On the electrifying night of May 8, 2025, the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, buzzed with the raw energy of country music royalty during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards. The event, a star-studded celebration of six decades of country music, delivered unforgettable performances, emotional tributes, and shocking wins. But one moment stole the spotlight and set social media ablaze: Blake Shelton, the 48-year-old country superstar, was caught on camera breaking down in tears, standing to clap, and dancing with unbridled joy as his ex-wife Miranda Lambert took the stage with Lainey Wilson and Reba McEntire to debut their powerful new anthem, “Trailblazer.” The sight of Shelton, a titan of the industry, becoming a teary-eyed fanboy in the audience has sparked endless speculation—why did this performance hit him so hard, and what does it say about his relationship with Lambert today?
A Night of Celebration and Sisterhood
The 2025 ACM Awards were a milestone event, hosted for the 18th time by the legendary Reba McEntire, who kicked off the night with a 12-minute medley of ACM Songs of the Year from six decades, joined by icons like Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes. The evening was a testament to country music’s enduring legacy, with performances from veterans like Alan Jackson and modern stars like Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Women dominated the night, with Lainey Wilson securing Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year, alongside Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Whirlwind, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year, while Ella Langley walked away with five awards, including New Female Artist of the Year.
But the highlight of the night came when three generations of country music queens—Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson—united on stage to perform their new collaboration, “Trailblazer.” Dressed in matching brown suede outfits accented with turquoise, the trio stood against a backdrop of a barren desert, the warm orange sky behind them dotted with silhouettes of birds. The song, which dropped on streaming platforms just hours before the show, is a mid-tempo ballad that pays homage to the women who paved the way in country music, with lyrics that nod to legends like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Tammy Wynette. “Talk about a trailblazer, cutting one path at a time / Running like a dream chaser, living on a prayer and a rhyme,” they sang, their voices harmonizing in a powerful display of unity and reverence.
The performance was more than just a musical moment—it was a statement. The song’s chorus, with lines like “They gave me a seat at the table and I’m saving one for you,” resonated deeply with the female audience, who chanted along with every word, their voices echoing through the 12,000-seat venue. For many, “Trailblazer” was an anthem of resilience, a tribute to the hidden scars and unrelenting dreams of women in a historically male-dominated industry. As the trio sang, the crowd’s energy surged, a collective celebration of the past, present, and future of country music.
Blake Shelton’s Emotional Outburst Steals the Show
Amid the sea of fans, one reaction stood out: Blake Shelton, who had performed his No. 1 hit “Texas” earlier in the evening, was seated in the audience when Lambert, McEntire, and Wilson took the stage. Shelton, who had been married to Lambert from 2011 to 2015, is no stranger to the ACM stage, having won multiple awards over the years and even presenting at this year’s event. But in this moment, he wasn’t the polished performer or the witty presenter—he was a fan, overcome with emotion.
As the trio’s harmonies filled the arena, cameras captured Shelton rising to his feet, his hands clapping with genuine enthusiasm. His face, usually composed with a charming grin, was a mix of awe and vulnerability. Tears glistened in his eyes as he swayed to the music, and then, in a move that sent the internet into a frenzy, he broke into a playful dance, laughing through his tears. The sight of Shelton, a 6’5” country giant, dancing with childlike joy while visibly emotional, was a stark contrast to his typically cool demeanor, and it quickly became the most talked-about moment of the night.
Social media exploded with reactions. “Blake Shelton crying and dancing to Miranda Lambert’s performance with Reba and Lainey is EVERYTHING! 😭💃 #ACMAwards,” one user wrote on X, attaching a clip of the moment that racked up over a million views within hours. Another fan tweeted, “I’m not saying Blake still loves Miranda, but the way he got up and danced through tears… that man is PROUD of her. #Trailblazer.” Fan edits pairing the clip with Lambert and Shelton’s past duets like “Hillbilly Bone” began circulating, reigniting nostalgia for their once-iconic partnership.
A Complex History: Shelton and Lambert’s Journey
To understand why this moment struck such a chord, one must look at the history between Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. The pair met in 2005 while performing together at the CMT 100 Greatest Duets Concert, where their chemistry was undeniable, even though Shelton was still married to his first wife, Kaynette Gern, at the time. After his divorce, Shelton and Lambert began dating, eventually tying the knot in 2011 in a highly publicized wedding. Their marriage was a country music fairy tale, with the couple often collaborating on music and supporting each other’s careers. They won multiple ACM Awards together, including Vocal Event of the Year for “Hillbilly Bone” in 2010.
But their relationship wasn’t without its challenges. The pressures of fame, conflicting schedules, and rumored infidelity on both sides took a toll, and in 2015, they announced their divorce, shocking the country music world. “This is not the future we envisioned,” they said in a joint statement. “And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately.” The split was amicable on the surface, but reports suggested lingering tension, especially as Shelton quickly began dating Gwen Stefani, whom he met while coaching on The Voice. Shelton and Stefani married in 2021, and their relationship has been a public success, with the couple often gushing about each other in interviews.
