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Ella Langley Sweeps and Cody Johnson Triumphs: Full Winners and Major Highlights from the 61st ACM Awards 2026

 Key Points

• The Night's Biggest Winner: Breakout country sensation Ella Langley completely dominated the ceremony, sweeping her nominations to take home major accolades including Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year (for her hit "Choosin' Texas"), and Music Event of the Year.

• Top Crowning Honor: Powerhouse artist Cody Johnson captured the night's ultimate prize, Entertainer of the Year, alongside the trophy for Male Artist of the Year.

• Star-Studded Hosting: Global pop-country icon Shania Twain stepped onto the stage as host for the first time in her historic career.

• Iconic Return to Vegas: The 61st annual show returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, streaming live globally via Prime Video and Twitch.

• Historic Milestones: Brooks & Dunn extended their unmatched legacy by winning Duo of the Year for the 18th time, while Miranda Lambert extended her record as the most decorated artist in ACM history (32 wins overall) as a co-writer on Langley's winning track.

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The 61st Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards made a spectacular and triumphant return to the dazzling lights of Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17, 2026, delivering an unforgettable evening of high-octane performances, emotional acceptance speeches, and historic milestones live from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Hosted for the very first time by the best-selling female country artist of all time, Shania Twain, the star-studded event streamed exclusively to global audiences on Prime Video and Twitch, cementing a massive evolutionary shift in the contemporary country music landscape.

The undisputed star of the evening was breakout powerhouse Ella Langley, who completely commanded the spotlight by sweeping her nominations—securing monumental wins for Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and both Song and Single of the Year for her chart-topping crossover hit "Choosin' Texas," alongside capturing Music Event of the Year for her hit collaboration with Riley Green on "Don't Mind If I Do."

Concurrently, Cody Johnson claimed the night's most prestigious crowning achievement, taking home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award following an incredibly moving speech dedicated to his wife, right after also securing the Male Artist of the Year trophy.

The celebration of country excellence seamlessly bridged veteran legends and the genre's explosive new wave, as the iconic duo Brooks & Dunn won Duo of the Year for an astonishing 18th time, Parker McCollum captured Album of the Year for his self-titled project, and rising roots-rock titans The Red Clay Strays won Group of the Year.

Packed with show-stopping performances including Lainey Wilson's high-energy opener "Can't Sit Still," Kacey Musgraves crooning "Dry Spell," and Miranda Lambert debuting her brand-new track "Crisco"—while simultaneously extending her record as the most decorated artist in ACM history with 32 total career wins—the 2026 ACM Awards proved to be an absolute masterclass in musical storytelling, perfectly rounded out by early-announced wins for fresh industry vanguards Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore as New Female and New Male Artist of the Year.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Who won Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 ACM Awards?

A: Cody Johnson won the night's top honor, Entertainer of the Year, beating out prominent fellow nominees Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson.

Q2: Who won the most awards at the 2026 ACM Awards?

A: Breakout singer-songwriter Ella Langley was the biggest winner of the night. She swept her nominations, taking home massive wins including Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Event of the Year.

Q3: Who hosted the 2026 ACM Awards and where did it take place?

A: The 61st ACM Awards were hosted by country music legend Shania Twain, marking her first time ever hosting the ceremony. The event took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Q4: Which newcomers won the "New Artist" categories this year?

A: Avery Anna was crowned New Female Artist of the Year, while Tucker Wetmore took home the trophy for New Male Artist of the Year.

 Sources

• Learn more about the event production and broadcast history on the Academy of Country Music Official Site.

• See the full list of category winners and commentary at The Economic Times.

• Read an in-depth breakdown of the night's performances and milestones on Rolling Stone Australia.

• Check out the red carpet details and early winner announcements on Taste of Country.

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