Ella Langley arrived at the 61st ACM Awards as country music’s most exciting new name. She left Las Vegas with five awards and a moment that will be talked about for years. Sunday night was entirely hers.
How Ella Langley Took Over an Entire Awards Night
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards opened Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. **The very first award of the night set the tone: Ella Langley won song of the year for “Choosin’ Texas.”** The crossover hit had already found fans well beyond country radio, but the ACM recognition made it official. Grammy-winning pop star Michael Bublé presented the award, a moment that underscored just how far “Choosin’ Texas” had traveled across genres. “I’m not at a loss for words very often,” Langley told the crowd. “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 returned to claim single of the year for the same track. Then she and Riley Green won music event of the year for their duet “Don’t Mind if I Do.” The fourth and most emotional win of the evening came when her name was called for female artist of the year. Her voice cracked at the podium. “I’m trying to get to say something but I can’t,” she said. “I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.” That sentence hit hard in a room full of the genre’s biggest names. Before the show had even officially begun, Langley had already claimed artist-songwriter of the year in the pre-show ceremony. Here is the full picture of her night:
- Song of the Year: “Choosin’ Texas”
- Single of the Year: “Choosin’ Texas”
- Music Event of the Year: “Don’t Mind if I Do” (with Riley Green)
- Female Artist of the Year
- Artist-Songwriter of the Year (pre-show ceremony)
Five awards in one night. That is the kind of performance that defines careers.
Shania Twain Hosts for the First Time and Owns Every Second
The 61st ACM Awards came with a significant change behind the microphone. Shania Twain hosted for the first time, replacing Reba McEntire who had held the role for 18 consecutive years. **Twain made her entrance to her 1997 smash “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and the MGM Grand Garden Arena responded immediately.** Her opening speech shifted from celebratory to personal in seconds. She mentioned winning her first ACM Award 30 years ago and revealed she landed her first top 10 hit at the age of 30. She also congratulated Lainey Wilson on her wedding, which took place just the Sunday before the show. “Make it loud for all our sheroes,” she told the crowd, putting the women of country music squarely at the center of the night’s energy. Lainey Wilson opened the full broadcast herself with “Can’t Sit Still,” a new single built around ambition and forward motion. Miranda Lambert, the most-decorated artist in ACM Awards history, followed with “Crisco,” reminding everyone why she holds that title. Kacey Musgraves performed “Dry Spell” atop a washing machine and inside a grocery store, leaning fully into her signature theatrical wit. Carter Faith followed with “If I Had Never Lost My Mind,” a vocal showcase that many inside that arena called the single best performance of the entire night.
Every Other Major Winner You Need to Know
While Langley commanded the most attention, the trophies spread across a wide and talented field. Here is the complete breakdown of Sunday’s winners:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Male Artist of the Year | Cody Johnson |
| Group of the Year | The Red Clay Strays |
| Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn |
| Songwriter of the Year | Jessie Jo Dillon |
| New Female Artist of the Year | Avery Anna |
| New Male Artist of the Year | Tucker Wetmore |
| Visual Media of the Year | Stephen Wilson Jr. (“Cuckoo”) |
**Jessie Jo Dillon became the first artist in ACM history to win songwriter of the year three consecutive times**, a record that stands completely alone in the show’s 61-year run. Brooks and Dunn’s Kix Brooks brought some welcome humor to his podium moment. “I don’t know why y’all aren’t getting sick of us,” he said, “but we love y’all.” The duo’s continued dominance in the fan vote speaks to a loyalty in country music that simply does not fade. Avery Anna performed her new song “Bang Bang,” a bold country-rock take on the Nancy Sinatra classic. Tucker Wetmore stepped up with “Brunette,” while Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack dueted on “Killin’ Me” from McCollum’s 2025 self-titled album, adding a timeless quality to an already packed night.
The Race for Entertainer of the Year Heats Up
The night’s biggest remaining prize, entertainer of the year, featured one of the deepest nominee fields in recent ACM history. Lainey Wilson came in as the back-to-back defending champion. But the competition around her was fierce by any measure. The full list of nominees:
- Lainey Wilson (two-time defending champion)
- Chris Stapleton
- Cody Johnson
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Megan Moroney
- Morgan Wallen
**Megan Moroney’s inclusion signals just how quickly she has risen inside the genre.** Her presence alongside veterans like Combs and Stapleton tells the story of country music’s current moment: old guards and new voices competing at the exact same level. The album of the year race was equally loaded. Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” entered as the commercial favorite, but first-time nominee Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley” generated serious buzz on the strength of her breakthrough vocal performance earlier in the night. Zach Top’s “Ain’t in It for My Health,” Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and Parker McCollum’s self-titled album rounded out a category that genuinely could have gone in five different directions. This year also marked a geographic shift for the ACM Awards. After three consecutive years at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the show returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, bringing the ceremony back to its spiritual home in the heart of the entertainment capital. The venue change felt appropriate. Country music in 2026 is bigger, bolder and more cross-genre than it has ever been. A Las Vegas stage suited the moment perfectly. As the 61st ACM Awards wrapped up, one image stayed with everyone in that arena and watching at home: Ella Langley standing at that podium, voice cracking, five trophies deep into a night she will never forget. She did not just win awards on Sunday. She announced herself as the defining name in country music right now, and the whole genre was watching. Drop your thoughts in the comments below and tell us which moment from the 61st ACM Awards hit you hardest.
