The 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards highlighted many generations of mainstream artists who have honored the tradition of extending the genre’s legacy of female superstardom, from Patsy Cline to Lainey Wilson.
The most profound moment in this lineage could be represented by the song “Trailblazer,” a collaboration by Wilson – 2024 and 2025 ACM entertainer of the year – alongside the ACM’s most award-winning artist, Miranda Lambert, and the event’s 17-time host, Reba McEntire.
The trio, introduced by Rita Wilson, took the stage wearing coordinating brown outfits adorned with turquoise accents. Wilson and Lambert were also in cowgirl hats.
The song, penned by Lambert and Wilson alongside award-winning singer-songwriter Brandy Clark, debuted at Thursday evening’s ACM Awards broadcast on Prime Video.
‘We talk how we talk, and we are who we are’
“It’s time to really do our heroes justice. We’re just trying to make Loretta, Patsy and everyone else proud,” Wilson said backstage, regarding the song.
“We talk how we talk and we are who we are – that’s inspiring.”
McEntire said Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton have helped inspire and fuel the careers of her and many others.
“I’ve been doing this for 50 years,” said the “Fancy” vocalist in a May 2025 Tennessean interview, part of the USA TODAY Network. “Family, fans and friends provide love and acceptance. Whether at home washing dishes or on stage in front of 70,000 people at the Houston Rodeo, it’s always important to be grateful and thankful for the love and acceptance of the people who helped and supported your dreams and career.”
A song for all women: ‘Trailblazer’
The lyrics of “Trailblazer” honor each performer’s career with particular notes highlighting Lambert’s 2005 hit “Kerosene,” plus McEntire and Wilson’s home states of Oklahoma and Louisiana.
“We wanted to lean in pretty hard to paying tribute to each person. We had to do it strategically though, because we didn’t want it to be so blatant – but more like a secret thing that you would have to listen to it twice,” Lambert said to Billboard.
Wilson added: “I remember thinking that this could be a song that a grandmother and a daughter and a grandchild could listen to. And not just about the history of country music … If we’re not thinking about the people we’re singing to then they’re not going to be able to relate.”
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