Ella Langley led the 2026 ACM Awards winners list with a five-award sweep at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17. The country singer won Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” and Music Event of the Year with Riley Green for “Don’t Mind if I Do.” Cody Johnson won Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
Ella Langley dominates ACM Awards 2026 winners list
Yahoo Entertainment’s live coverage highlighted Langley’s Artist-Songwriter of the Year win as the show unfolded. People reported that Langley, 27, turned emotional onstage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Shania Twain hosted the ceremony. “I’m trying to get to say something, but I can’t,” Langley said before adding, “Thank you [to] the women in this room.”Langley thanked Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini and Lauren Alaina for backing her through the night. She also recalled advice from Lambert, her “Choosin’ Texas” co-writer. “You are more important than this job,” Lambert told her, according to Langley.
ACM Awards 2026 major winners and nominees
People’s winners list said Megan Moroney led the nominations with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight. Langley and Lainey Wilson had seven each.Other major winners included The Red Clay Strays for Group of the Year, Brooks & Dunn for Duo of the Year, Avery Anna for New Female Artist of the Year and Tucker Wetmore for New Male Artist of the Year. Parker McCollum won Album of the Year for ‘Parker McCollum,’ while Jessie Jo Dillon won Songwriter of the Year.The show streamed live on Prime Video and Amazon Music. Performers included Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Riley Green, Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Dan + Shay, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top.
