Ella Langley Shines at 2026 ACM Awards

The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards brought excitement and recognition to performers at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ella Langley dominated the night with several awards, making her mark from the beginning.

Langley kicked off the event by winning Song of the Year for her hit Choosin’ Texas. Presented by Michael Bublé, Langley expressed gratitude to her fans:

I’m not at a loss for words very often. 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, she returned to the stage, accepting Single of the Year for the same song.

In collaboration with Riley Green, Langley earned Music Event of the Year for their duet Don’t Mind if I Do. Her streak continued with Female Artist of the Year, where she acknowledged influential women:

I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.

Amidst Langley’s success, Cody Johnson claimed two notable awards: Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. In his speech, he reflected on music’s emotional power:

They say that music is the sound of emotion. I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music.

Johnson also dedicated his top award to fellow artist Luke Combs.

Opening the ceremony, Lainey Wilson performed Can’t Sit Still, a song reflecting ambition. Other stars, including Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, and Jordan Davis, delivered remarkable performances.

The night continued with music icons like Shania Twain, who hosted for the first time. Reflecting on her career, Twain inspired with her speech:

Make it loud for all our sheroes.

She succeeded veteran host Reba McEntire.

Brooks & Dunn and The Red Clay Strays received Duo and Group of the Year honors, respectively. As the show progressed, pre-event awards were announced: Langley was titled Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Jessie Jo Dillon earned Songwriter of the Year, and Stephen Wilson Jr. won Visual Media of the Year.

Performances spanned genres and generations, including Carter Faith’s If I Had Never Lost My Mind and Cody Johnson’s Travelin’ Soldier. Parker McCollum claimed Album of the Year amidst tough competition, besting releases from artists like Morgan Wallen and Kane Brown.

The ceremony wrapped up with Dan + Shay’s tribute song Say So and Blake Shelton’s rendition of The Gambler, honoring country music legacy.

The 2026 ACM Awards streamed online, allowing fans worldwide to partake in the celebration of country music’s finest achievements.