The reigning queen of country flair brought bold romance and signature style to the ACM red carpet, where she’s up for seven major awards — and celebrated her first ceremony as a bride-to-be.
Lainey Wilson knows how to turn a red carpet into a runway of her own — and the 2025 ACM Awards were no exception.
On May 8, the “Heart Like a Truck” singer brought her signature brand of country glam to the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Dressed in a striking all-black ensemble, Wilson, 32, gave her iconic bell-bottoms a fresh twist, pairing them with a long, lace-detailed jacket adorned with floral appliqués, cutouts, glittering black beads, and a dramatic train that swept across the carpet.
The sultry silhouette — which featured a plunging neckline, peekaboo stomach cutouts, and pearl-accented sleeves — was unmistakably Wilson: bold, feminine, and unapologetically country. Her statement cowgirl hat and stacked stone necklaces polished off the look, along with several chunky rings — including the sparkling engagement ring given to her by former NFL quarterback and current realtor Duck Hodges.
The couple, who went public with their engagement in February, made a radiant pair on the carpet. This ACM Awards marks their first appearance at the show as an engaged couple, and Wilson couldn’t have looked more confident. Hodges stood proudly by her side as she prepared for a big night — she’s up for seven major awards, including entertainer of the year, female artist of the year, album of the year, and song of the year. She also hit the stage both as a performer and presenter.
Hosted by Reba McEntire and streaming live on Prime Video, this year’s ceremony continued to highlight Wilson’s meteoric rise — both in the industry and on the red carpet. In 2024, she made headlines by winning entertainer of the year, arriving in a fiery red Area suit and Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott jewelry that matched her red-hot momentum.
From metallics to Western-rock fusions, Wilson has never shied away from making a statement at the ACMs. But it’s her signature bell-bottoms and hat combo that fans — and fashion watchers — eagerly await. And while she’s committed to the look on stage, she revealed she’s saving something a bit different for her upcoming wedding.
“I’m going to wear a dress,” Wilson shared with a laugh earlier this year. “I hadn’t done the whole dress shopping. We haven’t even picked a date or anything like that. We got some time, but I figured, you know what? I hadn’t worn a dress for him yet, and I guess that would be the day to do it.”
Still, even when talking weddings, Wilson keeps it grounded. She admitted to subtly guiding Hodges on her ring style by texting him photos as a joke. “He was like, ‘Oh Lord. I better start saving now,’ ” she joked. But ultimately, he designed the ring himself — combining elements of the styles she liked into a custom piece. “So I’d have said yes, if it was a tiny little thing. But he messed up,” she said playfully.
With a glittering engagement, a growing list of accolades, and an unwavering sense of self, Lainey Wilson is proving she’s not just one of country music’s brightest stars — she’s a style icon rewriting the red carpet rulebook one bell-bottom at a time.
