Ella Langley was the big winner at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, which were handed out Sunday night, though Cody Johnson took the top award of entertainer of the year.
Langley went home with five awards in all. Her “Choosin’ Texas” scooped up the first award of the night, for song of the year, and also was named single of the year. Langley also was named female artist of the year and artist-songwriter of the year, and she scooped up another nod for “Don’t Mind If I Do,” by Riley Green feat. Langley, which was named music event of the year.
Meanwhile, Johnson also was named male artist of the year.
Parker McCollum’s self-titled album was named album of the year. The Red Clay Strays won group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn took home the ACM Award for duo of the year. Avery Anna was named best new female artist, and Tucker Wetmore won for best new male artist. Jessie Jo Dillon was named songwriter of the year for a record third consecutive year.
Three-time ACM Award winner Shania Twain hosted the show for the first time. The ceremony, which streamed live exclusively on Prime Video, took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Wilson opened the show with an energetic performance of “Can’t Sit Still.” The night was stacked with performances from the likes of Langley, Anna, Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett & Jordan Davis, Zach Top, Little Big Town, Riley Green, the Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Carter Faith. Parker McCollum & Lee Ann Womack and Kane Brown.
Lauren Alaina became emotional when introducing Dan + Shay, who performed their song “Say So” in tribute to Ben Vaughn, a beloved figure in the music community who was president and CEO of Warner Chappell Nashville and died by suicide last year.
The show closed with Blake Shelton covering Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” written by Don Schlitz, who died last month.
Awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Country Music, which has a record-high membership this year of more than 5,000 members. The eligibility period for submissions for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards was the calendar year 2025.
A full list of winners from the 2026 ACM Awards follows. (ACM Awards producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.)
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Cody Johnson (WINNER)
- Megan Moroney
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley (WINNER)
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson (WINNER)
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- 49 Winchester
- Flatland Cavalry
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays (WINNER)
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn (WINNER)
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- Thelma & James
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Avery Anna (WINNER)
- Mackenzie Carpenter
- Dasha
- Caroline Jones
- Emily Ann Roberts
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Gavin Adcock
- Vincent Mason
- Shaboozey
- Hudson Westbrook
- Tucker Wetmore (WINNER)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33 - Cherry Valley – Carter Faith
Producer: Tofer Brown
Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA - Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green
Producer: Dann Huff, Michael Knox
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment - I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett
Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records - Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum (WINNER)
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
Record Company-Label: MCA
SONG OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- A Song to Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp - Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine - Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley (WINNER)
Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Publishers: Bada Bing Bada Boom Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing; Verse 2 Music - I Never Lie – Zach Top
Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music - Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs Of Riser House; Songs Of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- 6 Months Later – Megan Moroney
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Recordsz - Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley (WINNER)
Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records - I Never Lie – Zach Top
Producers: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33 - Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Jay Joyce
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records - The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb
Record Company-Label: Republic Records - Amen – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook
Record Company-Label: Empire - Don’t Mind If I Do – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley (WINNER)
Producers: Dann Huff
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment - Trailblazer – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire
Record Company-Label: MCA - You Had To Be There – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- 6 Months Later – Megan Moroney
Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney - A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Producers: James Stratakis
Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos - Cuckoo -Stephen Wilson, Jr. (WINNER)
Producers: Tim Cofield
Director: Tim Cofield - Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Katie Babbage
Director: TK McKamy - The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Dustin Haney
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Jessie Jo Dillon (WINNER)
- Ashley Gorley
- Charlie Handsome
- Chase McGill
- Blake Pendergrass
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Ella Langley (WINNER)
- Megan Moroney
- Morgan Wallen
