Call it the ideal introduction to a night that promised performances from the greatest names in contemporary country music. Lainey Wilson — who took home the top prize of entertainer of the year for the last two years — opened the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday night with “Can't Sit Still," her latest single, an anthemic stopper about ambition.
It was an exciting way to kick off the 61st annual awards ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
in Las Vegas. That's a noted departure from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas, where the ACM Awards were held the last three years.
Performances followed fast and fierce from there: Miranda Lambert, the most-decorated artist in ACM Awards history, performed “Crisco.” Then Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis teamed up for “Ain't A Bad Life.”
Host Shania Twain walked out to her 1997 single “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!," congratulating Lainley on her wedding that took place last Sunday.
"What a time this is for country music!" Twain said in her intro speech, which quickly became reflective: She talked about winning her first ACM Award 30 years ago; she said she had her first top 10 hit at age 30.
“Make it loud for all our sheroes,” she cheered, directing her attention to the women of country. It made sense: This is Twain’s first time hosting. She’s taken over for Reba McEntire, who has hosted the show 18 times.
The first award of the night was for the coveted song of the year, given to Ella Langley for the crossover hit “Choosin' Texas,” presented to her by Michael Bublé.
“I'm not at a loss for words very often,” said Langley in her speech. “Thank you to the fans. I don't know why you latched on to this song but thank you for doing it.”
The ACM festivities actually began ahead of Sunday's event. Before the show, a few trophies were handed out. Langley was given the title of artist-songwriter of the year. Jessie Jo Dillon was named songwriter of the year, becoming the first artist to win three times in a row. Stephen Wilson Jr. was awarded visual media of the year for “Cuckoo.” And Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore were presented with new female and new male artist of the year, respectively.
There's a lot to celebrate this time around. Women dominated the 2026 ACM Award nominations. First up: Megan Moroney, who led with nine nods. Lambert followed with eight. Langley and Wilson had seven each.
Then there was Chris Stapleton with six, Zach Top with five and Cody Johnson with four.
In addition to Moroney, those competing for entertainer of the year are Wilson, Stapleton, Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen.
In the album of the year category, Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” faces off against Top’s “Ain’t in It for My Health,” Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Parker McCollum’s “Parker McCollum” and first-time nominee Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley.”
Other performers include Langley, Top, Johnson, Green, Faith, Anna, Wetmore, McCollum, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, The Red Clay Strays and Lee Ann Womack.
McCollum and Womack will perform “Killin’ Me” from McCollum's 2025 self-titled album. All the nominees in the album of the year category will perform, except for Wallen.
And Blake Shelton will close the night.
The 2026 ACM Awards streamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as the Amazon Music app.
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For more coverage of this year’s ACM Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-of-country-music-awards.
