Ella Langley Dominates ACM Awards as Cody Johnson Wins Top Honor/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ella Langley emerged as the biggest winner at the 2026 ACM Awards with multiple major victories. Cody Johnson captured the night’s top honor, winning entertainer of the year in Las Vegas. The ACM Awards featured performances from country music’s biggest stars, including Shania Twain, Lainey Wilson, and Blake Shelton.
ACM Awards 2026 Quick Looks
- Ella Langley won multiple ACM Awards including song of the year
- Cody Johnson earned entertainer of the year honors
- The awards ceremony took place in Las Vegas
- Langley’s hit “Choosin’ Texas” dominated major categories
- Riley Green and Langley won music event of the year
- Shania Twain hosted the ACM Awards for the first time
- Parker McCollum won album of the year
- Brooks & Dunn captured duo of the year
- The Red Clay Strays won group of the year
- Blake Shelton honored Kenny Rogers with “The Gambler” performance
Deep Look
Ella Langley Becomes the Biggest Winner of the Night
Ella Langley dominated the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, taking home multiple major trophies during a star-filled night in Las Vegas.
The breakthrough country artist quickly became the center of attention after winning song of the year for her crossover hit “Choosin’ Texas.” The award was presented by Michael Bublé and marked the beginning of a memorable night for the singer.
“I’m not at a loss for words very often,” said Langley in her speech. “Thank you to the fans. I don’t know why you latched on to this song but thank you for doing it.”
Less than an hour later, Langley returned to the stage to accept single of the year for the same song.
Her momentum continued as she teamed with Riley Green to win music event of the year for their duet “Don’t Mind if I Do.” Later in the evening, she secured another major victory by winning female artist of the year.
“I’m trying to get to say something but I can’t,” she said while her voice cracked. “I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.”
Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer of the Year
While Langley dominated the awards count, Cody Johnson captured the night’s top honor by winning entertainer of the year.
Johnson also won male artist of the year earlier in the ceremony before delivering an emotional acceptance speech for the ACM’s highest award.
“They say that music is the sound of emotion,” Johnson said in his speech. “I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music.”
Johnson later dedicated the entertainer of the year award to fellow country star Luke Combs.
His victories capped another successful year for the Texas-born country singer, whose traditional country style has continued attracting mainstream success and loyal fans.
Las Vegas Hosts a Star-Studded Country Celebration
The 61st annual ACM Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking a shift from Frisco, Texas, where the event had been hosted over the previous three years.
The show opened with a performance by Lainey Wilson, the previous two-time entertainer of the year winner. Wilson energized the crowd with her latest single “Can’t Sit Still,” setting the tone for a fast-paced evening packed with live performances.
Country music legends and rising stars shared the stage throughout the ceremony.
Miranda Lambert, the most decorated artist in ACM Awards history, performed “Crisco,” while Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis teamed up for “Ain’t A Bad Life.” Avery Anna delivered a country-rock version of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” and Zach Top performed “Honky Tonk Till It Hurts.”
Little Big Town performed “Hey There Sunshine,” while The Red Clay Strays impressed audiences with “Demons in Your Choir.”
Shania Twain Takes Over Hosting Duties
Country music icon Shania Twain hosted the ACM Awards for the first time, replacing longtime host Reba McEntire.
Twain entered the stage to her classic hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and congratulated Lainey Wilson on her recent wedding during her opening remarks.
“What a time this is for country music!” Twain said during her introduction before reflecting on her own ACM journey.
She noted that she won her first ACM Award 30 years ago and celebrated the growing influence of women in country music.
“Make it loud for all our sheroes,” she told the audience.
Her appearance brought a nostalgic and celebratory atmosphere to the evening while highlighting the genre’s evolving landscape.
Major Wins Across Country Music
Several other artists earned major honors during the awards ceremony.
The Red Clay Strays won group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn captured duo of the year.
“I don’t know why y’all aren’t getting sick of us,” Kix Brooks joked, “But we love y’all.”
Before the live broadcast, Langley was also named artist-songwriter of the year, adding another achievement to her breakout night.
Jessie Jo Dillon won songwriter of the year for the third consecutive year, while Stephen Wilson Jr. earned visual media of the year honors for “Cuckoo.”
Tucker Wetmore and Avery Anna received new male and new female artist awards, respectively.
Parker McCollum Wins Competitive Album Category
One of the evening’s most competitive races came in the album of the year category.
Parker McCollum ultimately won for his self-titled album, beating several high-profile nominees including Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem,” Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It for My Health,” Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley.”
The victory further strengthened McCollum’s standing among country music’s leading artists.
Kacey Musgraves also delivered one of the night’s most creative performances, singing “Dry Spell” while performing atop a washing machine in a grocery store-themed stage setup.
Emotional Finale Honors Country Legends
The ACM Awards concluded with emotional performances honoring country music history.
Dan + Shay performed “Say So” in tribute to the late Warner Chappell executive Ben Vaughn.
Blake Shelton then closed the show with a powerful rendition of “The Gambler,” the iconic song popularized by Kenny Rogers and written by legendary songwriter Don Schlitz, who died last month.
The performance served as a reminder of the song’s lasting impact on country music and its crossover success in American pop culture.
The 2026 ACM Awards streamed on Prime Video, Twitch, and the Amazon Music app, reaching audiences worldwide.
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