The 2026 ACM Awards brought expected wins for Ella Langley, repeat victories for Brooks & Dunn and Cody Johnson, and a major female artist shakeup.
- May 18, 2026
AceShowbiz - The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards unfolded at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17, delivering expected victories alongside some surprising outcomes and notable snubs.
Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" secured both single of the year and song of the year, a result few found shocking. The song’s widespread appeal and crossover success made it a clear frontrunner, and its dual win was anticipated by many industry observers.
The group of the year, duo of the year, and male artist of the year categories saw familiar winners repeating their CMA Awards triumphs from November 19. The Red Clay Strays took group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn won duo of the year, and Cody Johnson was named male artist of the year once again. The only major change in the top-tier awards was in the female artist of the year category, where Langley claimed the title at the ACMs, dethroning Lainey Wilson, the four-time consecutive winner at the CMAs.
Despite these expected results, the evening was not without its surprises and snubs, elements that are almost traditional at any awards ceremony. This year’s event was hosted by Shania Twain and marked the fifth consecutive year that the ACM Awards streamed live on Prime Video.
One of the most unexpected moments was Cody Johnson’s win for entertainer of the year. While his male artist of the year award was anticipated, the entertainer of the year accolade was harder to predict given the stiff competition. This category included previous winners like Lainey Wilson (winner of the past two years), Chris Stapleton (2023 winner), and four first-time nominees: Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, and Megan Moroney. Johnson’s victory stood out, especially as this marked only his second ACM Award, the first being song of the year two years prior for "Dirt Cheap," a track written by Josh Phillips.
Cody Johnson had previously been nominated for new male artist of the year in both 2020 and 2021 but did not win. His double win this year certainly made up for those earlier misses and added a new chapter to his career achievements.
The ACM Awards continue to be produced by Dick Clark Productions, owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Penske Media, the parent company of Billboard.
