Ella Langley walked off with multiple trophies and Cody Johnson scored the top prize at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Langley’s crossover hit “Choosin’ Texas” opened her night with song of the year, presented by Michael Bublé, and she kept collecting awards alongside collaborators such as Riley Green. Cody Johnson grabbed entertainer of the year and male artist of the year in a night packed with big names and bold performances across the Strip.
The ceremony began with Langley’s win for song of the year for “Choosin’ Texas,” a moment that set the tone. Michael Bublé handed her the honor and she admitted, “I’m not at a loss for words very often,” before saying, “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 she took single of the year for the same track, a win that confirmed the song’s wide reach.
Langley kept the momentum, teaming with Riley Green to win music event of the year for their duet “Don’t Mind if I Do.” Her fourth trophy came when she was named female artist of the year, a clearly emotional moment. “I’m trying to get to say something, but I can’t,” she said as her voice broke, adding, “I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.”
Cody Johnson earned the night’s biggest title when he was crowned entertainer of the year, a cap on an award-filled evening. In his speech he noted, “They say that music is the sound of emotion,” and said, “I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music.” Johnson had already won male artist of the year and dedicated his award to Luke Combs, signaling respect across the country community.
The show opened with Lainey Wilson performing “Can’t Sit Still,” a high-energy start from an artist who had won entertainer of the year the previous two years. Moving the ceremony back to Las Vegas after a stint in Frisco, Texas, gave the night a different feel while keeping the focus on big performances. Miranda Lambert cut through the house with “Crisco,” reminding viewers why she is the most-decorated artist in ACM history.
Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis paired up for “Ain’t A Bad Life,” and the stage never stopped producing standout moments. Avery Anna reworked “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” into a country-rock “Bang Bang,” and Zach Top turned in a gritty take on “Honky Tonk Till It Hurts.” Little Big Town brought “Hey There Sunshine,” while The Red Clay Strays delivered “Demons in Your Choir,” spotlighting a range of sounds across contemporary country.
Shania Twain made a memorable hosting debut, stepping out to “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and giving a nod to Lainey’s recent wedding. Her reflective intro celebrated a career arc that began with her first ACM win three decades ago and her first top 10 hit at age 30. “What a time this is for country music!” she declared, and she urged the crowd to “Make it loud for all our sheroes,” directing welcome attention to women leading the genre.
Brooks & Dunn picked up duo of the year, with Kix Brooks joking, “I don’t know why y’all aren’t getting sick of us,” before adding, “But we love y’all.” The Red Clay Strays walked off with group of the year, further balancing the night between established stars and rising acts. Prior awards presented before the main show included Langley as artist-songwriter of the year and Jessie Jo Dillon repeating as songwriter of the year for the third straight time.
New artist honors went to Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore, while Stephen Wilson Jr. took visual media of the year for “Cuckoo.” Onstage performances ranged from Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack dueting “Killin’ Me” to Kacey Musgraves delivering “Dry Spell” in a cheeky, staged grocery and laundromat setup. Carter Faith stood out with “If I Had Never Lost My Mind,” and Kane Brown added his single “Woman” to the evening’s variety.
Album of the year emerged as a hotly contested category, ultimately going to Parker McCollum for his self-titled release. He beat out Morgan Wallen, Zach Top, Riley Green and first-time nominee Carter Faith in a category that underscored how competitive the scene has become. The evening wound toward its final moments with Dan + Say performing “Say So” as a tribute to the late Ben Vaughn, followed by Blake Shelton’s stirring cover of “The Gambler,” a nod to songwriter Don Schlitz and country history.
