If the metric of an almost Kenmotsu manifold with conformal Reeb foliation is a gradient Ricci soliton, then it is an Einstein metric and the Ricci soliton is expanding. Moreover, let (M2n+1, φ, ξ, η, g) be an almost Kenmotsu manifold with ξ belonging to the (k, μ)'-nullity distribution and h ≠ 0. If the metric g of M2n+1 is a gradient Ricci soliton, then M2n+1 is locally isometric to the Riemannian product of an (n+1)-dimensional manifold of constant sectional curvature -4 and a flat n-dimensional manifold, also, the Ricci soliton is expanding with λ = 4n.