It was night from the start. The first honor of the Sunday night was for the coveted song of the year, given to Langley for the crossover hit 鈥淐hoosin鈥� Texas,鈥� presented to her by Michael Bubl茅.
鈥淚鈥檓 not at a loss for words very often,鈥� said Langley in her speech. 鈥淭hank you to the fans. I don鈥檛 know why you latched on to this song but thank you for doing it.鈥�
Less than an hour later she was back on stage, winning single of the year for the same smash.
She also joined Riley Green shortly thereafter, as their duet 鈥淒on鈥檛 Mind if I Do鈥� took home music event of the year.
And then she received her fourth on-stage trophy of the night for female artist of the year. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get to say something but I can鈥檛,鈥� she said while her voice cracked. 鈥淚 would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.鈥�
Call it the ideal introduction to a night that promised appearances from the greatest names in contemporary country music. It started with 鈥� who took home the top prize of entertainer of the year for the last two years 鈥� opening the ACM Awards with 鈥淐an’t Sit Still,” her latest single, an anthemic stopper about ambition.
It was an exciting way to kick off the 61st annual awards ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. That’s a noted departure from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas, where the ACM Awards were held the last three years.
Performances followed fast and fierce from there: , the most-decorated artist in ACM Awards history, performed 鈥淐risco.鈥� Then Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis teamed up for 鈥淎in’t A Bad Life.鈥�
Avery Anna performed her new song 鈥淏ang Bang,鈥� a country-rock reimagination of the Nancy Sinatra classic 鈥淏ang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).鈥� Green tackled 鈥淐hange My Mind鈥� and Zach Top nailed his hit 鈥淗onky Tonk Till It Hurts.鈥�
Little Big Town did 鈥淗ey There Sunshine鈥�; The Red Clay Strays nailed 鈥淒emons in Your Choir.鈥�
Host walked out to her 1997 single 鈥淢an! I Feel Like a Woman!,” congratulating Lainey on her wedding that took place last Sunday.
“What a time this is for country music!” Twain said in her intro speech, which quickly became reflective: She talked about winning her first ACM Award 30 years ago; she said she had her first top 10 hit at age 30.
鈥淢ake it loud for all our sheroes,鈥� she cheered, directing her attention to the women of country. It made sense: This is Twain鈥檚 first time hosting. She鈥檚 taken over for , who has hosted the show 18 times.
Male artist of the year was given to Cody Johnson. Group of the year was awarded to The Red Clay Strays; duo of the year went to none other than
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why y鈥檃ll aren鈥檛 getting sick of us,鈥� Kix Brooks joked, 鈥淏ut we love y鈥檃ll.鈥�
The ACM festivities actually began ahead of Sunday’s event. Before the show, a few trophies were handed out. Langley was named artist-songwriter of the year. Jessie Jo Dillon was named songwriter of the year, becoming the first artist to win three times in a row. Stephen Wilson Jr. was awarded visual media of the year for 鈥淐uckoo.鈥� Anna and Tucker Wetmore were presented with new female and new male artist of the year, respectively.
Back on stage, Wetmore tackled 鈥淏runette鈥�; Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack dueted 鈥淜illin鈥� Me鈥� from
brought her cheeky wit to the ACM Awards stage with 鈥淒ry Spell,” performing atop a washing machine and in a grocery store; Langley performed 鈥淏e Her” acoustically.
Carter Faith鈥檚 鈥淚f I Had Never Lost My Mind鈥� was a standout vocal performance. She was followed by Johnson鈥檚 emotive 鈥淭ravelin鈥� Soldier鈥� and Kane Brown鈥檚 鈥淲oman.鈥�
There’s still a lot to look forward to, including the top prize of entertainer of the year, where Megan Moroney will face off against Wilson, Stapleton, Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen.
And in the album of the year category, challenges Top鈥檚 鈥淎in鈥檛 in It for My Health,鈥� Riley Green鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 Mind If I Do,鈥� and first-time nominee Carter Faith鈥檚 鈥淐herry Valley.鈥�
The 2026 ACM Awards can be streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as the Amazon Music app.
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