{"id":2422268,"date":"2026-05-18T19:28:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2422268"},"modified":"2026-05-18T19:28:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:28:50","slug":"ella-langley-wins-7-acm-awards-cody-johnson-is-entertainer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/ella-langley-wins-7-acm-awards-cody-johnson-is-entertainer-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Ella Langley Wins 7 ACM Awards; Cody Johnson Is Entertainer of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tThe Academy of Country Music Awards<\/a> were choosing Ella Langley<\/a> every chance they got, as the \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d charttopper won all seven trophies she was nominated for before and during Sunday night\u2019s ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe top prize of the night, however, went to Cody Johnson<\/a>, who was awarded the coveted entertainer of the year award. (Langley was not up for that particular honor.) Johnson also picked up best male vocalist earlier in the evening.<\/p>\n

\n\tMusic \u201cis the greatest drug that has ever been introduced on the planet earth,\u201d Johnson said in picking up his entertainer of the year trophy at the climax of the two-and-a-half-hour show. But, establishing that he does not consider himself immersed in the business, Johnson said, \u201cWhen i go home, I take my phone and I turn it face down. When I go home, I am a husband, I am a father, i am a cattle rancher.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tCody Johnson accepts the award for Male Artist of the Year at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tLangley\u2019s wins included female artist of the year, artist songwriter of the year, both single of the year and song of the year for \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas,\u201d and music event of the year for her featured appearance on Riley Green\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Mind if I Do.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tAlthough she had already taken multiple trips to the podium, Langley was tearful and initially at a loss for words when she accepted her final award of the night, female vocalist. \u201cI\u2019m trying to say something but I can\u2019t,\u201d she admitted. \u201cThe women in this category, the women in this life<\/em>\u2026 I was having a strange day,\u201d she noted, before adding that Lainey WIlson \u201cwrapped me up and started praying for me,\u201d and then she got a further boost she needed from \u201call of a sudden Miranda Lambert in her little pink hat.\u201d Lambert was with Langley for some of those trips to the stage, as the co-writer of \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas,\u201d which remains the No. 1 song on the Hot 100.<\/p>\n

\n\t(Wilson\u2019s wins came in five categories, but she picked up seven awards, as she was rewarded as both a singer and co-writer in the single and song categories; the ACMs are unique in doubling up on honors for someone who does multiple duties on a nominated work.)<\/p>\n

\n\tParker McCollum was a surprise winner for album of the year for the critically acclaimed \u201cParker McCollum,\u201d beating Zach Top, Morgan Wallen, Riley Green and Carter Faith in that category. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI was starting to think y\u2019all weren\u2019t gonna let me up here,\u201d McCollum quipped when he got to the stage.<\/p>\n

\n\tOther winners awarded on the Prime Video webcast included the Red Clay Strays for group of the year and Brooks & Dunn for duo of the year. <\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tJohn Hall, Zachary Rishel, Brandon Coleman, Andrew Bishop, Drew Nix and Sevans Henderson of The Red Clay Strays pose with the award for Group of the Year at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrenton Ho\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tWinners announced in the days leading up to the ceremony included Avery Anna as new female vocalist of the year, Tucker Wetmore as new male vocalist of the year, Jessie Jo Dillon as songwriter of the year, and Stephen Wilson Jr.\u2019s \u201cCuckoo\u201d as visual media of the year.<\/p>\n

\n\tShania Twain was a first-time host for the ACMs, which celebrated their 61st year with a return to the show\u2019s longtime home in Las Vegas after three years in Texas.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe show featured 17 performances, opening with last year\u2019s entertainer of the year, Lainey Wilson, in a choreography-filled performance of her current single \u201cCan\u2019t Sit Still,\u201d accompanied by 10 near-lookalike female dancers clad in all-white and cowboy hats behind her. (Wilson was presumably taking a break from honeymooning, after being wed last weekend.) The show ended with Blake Shelton doing the Kenny Rogers smash \u201cThe Gambler,\u201d in honor of esteemed songwriter Don Schlitz, who died last month.<\/p>\n

\n\tKacey Musgraves provided one of the performance highlights of the night with a randy rendition of her recent single \u201cDry Spell,\u201d starting out sitting on the washing machine mentioned in the lyrics and moving over to a supermarket set meant to recall her music video. Clad in blingy denim shorts, Musgraves pushed a cart around the market, checking out suggestive foods while singing about thwarted sexual desire.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tKacey Musgraves performs onstage at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tOn the other end of the seriousness scale, Dan + Shay scored with their new anti-suicide ballad \u201cSay So,\u201d following an introductory speech by a tearful Lauren Alaina, who broke down talking about their mutual friend, industry executive Ben Vaughn, whose death prompted the song. Alaina spoke on behalf of ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy, and its efforts supporting mental health.<\/p>\n

\n\tMcCollum\u2019s performance of his recent song \u201cKillin\u2019 Me\u201d was especially well-received, in part due to his bringing out the revered singer Lee Ann Womack as his vocal partner on the tune.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tLee Ann Womack and Parker McCollum perform onstage at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tNaturally, Langley\u2019s turn as a performer was one of the most anticipated of the night. She chose not to do her current No. 1 hit, \u201cTexas,\u201d but rather the song that sits as No. 2 on the Hot 100 at present, \u201cBe Her.\u201d In contrast to the light-spirited country-R&B flavor of the recorded version, Langley performed a more serious-sounding and stripped down version, seated on a stool and playing an acoustic guitar alongside two fellow strummers.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tElla Langley performs at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tLambert had more to do than just accompany Langley to the stage for their mutual wins. She introduced a brand new song, \u201cCrisco,\u201d in a self-described disco-country vein.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tMiranda Lambert at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tOther performers included Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis as duet partners, plus Green, Top, Kane Brown, Wetmore, Anna, the Red Clay Strays, Little Big Town and Faith.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith Langley seemingly unbeatable in any category she was up for, it seemed like a sure thing she would have won album of the year, too, if \u201cDandelion\u201d had not come out too late to meet the eligibility deadline. It\u2019s already the frontrunner that prize in 2027. Although she was not nominated for entertainer of the year, which usually is given to a seasoned artist who is headlining arenas, Langley may well be up for that next year, too, as the singer \u2014 who is only on her second major-label album \u2014 is soon to embark on her first arena tour.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tMiranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tMorgane Stapleton, Ella Langley and Chris Stapleton at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tBlake Shelton and Cody Johnson at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tTucker Wetmore performs at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tKelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristopher Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tCody Johnson performs onstage at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Polk\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tElla Langley at The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrian Friedman\/Variety<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source variety.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Academy of Country Music Awards were choosing Ella Langley every chance they got, as the \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d charttopper won all seven trophies she was nominated for before and during Sunday night\u2019s ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The top prize of the night, however, went to Cody Johnson, who was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2422269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[38479,331604,333504,333330],"class_list":["post-2422268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-academy-of-country-music-awards","tag-acm-awards","tag-cody-johnson","tag-ella-langley"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ella-Langley-Wins-7-ACM-Awards-Cody-Johnson-Is-Entertainer.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2422268"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2422270,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422268\/revisions\/2422270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2422269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2422268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2422268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2422268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}