A Blake Shelton cover, a facial hair epidemic and Keith Urban gossip

LAS VEGAS — As a Southerner and a longtime nation music fan, I’ve been raving for weeks to anybody who would pay attention about how the face of the style has modified dramatically over the previous few years. I noticed that firsthand on the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday.

As I sat within the MGM Grand Garden Arena surrounded by followers, artists and business professionals, I could not deny that what was a whole bro-fest is now dominated by ladies. Ella Langley, the brand new queen of modern countrygained a whopping seven awards, together with Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas” and Female Artist of the Year. Megan Moroney was the most-nominated artist of the evening with 9 nodes, however she skipped the ceremony to be the maid of honor at her finest buddy’s marriage ceremony. Just as properly: She by some means went 0-9.

Between star-studded performances and pleasant appearances by host Shania TwainI gossiped with actuality TV stars, spied on movie star interactions and obtained the inside track on the artists getting followers most excited lately. Let me inform you all about what you did not see onscreen.

Not your common awards present

Unlike the Oscars or the Emmys, the ACMs are extra of a live performance with a few awards sprinkled in than an precise awards present. It’s a hoot.

It additionally has the strangest format for any awards present I’ve ever seen. In entrance of the stage are two fan sections, the place an worker instructs them on when they need to clap, elevate their fingers or sway.

Then your complete ground area is roofed with tables, the place business professionals are assigned seats to mingle. I do know as a result of I by chance went down there once I was in search of my seat — a mistake so critical that an usher repeatedly informed me I’m very a lot not presupposed to be there, and urged me to disclose who let me in.

I discovered it fascinating that they typically displayed the lyrics to songs on a teleprompter whereas artists carried out, as in the event that they have been doing karaoke.

Ella Langley’s stardom can’t be overstated

Not solely was Langley the most important winner of the evening, however she was the recipient of fixed thunderous applause. Before the present started, a dance remix of “Choosin’ Texas” performed within the area, and followers sang alongside prefer it was the nationwide anthem. A publicist sitting close to me gave me recommendation on how to maintain bangs like Langley’s. I have never seen a girl in nation music ascend to superstardom this shortly since Taylor Swift.

I saved an ear out for the celebs who drew the most important applause. Riley Green and Cody Johnson positively generated enthusiasm. When Tucker Wetmore took the stage, the ladies sitting round me have been abuzz about how cute he was. Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen, who weren’t there for the ceremony, had crowds referred to as up when their names have been referred to as as nominees.

The gossip was flowing

I used to be unexpectedly seated in a part full of influencers and actuality TV stars I had spoken to on the purple carpet simply a few hours earlier than the present. To my left was Libby Vodicka, a 23-year-old breakout star of Netflix’s age hole courting present Age of Attraction, who was hilarious and predicted all however one of many award winners that evening. Someone please get this girl a podcast instantly!

Vodicka and I have been delighted by how a lot the ladies performers, like Langley and Kacey Musgraves, had folks on their toes. We have been charmed by Avery Anna, whose energetic, rock-infused efficiency fell into a style Vodicka described as “female rage music” — Moroney, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift additionally match the invoice. We bonded over struggling to inform the distinction between Green and Wetmore, each of whom sported mustaches like Wallen. There’s a facial hair epidemic sweeping the style proper now.

Another random nugget of gossip that saved arising was the truth that Keith Urban, who briefly appeared on the ceremony to current an award, had jumped into the foot-deep pool at a concert the night before. I used to be there, and merely dipping my toes into the fake ocean at Mandalay Bay Beach made me really feel like I used to be turning inside out like a slug touching salt. He is constructed completely different. Wetmore apparently signed a fan’s shoe with eyeliner on the identical occasion.

You simply needed to be there

I all the time hold a watchful eye out for what celebrities are doing when the cameras cease rolling. I noticed Shaboozey and Twain chopping it up at midnight on stage throughout a industrial break as in the event that they have been previous mates. Musgraves sat patiently perched on a washer at midnight for at the least two minutes earlier than his efficiency began. Langley and Lainey Wilson sneaked away for a number of outfit adjustments all through the evening.

During the performances, I caught a few moments that made being within the viewers in particular person really feel really particular. When Avery Anna launched her drumsticks into the group, they rolled below a girl’s chair and she did not even flinch. After Cody Johnson’s patriotic rendition of “Travelin’ Soldier,” a part of the group chanted “USA! USA!” till the following star took the stage. Blake Shelton closed out the present with a cowl of “The Gambler,” which had the entire crowd — Vegas, child! —smiling and singing.

Filing out of an area immediately into a on line casino wasn’t preferrred, however I could not assist however crack up. A sea of ​​disgruntled cowboys stretched out earlier than me so far as I might see till I arrived at my resort, shuffling at a glacial tempo. It gave me time to consider simply how a lot enjoyable it’s to observe a slate of the buzziest performers in nation music multi function evening, affirming who’s a can’t-miss artist and sending me straight to Spotify to take a look at those I hadn’t heard of, like Carter Faith and Zach Top. What a delight.

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