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,?,?,?,g) be an almost Kenmotsu manifold with ? belonging to the (k,?)?-nullity distribution and h 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 at n-dimensional manifold, also, the Ricci soliton is expanding with ? = 4n.