Megan Moroney leads as women dominate the field, with Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson close behind
Country music’s largest stars are headed to Las Vegas as the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after three years in Frisco, Texas. Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony will have fun the style’s largest artists, songs and albums of the previous yr and stream stay on Prime Video on Sunday night time.
Ahead of the ceremony, this yr’s nominations have already sparked dialog throughout the nation music world, with women dominating a lot of the present’s largest classes. Meanwhile, a brand new era of genre-blending stars continues to reshape the sound of mainstream country.
Leading this yr’s nominees is Megan Moroney with 9 nodes, following a large yr that cemented her as considered one of the style’s defining new voices. Miranda Lambert follows intently behind with eight nominations, and breakout star Ella Langley and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson every earned seven. Chris Stapleton leads all male artists with six nominations, whereas neo-traditional standout Zach Top earned 5 nominations in a breakout displaying for the rising star.
The standouts amongst rising expertise, nevertheless, are Moroney, who scored her first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination, and Langley, who is continuous her breakout rise with recognition in each artist and songwriting classes.
The nominations additionally delivered just a few surprises. Morgan Wallen acquired main nominations, together with Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, however is absent from the Male Artist of the Year class — considered one of the most notable omissions on this yr’s poll. Elsewhere, Top’s sturdy displaying alerts continued demand for conventional nation sounds amid the style’s present wave of crossover and pop-influenced stars.
Fan-favorite collaborations are additionally closely represented this yr, together with Langley and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had to Be There,” and “Trailblazer,” the multigenerational collaboration from Reba McEntire, Lambert and Wilson.
The full record of 2026 ACM Awards nominees is offered on the official ACM website. Take a have a look at a few of the main classes and nominees under earlier than tuning into the awards present at 8 pm ET on Sunday, May 17, to see who takes dwelling a trophy.
Entertainer of the Year
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Group of the Year
Duo of the Year
New Female Artist of the Year
New Male Artist of the Year
Album of the Year
Zach Top, Ain’t In It For My Health
Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
Riley Green Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)
Morgan Wallen, I’m The Problem
Parker McCollum Parker McCollum
Song of the Year
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Megan Moroney Am I Okay?
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
Lainey Wilson Somewhere Over Laredo
Single of the Year
Megan Moroney 6 Months Later
Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
Lainey Wilson Somewhere Over Laredo
Music Event of the Year
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Shaboozey & Jelly Roll, Amen
Riley Green feat. Ella Langley, Don’t Mind If I Do
Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Trailblazer
Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney, You Had To Be There
Visual Media of the Year
Megan Moroney 6 Months Later
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
Stephen Wilson, Jr. Cuckoo
Lainey Wilson Somewhere Over Laredo
Songwriter of the Year
Artist-Songwriter of the Year