Country music’s biggest stars returned to Las Vegas for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, after three years in Texas. And already, some favorites like Ella Langley are taking home awards.
Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony will celebrate the genre’s biggest artists, songs and albums of the past year.
Even before the ceremony, this year’s nominations had already sparked conversation across the country music world, with women dominating many of the show’s biggest categories. Meanwhile, a new generation of genre-blending stars continues to reshape the sound of mainstream country.
Leading this year’s nominees is Megan Moroney with nine nods, following a massive year that cemented her as one of the genre’s defining new voices. Miranda Lambert follows closely behind with eight nominations, and breakout star Langley and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson each earned seven. Chris Stapleton leads all male artists with six nominations, while neo-traditional standout Zach Top earned five nominations in a breakout showing for the rising star.
The standouts among emerging talent, however, are Moroney, who scored her first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination, and Langley, who was given the honor of Artist-Songwriter of the Year before the event began.
The nominations also delivered a few surprises. Morgan Wallen received major nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, but is absent from the Male Artist of the Year category — one of the most notable omissions on this year’s ballot. Elsewhere, Top’s strong showing signals continued demand for traditional country sounds amid the genre’s current wave of crossover and pop-influenced stars.
Fan-favorite collaborations are also heavily represented this year, including Langley and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had to Be There,” and “Trailblazer,” the multigenerational collaboration from Reba McEntire, Lambert and Wilson.
The full list of 2026 ACM Awards winners and nominees is available on the official ACM website. Take a look at some of the major categories, winners and nominees below.
Entertainer of the Year
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Group of the Year
The Red Clay Strays — winner
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn — winner
New Female Artist of the Year
New Male Artist of the Year
Tucker Wetmore — winner
Album of the Year
Zach Top, Ain’t In It For My Health
Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
Riley Green, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)
Morgan Wallen, I’m The Problem
Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum
Song of the Year
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Megan Moroney, Am I Okay?
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas — winner
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Single of the Year
Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas — winner
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Music Event of the Year
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Shaboozey & Jelly Roll, Amen
Riley Green feat. Ella Langley, Don’t Mind If I Do
Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Trailblazer
Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney, You Had To Be There
Visual Media of the Year
Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Stephen Wilson, Jr., Cuckoo — winner
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon — winner
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
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