The Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards) are an annual ceremony honoring outstanding achievement in country music. Founded in 1964 and first held in 1966, the Academy of Country Music represents over 5,000 professional members who vote across 14 categories. The 61st ACM Awards took place on May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Shania Twain.
How the ACM Awards Work
The ACM Awards follow a three-round voting process open to all professional ACM members:
- First Round: Members submit one nomination per category. The top 20 vote-getters advance, provided they receive at least 2% of the vote.
- Second Round: Members cast up to two votes per category. The top 5 (or top 7 for Entertainer of the Year) become the official nominees.
- Final Round: Members cast one vote per category. The nominee with the most votes wins.
Song of the Year uses a separate panel process. A group of 12 to 20 industry professionals (artists, songwriters, publishers, and PRO representatives) narrows eligible songs to a top 20, then a top 10. ACM members in specific categories vote those 10 down to 5 finalists, and the full membership selects the winner.
The eligibility period aligns with the previous calendar year. For the 2026 ceremony, eligibility covered January 1 through December 31, 2025.
Real-World Example: The 2026 ACM Awards
At the 61st ACM Awards on May 17, 2026, Ella Langley dominated with five wins, including Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Choosin' Texas." Cody Johnson took home Entertainer of the Year. Parker McCollum won Album of the Year for his self-titled release. The Red Clay Strays won Group of the Year, and Brooks & Dunn won Duo of the Year.
Megan Moroney led all nominations with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight. The ceremony streamed on Prime Video, continuing the ACM's partnership with Amazon that began in 2022.
For independent country artists, the ACM Awards offer a submission pathway through the New Female Artist and New Male Artist categories. Tucker Wetmore won New Male Artist of the Year in 2026, and Avery Anna won New Female Artist of the Year. Both were relatively emerging acts before their wins.
Past Winners by Category
2026 ACM Awards (61st Ceremony, May 17, 2026)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Entertainer of the Year | Cody Johnson |
| Female Artist of the Year | Ella Langley |
| Male Artist of the Year | Cody Johnson |
| Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn |
| Group of the Year | The Red Clay Strays |
| New Female Artist of the Year | Avery Anna |
| New Male Artist of the Year | Tucker Wetmore |
| Album of the Year | Parker McCollum (Parker McCollum) |
| Single of the Year | "Choosin' Texas" (Ella Langley) |
| Song of the Year | "Choosin' Texas" (Ella Langley) |
| Visual Media of the Year | "Cuckoo" (Stephen Wilson Jr.) |
| Songwriter of the Year | Jessie Jo Dillon |
| Artist-Songwriter of the Year | Ella Langley |
| Music Event of the Year | "Don't Mind If I Do" (Riley Green feat. Ella Langley) |
2025 ACM Awards (60th Ceremony, May 8, 2025)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Entertainer of the Year | Lainey Wilson |
| Female Artist of the Year | Lainey Wilson |
| Male Artist of the Year | Chris Stapleton |
| Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn |
| Group of the Year | Old Dominion |
| New Female Artist of the Year | Ella Langley |
| New Male Artist of the Year | Zach Top |
| New Duo or Group of the Year | The Red Clay Strays |
| Album of the Year | Whirlwind (Lainey Wilson) |
| Single of the Year | "you look like you love me" (Ella Langley, Riley Green) |
| Song of the Year | "Dirt Cheap" (Cody Johnson) |
| Visual Media of the Year | "you look like you love me" (Ella Langley, Riley Green) |
| Songwriter of the Year | Jessie Jo Dillon |
| Artist-Songwriter of the Year | Lainey Wilson |
| Music Event of the Year | "you look like you love me" (Ella Langley, Riley Green) |
2025 and 2026 Broadcast Details
The 60th ACM Awards took place on May 8, 2025, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Reba McEntire hosted for the 18th time. The ceremony streamed live on Prime Video, continuing the ACM's partnership with Amazon that began in 2022. Ella Langley led all nominees with eight nods and won five awards, while Lainey Wilson took home four including Entertainer of the Year.
The 61st ACM Awards followed on May 17, 2026, returning to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Shania Twain hosted the ceremony, which also streamed on Prime Video. Additional streaming was available on Twitch and the Amazon Music app. The 2026 ceremony featured performances from Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and the Red Clay Strays. Megan Moroney led all nominations with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight. Ella Langley dominated the night with seven wins.
Performances and Acceptance Speeches
Ella Langley Performs "Be Her" at the 2026 ACM Awards
Ella Langley chose an acoustic arrangement of her crossover hit "Be Her" for her 2026 ACM Awards performance, stripping away the studio version's disco groove for a tender, unplugged rendition backed by two acoustic guitarists. The performance reached a new peak of No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same week.
Miranda Lambert Debuts "Crisco" at the 2026 ACM Awards
Miranda Lambert premiered her new single "Crisco" at the 61st ACM Awards, backed by a string section and channeling late-Seventies Urban Cowboy vibes. The performance featured references to Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton. Lambert also took home Single of the Year as co-producer of Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas."
Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer of the Year
Cody Johnson won his first Entertainer of the Year award at the 61st ACM Awards and used his acceptance speech to dedicate the honor to fellow nominee Luke Combs. Johnson recalled touring Australia with Combs and watching him perform the night after his wife gave birth to their son while he was overseas. Johnson also won Male Artist of the Year, saying "the rise has been worth the falls."
Ella Langley's Seven-Win Night
Ella Langley swept all seven categories she was nominated for at the 2026 ACM Awards, including Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. Her emotional acceptance speech thanked the women in the room, including Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert, who supported her career from the start.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The ACM Awards accept submissions from independent artists and smaller labels, not just major label releases. If you release country music during the eligibility period, you can be considered. The New Artist categories specifically target emerging talent.
Winning or even receiving a nomination produces measurable career effects. ACM nominees typically see streaming spikes of 20 to 40% in the week following the ceremony. A nomination also signals industry validation that can open doors to booking agents, festival slots, and brand partnerships.
If you are an independent country artist, review the submission guidelines on the ACM website each fall. Ensure your release metadata (ISRC codes, publisher information, PRO registration) is accurate before submitting. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to project the revenue impact of a nomination-driven streaming increase.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate how a nomination streaming boost affects your earnings
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan touring revenue around awards season timing
- PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - Understand how PROs interact with awards eligibility
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Diversify your revenue beyond awards recognition
- When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help position you for awards consideration