Lambert, meanwhile, focused on her music, releasing critically acclaimed albums like The Weight of These Wings (2016) and Postcards from Texas (2024). She briefly married NYPD officer Brendan McLoughlin in 2019, but the couple divorced in 2023, leaving Lambert single as she entered the 2025 ACM Awards. Despite their divorce, Shelton and Lambert have maintained a professional respect for each other, often speaking highly of one another in interviews. In a 2023 interview with People, Shelton said of Lambert, “She’s one of the greatest artists in country music, hands down. I’ll always root for her.”
Why “Trailblazer” Hit Shelton So Hard
So what was it about “Trailblazer” that brought Shelton to tears? On the surface, the song’s message of resilience and legacy likely resonated with him as a veteran artist who has witnessed the evolution of country music firsthand. With 30 No. 1 hits under his belt, including “Texas,” which he performed that night, Shelton has seen the industry’s highs and lows, and he’s often credited artists like Reba McEntire for inspiring his career. Seeing three women he admires—McEntire, a mentor; Wilson, a rising star; and Lambert, a former partner—come together in such a powerful way could have stirred a deep sense of pride and nostalgia.
But there’s likely a more personal layer to Shelton’s reaction. Lambert’s verse in “Trailblazer” includes a nod to her hit “Kerosene,” a song from her 2005 album of the same name that marked her breakout as a fierce, independent artist. That album came out during the early years of her relationship with Shelton, a time when they were building their careers together. Hearing Lambert sing about her journey, with lines like “Put a flag in the ground to the country sound, to the rhythm of your own highway,” might have brought back memories of their shared dreams and the bittersweet reality of their divergent paths.
Additionally, the song’s theme of saving a seat for the next generation—“They gave me a seat at the table and I’m saving one for you”—could have struck a chord with Shelton as he reflected on his own legacy. At 48, Shelton is a seasoned artist, but he’s also a mentor to younger talents through his role on The Voice, where he coached for 23 seasons before stepping away in 2023. Seeing Lambert, McEntire, and Wilson embody that spirit of mentorship and sisterhood might have reminded him of his own role in shaping country music’s future.
A Moment of Unity in a Divided Industry
Shelton’s emotional outburst also speaks to a larger narrative at the 2025 ACM Awards: the power of unity in an industry often marked by competition and division. The night was a celebration of women in country music, with Wilson and Langley dominating the awards and “Trailblazer” serving as a rallying cry for female artists. Shelton’s reaction—standing, clapping, dancing, and laughing through tears—showed a man who, despite his personal history with Lambert, was genuinely moved by her success and the collective strength of the women on stage.
The moment didn’t go unnoticed by Lambert, McEntire, and Wilson. As they took their bow at the end of the performance, Lambert glanced into the audience, her eyes catching Shelton’s. A small, knowing smile crossed her face, a subtle acknowledgment of their shared history and mutual respect. McEntire, ever the gracious host, later commented on the moment during the show, saying, “I saw Blake out there dancing like a true fan—we love that kind of passion!” The audience roared with laughter and applause, a brief but heartfelt nod to Shelton’s vulnerability.
The Internet Reacts: A Viral Sensation
By the time the ACM Awards concluded, with Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys closing out the night, Shelton’s reaction had gone viral. Clips of him dancing and wiping away tears were shared across platforms like X and TikTok, with fans creating montages that juxtaposed the moment with old photos of him and Lambert together. “Blake Shelton is all of us watching Miranda, Reba, and Lainey slay ‘Trailblazer,’” one TikTok user captioned a video, which garnered over 500,000 likes. Another user wrote, “This is what healing looks like—Blake and Miranda may not be together, but the love and respect are still there. ❤️ #ACMAwards2025.”
Some fans speculated that Shelton’s tears hinted at lingering feelings for Lambert, while others saw it as a sign of his growth and maturity. “Blake crying over Miranda’s performance doesn’t mean he’s not over her—it means he’s human,” one X user argued. “He knows how hard she’s worked, and he’s proud of her. That’s beautiful.” The moment even caught the attention of Gwen Stefani, who was not at the event but reportedly watched from home. A source close to Stefani told Entertainment Tonight, “Gwen thought Blake’s reaction was sweet. She knows how much he respects Miranda as an artist, and she loves that he’s so supportive of his peers.”
A Night to Remember: Shelton’s Legacy in Focus
Blake Shelton’s emotional moment at the 2025 ACM Awards will go down as one of the most memorable highlights of the night, a testament to the power of music to transcend personal history and unite people in shared admiration. For Shelton, the evening was a full-circle moment—he performed his 30th No. 1 hit, presented an award, and witnessed the industry he’s been a part of for over two decades celebrate its past and future. His tears, laughter, and dance moves were a reminder that even the biggest stars are, at their core, fans of the genre they love.
As the dust settles on the 2025 ACM Awards, “Trailblazer” continues to climb the charts, with fans streaming the song in droves and praising its message of empowerment. For Lambert, McEntire, and Wilson, the performance was a career-defining moment, a declaration of their place in country music history. And for Blake Shelton, it was a chance to show the world that beneath the fame and success lies a man who feels deeply, loves fiercely, and isn’t afraid to dance through his tears like a true fan. What’s next for these country icons? Only time will tell—but if this night was any indication, their legacies are far from over.
