Country music’s biggest names filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night for the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted for the first time by Shania Twain. By the end of the ceremony, however, the spotlight firmly belonged to Ella Langley, whose breakout year reached another milestone with a dominant showing at the ACMs.
Langley captured every award tied to her seven nominations, earning multiple honors for her hit “Choosin’ Texas,” including Song of the Year and Single of the Year. She also took home Female Artist of the Year, beating out fellow nominees Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson.
Overcome with emotion after receiving the honor, Langley struggled to begin her speech following a standing ovation. “I’m trying to get to saying something, but I can’t,” she said. The singer reflected on the support she received from fellow artists before the ceremony, recalling how Wilson comforted her backstage and how Lambert arrived wearing her signature pink hat. Langley also thanked her family, faith, and the women who helped guide her career, adding, “Thank you to the women. I would not be standing up here without them.”
While Langley dominated the evening, Megan Moroney entered the night as the most-nominated artist with nine nods, including Entertainer of the Year. Moroney did not attend the event because she served as maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding and ultimately left without a win.
Another major moment came when Cody Johnson secured the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, in addition to Male Artist of the Year. During his acceptance speech, Johnson praised fellow country star Luke Combs for showing resilience during a recent Australian tour stop. “They say that music is the sound of emotion,” Johnson told the audience, emphasizing how fortunate he feels to connect with fans through his songs. Calling music “the greatest drug that’s ever been created on planet Earth,” Johnson also reflected on balancing life as a performer with his roles as a husband, father, and cattle rancher.
Other top winners included Parker McCollum, whose self-titled project earned Album of the Year honors; while the ceremony also featured performances from some of country music’s biggest stars, including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Dan + Shay, Little Big Town and Riley Green.
For the complete list of winners, head to ACMCountry.com.
Editorial credit: Joe Seer / Shuttertock.com
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