At the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Ella Langley swept multiple trophies while Cody Johnson took home entertainer and male artist of the year, and a stack of performances from Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert and others kept the night moving.
The evening opened with a surprise: the song everyone was talking about, “Choosin’ Texas,” earned Langley the first big prize of the night. Michael Bublé handed over the award, setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable run for Langley.
Back onstage after that first moment, Langley paused to thank her supporters. “I’m not at a loss for words very often,” she said. “Thank you to the fans. I don’t know why you latched on to this song but thank you for doing it.”
Not long after, the same smash took single of the year, proving the song’s reach was more than a one-off success. Langley then teamed with Riley Green, and their duet “Don’t Mind if I Do” won music event of the year.
Langley’s night kept building when she collected the female artist of the year trophy in front of the audience. She fought to steady herself, saying, “I’m trying to get to say something but I can’t,” and credited the support of fellow women in the business for getting her there.
Cody Johnson walked away with two major titles as well, winning male artist of the year before being crowned entertainer of the year. “They say that music is the sound of emotion,” he said. “I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music.”
Johnson’s entertainer award was especially poignant because he dedicated it to Luke Combs, spotlighting the camaraderie and mutual respect among country stars. That dedication landed as one of the emotional beats of the night.
The show kicked off with Lainey Wilson, who opened with “Can’t Sit Still” in a high-energy performance fitting for the ceremony’s first act. Wilson, who had been the previous two-time entertainer of the year, brought a charged stage presence and a clear sense of ambition to the opener.
Performances came fast and tight throughout the night, with Miranda Lambert bringing grit to “Crisco.” Thomas Rhett joined Jordan Davis for a breezy duet on “Ain’t A Bad Life,” blending their styles into a crowd-pleasing moment.
Avery Anna reframed a classic with her take on “Bang Bang,” while Riley Green delivered his single “Change My Mind.” Zach Top hit the stage with “Honky Tonk Till It Hurts,” keeping the tempo lively and the audience engaged.
Little Big Town offered a bright rendition of “Hey There Sunshine,” and The Red Clay Strays went deeper with “Demons in Your Choir.” Those sets balanced pop-leaning moments with raw, traditional country textures across the night.
Host Shania Twain arrived with her signature energy and opened with “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!,” a nod to her decades in the spotlight. In her intro she reflected on the arc of her career and celebrated fellow women, cheering, “Make it loud for all our sheroes.”
Twain’s hosting marked a change from the long run of Reba McEntire, who previously held the job 18 times, and her tone made the show both celebratory and reflective. The mix of veterans and rising stars felt intentional throughout the evening.
Group of the year went to The Red Clay Strays while duo of the year honored Brooks & Dunn, whose Kix Brooks quipped to fans, “I don’t know why y’all aren’t getting sick of us,” before adding, “But we love y’all.” Those moments landed as light-hearted bookends to the awards.
Some trophies were handed out before the main telecast, with Langley earning artist-songwriter of the year and Jessie Jo Dillon picking up songwriter of the year for a third straight time. Stephen Wilson Jr. won visual media of the year for “Cuckoo,” and new artist honors went to Anna and Tucker Wetmore.
Wetmore performed “Brunette,” Parker McCollum paired with Lee Ann Womack for “Killin’ Me,” and Kacey Musgraves brought a quirky vibe to “Dry Spell,” performing atop a washing machine and in a grocery store set. Langley also returned with a pared-down acoustic “Be Her.”
Carter Faith delivered a standout vocal with “If I Had Never Lost My Mind,” and the night continued to highlight a wide range of voices. Cody Johnson followed with a heartfelt “Travelin’ Soldier,” and Kane Brown offered his track “Woman.”
Album of the year went to Parker McCollum for his self-titled release, a win that edged out tough competition like Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” and Niko Moon’s peers. The category drew attention for how stacked it was this year, making McCollum’s victory a notable achievement.
The night wrapped with two final performances: Dan + Shay delivered “Say So,” a dedication to Ben Vaughn, and Blake Shelton closed with a powerful cover of “The Gambler,” a song written by Don Schlitz and made famous by Kenny Rogers. The latter performance underscored the deep songwriting roots that still shape country music today.
The 2026 ACM Awards streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as the Amazon Music app, giving fans multiple ways to watch the ceremony as it unfolded live from Las Vegas.
