Rissi Palmer to Receive ACM Lift Every Voice Award at 18th Academy of Country Music Honors
August 20 at The Pinnacle in Nashville, TN
Tickets on Sale July 11 via AXS

 The Academy of Country Music® has announced that GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, radio host, and advocate, Rissi Palmer, will be among the Special Awards Honorees at the 18th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors, taking place Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at The Pinnacle, Nashville Yards’ premier new performance venue.

Palmer will receive the ACM Lift Every Voice Award, presented in recognition of her influential work championing underrepresented voices in Country Music. This honor is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding advocacy in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the genre. She joins a distinguished group of 2025 Special Awards recipients. ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards will also be presented during the evening.

Tickets for ACM Honors™ go on sale Friday, July 11, via AXS. Performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

“I am honored and humbled to be able to do the work that I do and have never expected anything like this in return,” says Palmer. “I am frankly, blown away about receiving this special award.”

Since her 2007 breakthrough single “Country Girl” made her the first Black woman in 19 years to chart a song on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, Palmer has been a barrier-breaking force in Country Music. As the creator and host of Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer on Apple Music, she has provided a powerful platform to highlight artists of color whose contributions have often gone unrecognized. Through the Color Me Country Foundation, Palmer created the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund, which has awarded over $200,000 to emerging artists of color, supporting their creative and professional growth.

About Rissi Palmer

Palmer’s 2007 debut album introduced a dynamic voice to mainstream Country, followed by acclaimed independent releases including Back Porch Sessions (2015), the soulful Revival (2019)—named one of Rolling Stone’s “Top 25 Country-Soul Albums of All Time”—and the children’s album Best Day Ever. Her impact extends beyond music. In 2023, she was featured in PBS’s American Masters: In the Making series which profiles creatives shaping American culture today. Her short documentary, RISSI PALMER: STILL HERE, directed by Dilsey Davis, premiered globally to critical acclaim, including recognition from Rolling Stone. Palmer has performed on iconic stages such as the Grand Ole Opry, The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater, and has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, Entertainment Tonight, and PBS NewsHour. Her work has been praised by The New York Times, Essence, Rolling Stone, Washington Post and more. She currently serves as a Governor for the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter and a special correspondent for CMT Hot 20 Countdown. This summer, she will appear at two major UK festivals—Country Calling in Essex (Aug 16–17) and The Long Road Festival in Leicestershire (Aug 22–24)—ahead of releasing new music later this year.

About the Academy of Country Music:  Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown in the 60 years since into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Headquartered in Nashville, TN and boasting record-high membership of more than 5,000 worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2025 continues to be a landmark year for the Academy with the success of the 60th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, which returned to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas for a third consecutive year and streamed live for a global audience on Prime Video. The Academy also remains relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in Country Music, from the boardroom to the stage, and proudly presents ACM Level Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, among other initiatives. For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit www.ACMcountry.com.

countryHonorsNewsPress Release
Rissi Palmer to Receive ACM Lift Every Voice Award at 18th Academy of Country Music Honors August 20 at The Pinnacle in Nashville, TN Tickets on Sale July 11 via AXS  The Academy of Country Music® has announced that GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, radio host, and advocate, Rissi Palmer, will be among the Special Awards Honorees at the...