Ella Langley wins big at 2026 ACM Awards
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards aired live May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Cody Johnson won Entertainer of the Year, and competed against nominees including Chris Stapleton Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen.
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Ella Langley cries tears of joy while accepting Female Artist of the Year ACM Award
Ella Langley was overcome with emotion as she accepted the Female Artist of the Year award Sunday during the 61st annual ACM Awards.
Lainey Wilson ran over to hug Langley before she walked on stage and received her trophy from T.J. Osborne at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I'm trying to get to saying something, but I can't," Langley said after a standing ovation.
"Thank you. The women in this category, to the women in this life ... this is a weird thing to do."
Langley admitted she was having a "strange day" heading into the show.
"I walked into Lainey's room and I got emotional and she wrapped me up and started praying for me," Langley said. "All of a sudden here comes Miranda and her pink hat ... Thank you so much Kelsea for loving me."
Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson were also nominated in the category.
"Thank you to my parents for believing in me," she continued. "Thank you Jesus for letting me do this for a living. Thank you to the ACM's ... Lauren Alaina, I love you so much."
The "Choosin' Texas" singer added, "Thank you to the women. I would not be standing up here without them."
Cody Johnson dedicates Entertainer of the Year ACM Award to Luke Combs
Cody Johnson won the Entertainer of the Year Academy of Country Music Award, and made sure to praise another country music crusader.
After accepting the award from first-time host Shania Twain, Johnson acknowledged no one would "expect" him to dedicate the award to his pal, but Luke Combs deserved the recognition after showing true strength while on a tour stop in Australia.
Before calling out his friend, Johnson admitted he was the lucky one to be able to reach fans over the joy of music.
"They say that music is the sound of emotion, and I get to use my platform to not only promote positivity in this country, and all over this world," Johnson said.
"I get to make you experience emotions ... I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music."
Johnson added, "It's the greatest drug that's ever been created on planet Earth."
"When I go home, I am a husband. I am a father. I am a cattle rancher," Johnson said. "So listen, all you fans out here ... as soon as I step on the bus, all I look forward to is seeing you."
Cody Johnson wins Male Artist of the Year ACM Award
Cody Johnson thanked country music fans while accepting the Male Artist of the Year ACM Award.
"I have no idea what to say," Johnson told the crowd. "Without sounding too cliche, I will say the ride has been worth the fall."
Johnson admitted he couldn't be on the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena without "the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ."
The "Dirt Cheap" singer then praised his wife of 17 years, Brandi, for her unwavering support.
"Shee believed in this crazy, bull-rider prison guard who wanted to sing," Johnson said. "Baby, I love you, thank you so much."
Luke Combs, Riley Green, Chris Stapleton and Zach Top were each also nominated for Male Artist of the Year.
Ella Langley, Riley Green nab ACM Award
Riley Green and Ella Langley won the Academy of Country Music Award Sunday night for Music Event of the Year.
"Thank y'all so much," Green said of the honor for their hit, "Don't Mind If I Do."
He started by thanking his "very lovely and talented duet partner," before praising Langley's rise in the country music scene.
The duo previously collaborated on the hit "You Look Like You Love Me."
"I'm so proud of how far you've come," Green said.
"As a songwriter, this really means a lot, I appreciate y'all."
Ella Langley wins ACM Single of the Year
Ella Langley continued her takeover Sunday of the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Shaboozey presented the Single of the Year award to Langley, 27, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The "Choosin' Texas" singer brought co-writer Miranda Lambert on stage before telling the crowd, "I already said things, so now I'm going to let Miranda Lambert say things."
"All those were dang good songs, y'all," Lambert said.
"This is my 20th ACMs this year, actually. I'm just so thankful Ella trusted me with her art."
Langley nabbed Song of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year at the 61st ACM Awards.
Brooks & Dunn wins Duo of the Year ACM Award
Brooks & Dunn took home the Academy of Country Music award for Duo of the Year.
"Crazy man. You'd think after being around this long," Ronnie Dunn said while accepting the award at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"We just played here with Morgan Wallen to 80,000 people the other night," he added before Kix Brooks jumped in, "I don't know why y'all aren't getting sick of us ... we love y'all."
Duo of the Year nominees also included Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline, and Thelma & James.
Red Clay Strays wins ACM Award for Group of the Year
The Red Clay Strays took home the Academy of Country Music Award for Group of the Year.
"Thank you Jesus," lead singer Brandon Coleman said while accepting the award on stage Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Like Ella said earlier, just at a loss for words ... Doesn't feel real truly."
Coleman added, "We're just some rednecks from Mobile, Alabama. We're truly grateful, thankful for everybody."
