A Night to Remember in Las Vegas
Country music legend Shania Twain took the stage to host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. Held on Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the event brought together the biggest names in the industry for an evening of celebration and performance. This marked Twain's debut as the ceremony's master of ceremonies.
Reflecting on her role in an April press release, the 60-year-old icon expressed her excitement: “I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home. It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating country music’s biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year.”
Top Contenders of 2026
The competition was fierce this year, with female artists dominating the categories. Megan Moroney stood at the forefront of the field with an impressive nine nominations. Miranda Lambert followed closely with eight nods, while Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each secured seven nominations.
Key Nominations and Winners
Below is a breakdown of the major categories. Names in bold indicate the winners of the 2026 ACM Awards:
- Entertainer of the Year: [Winners to be indicated]
- Female Artist of the Year: [Winners to be indicated]
- Male Artist of the Year: [Winners to be indicated]
- Group of the Year: 49 Winchester
- Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Thelma & James
- Album of the Year: Ain’t in It for My Health, Cherry Valley, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), I’m the Problem, and Parker McCollum
- Song of the Year: “A Song to Sing,” “Am I Okay?,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Never Lie,” and “Somewhere Over Laredo”
- Single of the Year: “6 Months Later,” “The Fall”
- Music Event of the Year: “Amen” (Shaboozey), “Don’t Mind If I Do” (Riley Green), “Trailblazer” (Reba McEntire/Miranda Lambert), and “You Had to Be There” (Megan Moroney)
- Visual Media of the Year: “Cuckoo” (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
- Artist-Songwriter of the Year: Chase McGill