Ella Langley thanked all the women in country music at the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards on Sunday night.
Taking to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the Choosin’ Texas hitmaker accepted the Female Artist of Year prize.
“I’m trying to say something, but I can’t,” she began. “Thank you. To the women in this category, to the women in this life, this is a weird thing to do. Today I was having a strange day. I don’t know what it is about awards, but I have strange days in the mornings here.”
Ella went on to praise her fellow nominees, including Megan Moroney – who couldn’t be in attendance at the annual spectacle.
“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,” the Weren’t for the Wind star smiled. “And I would not be standing up here without just the encouragement of so many women. Kelsea (Ballerini), thank you so much for loving me.”
Elsewhere in her emotional speech, Ella gave a shout-out to her family.
“Thank you to my parents for believing in me and my family for showing up and being weird as always, so it keeps me humble. Thank you, Jesus, for letting me do this for a living. Thank you to the ACMs,” she declared, before adding: “Thank you to the women. I would not be standing up here without that. So, thank you.”
The 26-year-old and her producers – Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, and Joybeth Taylor – also won Single of the Year and Song of the Year for Choosin’ Texas.
