Ella Langley was the biggest winner at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2026.
The 27-year-old star received seven nominations and was left speechless after she bagged five gongs – Female Artist of the Year, Artist-songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year (Choosin’ Texas), and Music Event of the Year (Don’t Mind If I Do – Riley Green feat. Ella).
A teary Ella was full of gratitude during her speech at the event on Sunday (17.05.26), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
She said: “I’m trying to get to say something, but I can’t. Thank you [to] the women in this room.
“Today I was having a strange day – I don’t know what it is about awards. I walked right into Lainey [Wilson]’s room, and I just got emotional, and she hugged me, wrapped me up, and started praying for me.
“And then all of a sudden, here comes Miranda Lambert in her little pink hat. I would not be standing up here without just [the] encouragement of so many women. Kelsea [Ballerini], thank you so much for loving on me.”
The performer – who was nominated in the Female Artist of the Year category alongside Lainey Miranda and Kelsea – also thanked Lauren Alaina, 31, for her support.
Cody Johnson was another big winner at the ACM Awards 2026, taking home two accolades from his four nominations – Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year (The Fall)
He scooped up the Entertainer of the Year gong – beating Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and Luke Combs.
And Cody dedicated the accolade to the latter.
In Cody’s acceptance speech, the ‘Til You Can’t hitmaker said: “There’s a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music.
“I was there the night in Australia when his wife gave birth to one of their sons. And I watched the anguish, I watched the defeat on his face for not being there, because he was across the world playing music in a sold-out arena.
“The next night, right after, I watched him get on stage and absolutely murder the stage, and go on stage and play country music and preach the message of country music to a bunch of Australians across the world.
“So, tonight I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy, Luke Combs. I love you, brother.”
Cody was also named Male Artist of the Year.
Other winners on the night included Jessie Jo Dillon (Songwriter of the Year), Parker McCollum (Album of the Year – Parker McCollum), Brooks + Dunn (Duo of the Year), The Red Clay Strays (Group of the Year), Avery Anna (New Female Artist of the Year), and Tucker Wetmore (New Male Artist of the Year).
2026 Country Music Awards Winners:
Entertainer of the Year:
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson — WINNER
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley — WINNER
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Cody Johnson — WINNER
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays — WINNER
Duo of the Year
Brooks + Dunn — WINNER
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma + James
New Female Artist of the Year
Avery Anna — WINNER
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore — WINNER
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 — WINNER
Song of the Year
A Song to Sing — Miranda Lambert + Chris Stapleton
Am I Okay? — Megan Moroney
Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley — WINNER
I Never Lie — Zach Top
Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
6 Months Later — Megan Moroney
Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley — WINNER
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 — WINNER
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. — WINNER
Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson
The Fall — Cody Johnson
Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon — WINNER
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Ella Langley — WINNER
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen
