ACM Honors is dedicated to celebrating special award honorees, off-camera category winners, and ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards. The 18th ACM Honors returned on August 20, 2025 at The Pinnacle, Nashville's newest cutting-edge venue located in Nashville Yards. Hosted by Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson, the celebration featured performances by the hosts as well as Luke Bryan, Karen Fairchild, Carter Faith, Ashley Gorley, Amy Grant, HARDY, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Miko Marks, Ashley McBryde, K. Michelle, Victoria Shaw, and Tucker Wetmore.

The Academy of Country Music has partnered with CMT to broadcast a three-hour special episode of CMT Hot 20: ACM Honors Edition on Saturday, Sept. 27. Hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan and Carissa Culiner, along with 18th ACM Honors hosts Dickerson and Pearce, the episode will feature exclusive backstage conversations with honorees and performers and memorable moments from throughout the night.

The ACM Special Awards honorees included Lori Badgett, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Mac McAnally, Rissi Palmer, Randy Travis, "Twisters," Ben Vaughn, and Lainey Wilson. Learn more about the ACM Special Awards here.

ACM Industry Awards recognize venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a predetermined number of Country Music concerts and helped promote Country Music ticket sales. Nominees are selected by a professional panel of judges approved by the ACM Officers, with ACM members classified in the Artist/Musician/Producer/Engineer, Venue, Manager, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter categories voting to decide the winner. For more information on Industry Awards eligibility, visit here. 

ACM Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music. To be eligible, each artist, musician, producer, and engineer must have played a part in a commercially released single or album embodying the creator’s performance that achieves Top 20 chart position or better during the eligibility period. Nominees are then selected by a professional panel of judges approved by the ACM Officers before being voted on by members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist categories and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager categories. For more information on Studio Recording Awards eligibility, visit here.