The 2026 ACM Awards kicked off Sunday (May 17) night in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with a bang – albeit one you could have seen coming a country mile away.

The evening’s first award, the prestigious song of the year Academy of Country Music Award, went to “Choosin’ Texas,” the nine-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 from Ella Langley that’s taken America by storm.

The song of the year ACM Award goes to songwriter(s), publisher(s) and artist(s), so Langley won alongside cowriters Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert and Joybeth Taylor, with Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing, Little Louder Songs and Sony Music Publishing winning for publishing.

“If you’ve ever met me you know I am not at a loss for words often,” Langley said while holding the trophy. “All I gotta say is, thank you God for putting me in a room with these three people here,” she said, pointing to her cowriters on stage. Thanking her fans, she admitted, “I don’t know why you latched onto this song,” but said she was grateful for the support.

Langley revealed the songwriting quartet have a group messaging chat named “Choosin’” where they “sent stats to” each other about the smash. Based on the song’s ongoing success, it doesn’t seem like that chat will go silent any time soon. “I never would have imagined to even dream for it,” Langley said of its runaway success.

The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

Country-style glitz and glam descended upon Las Vegas for the 61^st annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday (May 17) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Stars such as Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson – who are both scheduled to perform, with the latter kicking off the show airing on Prime Video – arrived on the ACMs’ red carpet in their finest, with the “Be Her” singer stunning in a white sweetheart-necklined gown, and Wilson  red hot in a strapless red-fringe floor-length number.

Host Shania Twain dazzled in a silver sequined number that appeared to feature a fierce, black-sequined cat at the bottom, paired with black leather gloves that went up to nearly her shoulders.

Shaboozey looked sleek with a black cowboy hat, stylish sunglasses, a white collared shirt and long black leather coat, while Tucket Wetmore, the new male artist of the year, was stylish in a cornflower blue suit with black piping and matching shirt. (Avery Anna was previously announced as the new female artist of the year.)

Going into the ceremony, women led in nominations, with Megan Moroney in the lead with nine nods, eight for Miranda Lambert and seven each for Langley and Wilson. Up for entertainer of the year are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Moroney, Chris Stpleton, Morgan Wallen and Wilson. This is the fourth year in a row Wallen has been nominated in the category, but he has yet to win.

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards have arrived, and they’re back in Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, after the last three years at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. They also have a brand-new host in country superstar Shania Twain, who’s taking over after repeat host Reba McEntire the past two years.

But who will emerge the night’s biggest winner? Well, this year’s four most-nominated artists are all women: Megan Moroney leads with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert (eight) and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson (seven apiece). It’s the second year in a row that a female solo artist has led the nominations; Langley was out front last year with eight nods.

Billboard will be following along all night (and all over the Vegas show), so stick with us for the updating list of winners below.

Entertainer of the Year

Luke Combs

Jelly Roll

Cody Johnson

Megan Moroney

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Ella Langley

Megan Moroney

Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year

Luke Combs

Riley Green

Cody Johnson

Chris Stapleton

Zach Top

Group of the Year

49 Winchester

Flatland Cavalry

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

The Red Clay Strays

Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Muscadine Bloodline

Thelma & James

Album of the Year

[Awarded to artist(s)/producer(s)/record Company–label(s)]

Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33

Cherry Valley – Carter Faith; Producer: Tofer Brown; Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA

Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green; Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records

Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse; Record Company-Label: MCA

Song of the Year

[Awarded to songwriter(s)/publisher(s)/artist(s)]

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure; Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon; Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor; Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols; Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music

“Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg; Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs of Riser House; Songs of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

Single of the Year

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West; Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville

Visual Media of the Year

[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney; Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Producer: James Stratakis; Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos

WINNER: “Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.; Producer: Tim Cofield; Director: Tim Cofield

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Katie Babbage; Director: TK McKamy

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson; Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: Dustin Haney

Music Event of the Year

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Producer: Dave Cobb; Record Company-Label: Republic Records

“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll; Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook; Record Company-Label: Empire

“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley; Producer: Dann Huff; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson; Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire; Record Company-Label: MCA

“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

Songwriter of the Year

WINNER: Jessie Jo Dillon

Ashley Gorley

Charlie Handsome

Chase McGill

Blake Pendergrass

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

Luke Combs

Riley Green

WINNER: Ella Langley

Megan Moroney

Morgan Wallen

New Male Artist of the Year

Gavin Adcock

Vincent Mason

Shaboozey

Hudson Westbrook

WINNER: Tucker Wetmore

New Female Artist of the Year

WINNER: Avery Anna

Mackenzie Carpenter

Dasha

Caroline Jones

Emily Ann Roberts

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.