He thanked the fans for standing by their sides and using their music to get through whatever they needed to.
Ella Langley wins ACM Award for Song of the Year
Ella Langley earned another Academy of Country Music Award Sunday night.
Langley, 27, struggled to find the correct words as she accepted the Song of the Year award from Michael Bublé for her "Choosin' Texas" bop.
"I am .. if you ever met me, you know that I am not at a loss for words very often," she said before thanking God.
"I don't know why you latched onto this song, but thank you for doing it."
Prior to the telecast, Langley won the Artist-Songwriter of the Year ACM Award.
Shania Twain celebrates Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley at 2026 ACM Awards
Shania Twain was the first to publicly celebrate Lainey Wilson's big wedding news.
Making her debut as host of the 2026 ACM Awards Sunday, Twain thanked Wilson for opening the show before sending congratulations to the "Heart Like A Truck" singer for her recent surprise nuptials.
Twain then recognized Ella Langley, who won the Artist-Songwriter of the Year ACM Award prior to the live telecast.
The "Any Man of Mine" singer then gave shoutouts to Cody Johnson and the "great" Chris Stapleton before delving into her history with the show.
"Exactly 30 years ago I was honored with my first ACM award, and that was a big, huge night for me," she said.
"I started singing in bars when I was 8 years old ... and I didn't have my first top hit until I was 30."
Twain welcomed Miranda Lambert to the stage after admitting she couldn't wait to get back to the roots of the awards: country music.
Kacey Musgraves turns heads on ACM Awards red carpet
Kacey Musgraves was ready for the spotlight Sunday at the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Musgraves walked the red carpet wearing a black strapless gown adorned with white lace.
The four-time ACM award-winner is set to perform Sunday in support of her sixth studio album, "Middle of Nowhere."
ACM Awards top nominee Megan Moroney explains absence from show
Megan Moroney will miss the Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday.
Moroney, the most nominated artist of the evening, admitted she was "honored" to be recognized, but had bigger commitments.
"I'm rooting on all my friends from afar," she wrote on Instagram stories. "I'm out of the country this week on MOH [Maid of Honor] duty to get my bestie married."
The "Tennessee Orange" singer tagged her best friend Natalie King in the social share, and wrote that she couldn't wait to see her fans at her next tour stop in Columbus.
Megan Moroney leads the pack of female artists with nine nominations heading into the ACMs, followed closely behind by Miranda Lambert with eight nods.
ACM Awards host Shania Twain sparkles on red carpet in Las Vegas
Shania Twain officially arrived as host with the most at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Twain sparkled wearing a dramatic silver strapless gown as she walked the red carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday.
The three-time ACM award-winner wore long black leather gloves with silver studs to match her Falguni Shane Peacock dress.
Earlier this month, the country superstar revealed new music was on the way with her "Little Miss Twain" album, set for a July 24 release date.
"This album is a homage to my roots, my youth and my mother," Twain shared online.
How to watch the 2026 ACM Awards
The Academy of Country Music Awards is celebrating its 61st anniversary Sunday, which marks the longest-running country music award show in history.
Set to stream live on Amazon Prime Video at 8:00 p.m. The Academy of Country Music was first formed in 1964 to promote country music on the west coast, with the first award show hosted two years later.
The show finally found a broadcast spot six years later on ABC. After bouncing around different networks and moving to NBC then CBS, the ACM Awards found a home on Amazon Prime Video.
Lainey Wilson makes red carpet debut with husband Duck
Lainey Wilson debuted a new title on the ACM Awards red carpet: beaming bride.
Wilson, 33, and husband Devlin "Duck" Hodges appeared together Sunday for the first time as husband and wife ahead of the awards show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Wilson and Hodges married on May 10 in Dickson, Tennessee at The Ruskin Cave with a waterfall backdrop and a country-inspired celebration.
The couple exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by Lainey’s friend and mentor, Wes Williams, and shared communion together before their family and friends.
"I have never seen Duck smile as big as he did then," Wilson told Vogue.
"It made me feel giddy about turning the page into this next chapter of marriage. We were both anxious to say ‘I do!’"
Everything you need to know about the 2026 ACM Awards
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards streams live on Amazon Prime Video at 8 p.m. from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shania Twain will host the ACM Awards for the first time.
Country music’s brightest stars are up for the night’s biggest awards, including entertainer of the year, female and male artist of the year and album of the year.
Megan Moroney leads the pack of female artists with nine nominations heading into the ACMs, followed closely behind by Miranda Lambert with eight nods.
Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each have seven nominations. Chris Stapleton earned six nominations, with Zach Top and Cody Johnson to follow.
Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson are in the running for Entertainer of the Year.
Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards is the longest-running country music awards show.
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