This award recognizes a country music songwriter whose work has had an enduring impact on shaping the country music genre with exceptional lyrical and musical contributions. Parton, 80, will accept her honor via video message. James and The Carter Family will each be honored posthumously. James died in September 2025 at age 57.
Parton is receiving the ACM Poet’s Award in recognition of her decades-long impact as one of country music’s most gifted and influential songwriters. A 13-time ACM Award recipient, Parton’s has hosted the ACM Awards three times.
Parton has long been one of America’s most acclaimed songwriters. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. She received the SHOF’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 2007. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She was the second woman to be admitted into both Halls of Fame, following Brenda Lee. Parton received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006 and a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2011.
Parton has won three Grammys in songwriting categories, including best country song for “9 to 5.” That song was also nominated for an Oscar for best original song, one of two Oscar nods Parton has received.
James’ songwriting and producing career included working with the top names in country music. The four-time ACM Awards nominee wrote hits for Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert and more. James won a Grammy for best country song as a cowriter of Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” was a two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.
The Carter Family, widely known as The First Family of Country Music, is known for pioneering the sound of country music as we know it today. The Carter Family — which included A.P. Carter, Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter — was discovered by a talent scout at the 1927 Bristol Sessions and quickly rose to prominence with their unique harmonies and guitar sound that became the backbone of country music. They were the first group to record commercially produced country music, with hits including “Keep on the Sunny Side,” “Wildwood Flower” and “I’m Thinking To-Night of My Blue Eyes.” The Carter Family previously won ACM’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, received a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Grammy Awards and was the first group to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.
Past recipients include Bill Anderson, Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rodney Crowell, Dean Dillon, Kye Fleming, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Mac McAnally, Willie Nelson, K.T. Oslin, Buck Owens, Eddie Rabbitt, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Billy Joe Shaver, Shel Silverstein, Sonny Throckmorton, Shania Twain, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.
