Stilettos and Stetsons: Hollywood’s ACM Awards Red Carpet Fashion
Behold the rare spectacle of perfected denim and rhinestones colliding under stadium lights in Arlington, Texas. This year’s Academy of Country Music Awards red carpet arrived like a unicorn in boots—glittering, bewildering, and somehow earnest.
Scene-setter: AT&T Stadium morphed into Fashion Rodeo Central on May 8, 2025, as Hollywood stars swaggered through the Texas humidity. Dolly Parton led the charge in a custom sequined fringe ensemble that screamed “I wrote ‘Jolene,’ not “caution tape,”” per People Magazine. Next to her, Luke Bryan opted for a monochrome cowboy suit so sleek it looked like it was airbrushed in real time (Variety’s verdict: “He’s the human embodiment of a guitar riff”).
Hollywood imports treated us to a masterclass in “country-lite.” Jessica Chastain shimmered in a crystal-encrusted mini-dress with boots tall enough to be considered vertical transportation. Her stylist claimed the look paid homage to Texas sunsets; skeptics suggested it also served as a navigational beacon for late-night Uber drivers. Nicole Kidman, meanwhile, swapped her usual Old Hollywood glamour for a more approachable “I might ride a horse later” vibe—complete with leather accents that could double as saddlebags. Entertainment Tonight noted her silhouette was a perfect compromise between “posh movie premiere” and “impromptu barn dance.”
Amid the sartorial showdowns, some gambles flopped harder than a country ballad at a punk gig. A-list comedian Amy Schumer sported an acid-wash denim jumpsuit that could have been lifted from a 1980s train yard accident (TMZ’s fashion police were merciful, calling it a “bold risk”—which is stylist-speak for “please no, stop.”). Meanwhile, Margot Robbie’s innocently pastel fringe dress was almost overshadowed by her cowboy hat large enough to double as a UFO landing pad.
True to Western tradition, cowboy boots were mandatory—but not everyone was a natural. Justin Timberlake’s glitter-infused pair might look fancy, but rumor has it he spent half the evening testing their durability by stomping on invisible tumbleweeds. Snoop Dogg managed to merge ginormous cowboy hat culture with his signature bedazzled BFG (Big Funky Hat), proving that no matter your genre, glitz is the universal language.
Between award acceptances and surprise duets—Charley Crockett joining John Legend for a bluesy gut-punch—the fashion stakes remained high. Designers reported a 300% spike in rhinestone sales after the show (Variety), while local Texas tailors booked weddings through 2026 on the strength of that fringe renaissance.
In the end, this red carpet was less about the awards and more about proving that high-glamour Hollywood will chase a good fringe trend anywhere—even if it means sweating through satin in the Lone Star State. Tune in next year to see who dares bring back bolo ties and whether someone finally invents cowboy boots that don’t require two people to remove.
Well, there you have it. A night of sequins, spurs, and questionable life choices that, against all odds, somehow worked.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Variety, Entertainment Tonight, TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
