Ella Langley Dominates ACM Awards, Cody Johnson Takes Entertainer of the Year

Ella Langley had a night to remember at Sunday's (May 17) 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, securing victory in all seven categories she was nominated for, including the prestigious Female Artist of the Year.

The night's biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year, went to Cody Johnson, who also claimed the Male Artist of the Year award earlier in the evening.

The ACM Awards made a grand return to Las Vegas, hosted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, after a three-year stint at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The ceremony also welcomed a fresh face as host, with country icon Shania Twain taking the reins from Reba McEntire, who had hosted for the past two years.

Here's a rundown of the night's major winners:

Entertainer of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• WINNER: Cody Johnson
• Megan Moroney
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• WINNER: Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney
• Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Riley Green
• WINNER: Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Zach Top

Group of the Year

• 49 Winchester
• Flatland Cavalry
• Old Dominion
• Rascal Flatts
• WINNER: The Red Clay Strays

Duo of the Year

• WINNER: Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Muscadine Bloodline
• Thelma & James

Album of the Year

[Awarded to artist(s)/producer(s)/record Company–label(s)]

• Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33
• Cherry Valley – Carter Faith; Producer: Tofer Brown; Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA
• Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green; Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
• I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records
• WINNER: Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse; Record Company-Label: MCA

Song of the Year

[Awarded to songwriter(s)/publisher(s)/artist(s)]

• “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure; Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
• “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon; Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine
• WINNER: “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor; Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing
• “I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols; Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music
• “Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg; Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs of Riser House; Songs of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

Single of the Year

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• “6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records
• WINNER: “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West; Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
• “I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33
• “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records
• “The Fall” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville

Visual Media of the Year

[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• “6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney; Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney
• “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Producer: James Stratakis; Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos
• WINNER: “Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.; Producer: Tim Cofield; Director: Tim Cofield
• “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Katie Babbage; Director: TK McKamy
• “The Fall” – Cody Johnson; Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: Dustin Haney

Music Event of the Year

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Producer: Dave Cobb; Record Company-Label: Republic Records
• “Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll; Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook; Record Company-Label: Empire
• WINNER: “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley; Producer: Dann Huff; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
• “Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson; Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire; Record Company-Label: MCA
• “You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

Songwriter of the Year

• WINNER: Jessie Jo Dillon
• Ashley Gorley
• Charlie Handsome
• Chase McGill
• Blake Pendergrass

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Riley Green
• WINNER: Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney
• Morgan Wallen

New Male Artist of the Year

• Gavin Adcock
• Vincent Mason
• Shaboozey
• Hudson Westbrook
• WINNER: Tucker Wetmore

New Female Artist of the Year

• WINNER: Avery Anna
• Mackenzie Carpenter
• Dasha
• Caroline Jones
• Emily Ann Roberts

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

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