thought about it,” Langley says through tears. “Literally, everything I’ve ever done was to do this. I’m so grateful for the team I have around me. I’m just really grateful to have fans that are listening to the music, and see that it is truth, and that I’m just a real life human being going through life like the rest of everyone else. To see that the things that I go through is something that everyone else goes through. But this is … thank you.”
@ellalangleymsic was surprised with her FIRST ACM Award during her @rockthecountry_ set with a special video from the winningest artist in ACM history, @mirandalambert.
We’re counting down the days until we can all celebrate in Texas at the 60th #ACMawards! #ACM60 pic.twitter.com/RPIXsteWNV
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) April 26, 2025
Langley has a Top 15 hit with “Weren’t for the Wind.” The song is from Langley’s Still Hungover album. Langley celebrated her first No. 1 last year, with her “You Look Like You Love Me” duet with Riley Green.
Langley’s news comes shortly after Zach Top was named the ACM New Male Artist of the Year.
Langley had eight nominations heading into the 2025 ACM Awards. She is trailed by Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen, who each have seven
Wilson, Alan Jackson, Johnson, Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Clint Black, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and Wynonna Judd are among the list of performers at the ACM Awards ceremony this year. Reba McEntire will return to host the 2025 ACM Awards.
See a complete list of nominees here.
The 2025 ACM Awards will air live on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 8 at 8:00 PM ET. A very limited number of tickets are still available at SeatGeek. More information is available at ACMCountry.com.