AceShowbiz - The 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards nominations were revealed on Thursday morning, with Megan Moroney emerging as the leading nominee. Moroney earned a remarkable nine nods, including her first-ever nomination for Entertainer of the Year, setting the stage for a women-dominated awards season.

Megan Moroney leads the pack ahead of notable peers such as Miranda Lambert, who received eight nominations, and both Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson, who garnered seven each. The highest male nominee is Chris Stapleton, with six nods.

The coveted Entertainer of the Year category features a competitive lineup including Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, and last year’s winner Lainey Wilson. This category highlights some of country music’s brightest stars vying for the top honor.

The Album of the Year category offers an exciting mix of rising talent. The nominees include Zach Top for Ain't in It for My Health, Riley Green for the deluxe edition of Don't Mind If I Do, Parker McCollum for his self-titled album, and Carter Faith for her debut Cherry Valley. Notably, Carter Faith received her first nomination for this album, which Rolling Stone ranked as the second-best country album of 2025. Interestingly, despite her debut recognition, Faith is not nominated in the New Female Artist of the Year category.

Ella Langley earned nominations for both Single of the Year and Song of the Year with "Choosin' Texas," a track that achieved significant crossover success by spending five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Song of the Year category, "Choosin' Texas" will compete against major hits such as "A Song to Sing" by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney's "Am I Okay?", Zach Top's "I Never Lie," and Lainey Wilson's "Somewhere Over Laredo."

The 61st ACM Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be streamed live on Prime Video starting at 8 p.m. ET. An announcement regarding the show's host is expected soon.

Below is a breakdown of the key nominations for the 61st annual ACM Awards:

Entertainer of the Year: Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year: Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top

Group of the Year: 49 Winchester, Flatland Cavalry, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, The Red Clay Strays

Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline, Thelma & James

New Female Artist of the Year: Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Caroline Jones, Emily Ann Roberts

New Male Artist of the Year: Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shaboozey, Hudson Westbrook, Tucker Wetmore

Album of the Year: Ain't in It for My Health (Zach Top), Cherry Valley (Carter Faith), Don't Mind If I Do (Deluxe) (Riley Green), I'm the Problem (Morgan Wallen), Parker McCollum (Parker McCollum)

Song of the Year: "A Song to Sing" by Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; "Am I Okay?" by Megan Moroney; "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley; "I Never Lie" by Zach Top; "Somewhere Over Laredo" by Lainey Wilson

Single of the Year: "6 Months Later" (Megan Moroney), "Choosin' Texas" (Ella Langley), "I Never Lie" (Zach Top), "Somewhere Over Laredo" (Lainey Wilson), "The Fall" (Cody Johnson)

Music Event of the Year: "A Song to Sing" (Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton), "Amen" (Shaboozey & Jelly Roll), "Don't Mind If I Do" (Riley Green feat. Ella Langley), "Trailblazer" (Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson), "You Had to Be There" (Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney)

Visual Media of the Year: "6 Months Later" (Megan Moroney), "A Song to Sing" (Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton), "Cuckoo" (Stephen Wilson Jr.), "Somewhere Over Laredo" (Lainey Wilson), "The Fall" (Cody Johnson)

Songwriter of the Year: Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Chase McGill, Blake Pendergrass

The nominations underscore a year where female artists have made significant strides, dominating key categories and reflecting the evolving landscape of country music. The upcoming ACM Awards promise an exciting celebration of both established stars and emerging talent in the genre.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.