A year ago, Ella Langley was still a relative unknown. That changed practically overnight with “You Look Like You Love Me,” her viral smash hit with Riley Green. Today, the night’s most-nominated artist walked into the 60th ACM Awards with two trophies already to her name. Taking the stage at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Langley showed why she is undoubtedly the ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year.
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Ella Langley Teams Up With Miranda Lambert For Fiery ACM Awards Performance
Twenty years ago, Miranda Lambert roared onto the country music scene with “Kerosene,” the scorching title track from her 2005 studio debut. During Thursday’s (May 8) ACM Awards, Lambert stood shoulder to shoulder with Ella Langley for a blazing performance of the song that made her.
God bless that woman @ellalangleymsic #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/02HK32QW2E
— Jon (@jhumphries88) May 9, 2025
Even without the pyrotechnics and sparse desert landscape aesthetics, it would have been a powerful moment. The winningest artist in ACM Award history joined the New Female Artist of the Year—sporting the same tank top that Lambert wore in the “Kerosene” music video to celebrate country music’s past and future.
Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert performing Kerosene together??? HECK. YES!!!
— Jack Horsley (@JackHorsley11) May 9, 2025
“Miss Miranda Lambert, everybody,” Langley said at the end of the performance. “Miss Ella Langley, y’all,” replied Lambert.
Making the scene even more poignant, it was Lambert, 41, who presented 26-year-old Langley with her first-ever ACM Award. The “Mama’s Broken Heart” firebrand interrupted Langley’s April 25 set at Rock the Country in Knoxville, Tennessee to deliver the news.
“You, my friend, have won New Female Artist of the Year for the ACM Awards,” Lambert said. “We are gonna celebrate so big in Dallas, Texas. They ain’t even ready.”
Langley Gives Stirring Solo Performance
The “Kerosene” duet with Miranda Lambert wasn’t the only time Ella Langley showed off her vocal prowess during the 60th ACM Awards.
Channeling her inner Stevie Nicks with a fringy black getup and tambourine, the Alabama native took the stage for a captivating performance of “Weren’t For the Wind,” the lead single from the deluxe reissue of her debut studio album, Hungover.
Soo deserving of New Female Artist of the Year! Ella Langley is killing it on stage in Frisco tonight! #ACMawards
— The Big Time with Whitney Allen (@thebigtime) May 9, 2025
Impressively, the first-time nominee is also this year’s most-nominated artist. Langley scored eight nominations. Six of those stemmed from her smash hit “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.
Ahead of the May 8 ceremony, the duo won Visual Media Event of the Year for the “You Look Like You Love Me” music video. Langley also scored nods for Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the year and Music Event of the year.
Featured image by Jeff Hahne/Getty Images
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