ACM Awards 2026: Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer of the Year as Ella Langley Sweeps the Night

The ACM Awards 2026 winners are official, and the night delivered both star power and a few standout storylines. Country music’s biggest names gathered at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday for the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted for the first time by Shania Twain.

While the ceremony featured memorable performances and a celebration of the genre’s brightest stars, one artist truly owned the evening: Ella Langley.

Ella Langley’s Historic Clean Sweep

If the night had a single headline, it was Ella Langley’s dominance.

The singer-songwriter, increasingly seen as the new queen of modern country, swept all seven of her nominations across five categories — an extraordinary showing by any measure. Among her wins was the prestigious Female Artist of the Year award.

Two of those victories came in pairs. In both Song of the Year and Single of the Year — each earned for her track “Choosin’ Texas” — Langley took home multiple trophies. That’s because the Academy of Country Music recognizes songwriting and recording contributions separately, allowing her to be honored for different aspects of the same hit.

It was a flawless run that firmly cemented her status as country’s rising force.

Cody Johnson Takes Entertainer of the Year

The night’s most coveted prize, Entertainer of the Year, went to Cody Johnson.

Johnson, who also performed during the ceremony, claimed the genre’s top individual honor in a category that consistently represents the pinnacle of country music recognition. His win added another major milestone to an already impressive career.

The Big Nominees Who Came Up Short

Not every favorite had a winning night, however.

Megan Moroney entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist of the year, with a remarkable nine nominations, including a nod for Entertainer of the Year. Yet Moroney ultimately walked away without a trophy.

There was a heartwarming reason for her absence, though — she skipped the awards show entirely to serve as the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding.

Close behind Moroney in nominations was Miranda Lambert, the most decorated artist in ACM Awards history. Lambert was nominated in eight categories, including Female Artist of the Year. Her recent duet with rumored frenemy Kacey Musgraves had made headlines just last month, adding extra intrigue to her presence at the show.

Other Major Winners

Beyond the headline categories, several other artists earned recognition for their work.

Notably, Parker McCollum took home Album of the Year — a significant honor that highlights a body of work rather than a single track. His win rounded out a night that spread its biggest awards across multiple deserving artists.

A Star-Studded Lineup of Performances

The 2026 ACM Awards weren’t just about handing out trophies. The ceremony featured a stacked slate of performers, many of them nominees themselves.

The performance lineup included:

• Ella Langley
• Miranda Lambert
• Lainey Wilson
• Cody Johnson
• Parker McCollum

Kacey Musgraves also took the stage, performing “Dry Spell” from her freshly released LP, “Middle of Nowhere.” The mix of established stars and current nominees gave the show a strong, varied musical backbone.

Shania Twain’s Showstopping Hosting Debut

Beyond the music, Shania Twain made her mark as a first-time host of the Academy of Country Music Awards — and she did so with serious style.

Twain treated the audience to a revolving door of fashion, debuting a series of striking looks as the evening progressed. Each outfit drew attention, turning her hosting duties into a fashion event of their own.

One standout was a sheer black gown featuring a beaded floral appliqué, worn over a black corseted bodysuit. It was the kind of look that needed no improvement — a confident, glamorous statement from the “Dirty Rosie” superstar.

The Bottom Line

The ACM Awards 2026 winners list tells the story of a night defined by both a clean sweep and a few surprises. Ella Langley’s perfect seven-for-seven run announced her arrival as a generational talent, while Cody Johnson claimed country music’s most coveted individual honor as Entertainer of the Year.

Add in Parker McCollum’s Album of the Year win, a powerhouse lineup of performances, and Shania Twain’s stylish hosting debut, and the 2026 ceremony in Las Vegas proved to be a memorable celebration of country music — one where rising stars and established legends shared the spotlight.