The 2026 ACM Awards are officially in the books, celebrating the artists who delivered the biggest moments in country music this year.
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards aired live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17, with Shania Twain hosting the star-studded event.
While Megan Moroney entered the night with the most nominations with nine, it was Ella Langley who emerged as the undisputed breakout star of the night, sweeping her seven nominations, while Cody Johnson took home the night’s top honors, Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
The ceremony featured performances from some of the biggest names in the genre, including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton and Riley Green.
Here is the complete list of winners for the 2026 ACM Awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- lucas combs
- jelly roll
- Cody Johnson – WINNER
- Megan Moroney
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley – WINNER
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- lucas combs
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson – WINNER
- Chris Stapleton
- Top Zach
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- 49Winchester
- Plain Cavalry
- Old domain
- Flatts scoundrels
- The red clay strays – WINNER
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks and Dunn – WINNER
- Osborne Brothers
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine bloodline
- Thelma and James
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Avery Anna – WINNER
- Mackenzie Carpenter
- Dasha
- Carolina Jones
- Emily Ann Roberts
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Gavin Adcock
- Vincent Mason
- Shaboozey
- Hudson Westbrook
- Tucker Wetmore – WINNER
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- I’m not in this for my health – Zach Top
- Producer: Carson Chamberlain
- Tag: Leo33
- Cherry Valley — Carter Faith
- Producer: Tofer Brown
- Label: Gatsby Records/MCA
- I Don’t Care If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green
- Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox
- Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
- I am the problem – Morgan Wallen
- Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett
- Label: Big Loud Records
- Parker McCollum – WINNER
- Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
- Tag: MCA
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
- Composers: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
- Editors: I wrote these songs; Pink Dog Post; Songs for Music Munch; Songs of influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
- “I’m fine?” —Megan Moroney
- Composers: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
- Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Great music machine
- “Choosing Texas” – WINNER
- Artist: Ella Langley
- Composers: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
- Publishers: Bada Bing and Bada Langley Publishing; Little noisy songs; Sony Music Publishing
- “I never lie” – Zach Top
- Composers: 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 the best music
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
- Composers: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
- Publishers: Sounds of Concord; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Inc Catalog; Riser House Songs; Wildcat Pit Music Songs; Sony/ATV Field; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “Six Months Later” – Megan Moroney
- Producer: Kristian Bush
- Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records
- “Choosing Texas” – WINNER
- Artist: Ella Langley
- Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
- Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
- “I never lie” – Zach Top
- Producer: Carson Chamberlain
- Tag: Leo33
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
- Producer: Jay Joyce
- Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records
- “The Fall” – Cody Johnson
- Producer: Trent Willmon
- Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
- Producer: Dave Cobb
- Label: Republic Records
- “Amen” – Shaboozey and Jelly Roll
- Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook
- Tag: Empire
- “I don’t care if I do it” – WINNER
- Artists: Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
- Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox
- Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
- “Pioneer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
- Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire
- Tag: MCA
- “You Had to Be There” – Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney
- Producer: Kristian Bush
- Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- “Six Months Later” – Megan Moroney
- Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry
- Directors: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
- Producer: James Stratakis
- Directors: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos
- “Cuckoo” – WINNER
- Artist: 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
