[ad_1]
Country music’s biggest stars returned to Las Vegas for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night to celebrate the genre’s biggest artists, songs and albums of the past year. Country legend Shania Twain hosted.
Even before the ceremony, this year’s nominations had already sparked conversation across the country music world, with women dominating many of the show’s biggest categories. Meanwhile, a new generation of genre-blending stars continues to reshape the sound of mainstream country.
Leading this year’s nominees was Megan Moroney with nine nods, following a massive year that cemented her as one of the genre’s defining new voices. Miranda Lambert followed closely behind with eight nominations, and breakout star Langley and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson each earned seven. More than halfway through the show, Langley had already won five awards.
Chris Stapleton led all male artists with six nominations, while neo-traditional standout Zach Top earned five nominations in a breakout showing for the rising star.
The standouts among emerging talent, however, were Moroney, who scored her first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination, and Langley.
The nominations also delivered a few surprises. Morgan Wallen received major nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, but was absent from the Male Artist of the Year category — one of the most notable omissions on this year’s ballot. Elsewhere, Top’s strong showing signals continued demand for traditional country sounds amid the genre’s current wave of crossover and pop-influenced stars.
Fan-favorite collaborations were also heavily represented in the Music Event of the Year category, including Langley and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind if I Do,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had to Be There,” and “Trailblazer,” the multigenerational collaboration from Reba McEntire, Lambert and Wilson. Langley and Green won.
The full list of 2026 ACM Awards winners and nominees is available on the official ACM website. Take a look at some of the major categories, winners and nominees below.
Entertainer of the Year
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Group of the Year
-
The Red Clay Strays — winner
Duo of the Year
-
Brooks & Dunn — winner
New Female Artist of the Year
New Male Artist of the Year
-
Tucker Wetmore — winner
Album of the Year
-
Zach Top, Ain’t in It for My Health
-
Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
-
Riley Green, Don’t Mind if I Do (Deluxe)
-
Morgan Wallen, I’m the Problem
-
Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum — winner
Song of the Year
-
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song to Sing
-
Megan Moroney, Am I Okay?
-
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas — winner
-
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Single of the Year
-
Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
-
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas — winner
-
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Music Event of the Year
-
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song to Sing
-
Shaboozey & Jelly Roll, Amen
-
Riley Green feat. Ella Langley, Don’t Mind If I Do — winner
-
Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Trailblazer
-
Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney, You Had to Be There
Visual Media of the Year
-
Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
-
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song to Sing
-
Stephen Wilson Jr., Cuckoo — winner
-
Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Songwriter of the Year
-
Jessie Jo Dillon — winner
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
[ad_2]
Source link