Lionel Richie, Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, Opal Lee and More to be Honored

Event Celebrating the Trailblazing Legacy of Charley Pride will Recognize Artists and Industry Leaders Championing Diversity in Country Music During ACM Awards Week in Frisco, Texas

CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA — APRIL 23, 2025 — Today, Amazon MGM Studios, in partnership with Amazon Music and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), announced the second annual I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion taking place on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the new Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas. Trailblazing Country artist, and two-time ACM Award nominee, Mickey Guyton will host the event ahead of the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon, Reba McEntire, the ACM Awards will be free to stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT / 5 p.m. PDT.

I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion is named after the legendary Country music artist and baseball player. Pride (1934 – 2020) persevered through racial discrimination throughout his career, eventually earning international superstardom for his musical talents and receiving prestigious accolades, including three Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music Pioneer Award (1994), and a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (2017). The iconic star broke down racial barriers and became the first Black artist to have a No. 1 Country record, paving a path for other Black Country artists. His legacy as a team owner lives on through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Charley Pride Fellowship Program.

“We’re honored to support this celebration that uplifts trailblazers pushing the genre forward, while reaffirming our commitment to broadening the narrative and welcoming a wider range of voices into the spotlight,” said Ryan Redington, GM of Amazon Music.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter and trailblazing figure in country music, Guyton, a Texas native, has advocated for racial diversity in Country music for over a decade, and amidst her efforts achieved historic career milestones. Guyton has earned four Grammy nominations and became the first Black female artist to earn a Grammy nod in a Country music category (2020), made history as the first Black female solo artist to perform her own song at the ACM Awards (2020), and was also the first Black woman to host the ACM Awards (2021). She performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVI (2022) and cemented her status as a powerful voice and changemaker in the Country music community. Guyton released her dynamic sophomore album House On Fire in September as she continues to captivate listeners worldwide with standout tracks “Scary Love,” “Make It Me,” and “My Side of the Country.”

The private event will recognize and celebrate the achievements of more than ten honorees – artists, executives and allies in Country music who embody Pride’s triumphs and actively serve as trailblazers and representatives of hope, advocacy, and innovation in the music industry.

The 2025 honorees thus far are:

• Brittney Spencer (Country singer and songwriter)
• Lionel Richie (Singer, songwriter, producer and  American Idol judge)
• Mickey Guyton (Country music singer and songwriter)
• Shaboozey (ACM Award nominated singer, songwriter, and record producer)
• Freddy Fender Estate (Mexican American Singer Songwriter, Solo Artist, Actor and activist;  as well as a member of both The Texas Tornadoes and Los Super Seven supergroups)
• Opal Lee(Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient, Grandmother of Juneteenth)
• Fletcher Foster (President and CEO, F2 Entertainment)
• Marcus Dowling (Nashville Country Music Reporter for The Tennessean/USA Today)
• Michelle Tigard Kammerer (Head of Country Music, Amazon Music)
• Cameo Carlson (CEO, mtheory)

About Prime Video:

Prime Video is a one-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one application available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can find their favorite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports – including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Saltburn, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, and AIR; licensed fan favorites Dawson’s Creek and M3GAN; Prime member exclusive Thursday Night Football; and programming from partners such as Max, Crunchyroll and MGM+ via Prime Video Channels add-on subscriptions, as well as more than 450 free ad-supported (FAST) Channels. Prime members in the U.S. can share a variety of benefits, including Prime Video, by using Amazon Household. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles, including blockbusters such as Captain America: Brave New World and Wicked,via the Prime Video Store. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favorite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.

About Amazon Music:

Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at www.amazonmusic.com.

About 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 is a landmark year for the Academy with the 60th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, returning to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas for a third consecutive year and streaming live for a global audience on Prime Video. Throughout our 60 year history, the Academy of Country Music has always proudly stood as a progressive, welcoming organization for all, including an active, community-leading commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion stretching across all facets of the industry. We know change may not come overnight, but as our mission statement reads, we are and remain “relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups, encompassing but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, LatinX and Women in the Country Music industry, 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, visit ACMcountry.com or ACMLiftingLives.org.