Shania Twain is stepping into a major new role at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, hosting the star-studded ceremony for the first time.
The three-time ACM Award winner is leading this year's celebration live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with the show streaming exclusively on Prime Video. The night brings together some of country music's biggest names, with Megan Moroney entering as the most-nominated artist with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight, and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven each.
The evening opened with Lainey Wilson performing "Can't Sit Still," while Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis were among the early performers. Ella Langley also scored an early win, taking home Song of the Year for "Choosin' Texas."
This year's ACM Awards reflect a strong season for women in country music, with Moroney, Lambert, Langley and Wilson all heavily represented across major categories. Winners are voted on by members of the Academy of Country Music, which now includes a record-high membership of more than 5,000 members.
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
WINNER: Cody Johnson
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
WINNER: Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
WINNER: Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
WINNER: The Red Clay Strays
Duo of the Year
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: "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
WINNER: "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
WINNER: "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.
