Ella Langley was the biggest winner at the ACM Awards 2026

Ella Langley was the biggest winner at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2026.

The 27-year-old star received seven nominations and was left speechless after she bagged five gongs - Female Artist of the Year, Artist-songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year (Choosin' Texas), and Music Event of the Year (Don't Mind If I Do - Riley Green feat. Ella).

A teary Ella was full of gratitude during her speech at the event on Sunday (17.05.26), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

She said: "I'm trying to get to say something, but I can't. Thank you [to] the women in this room.

"Today I was having a strange day - I don't know what it is about awards. I walked right into Lainey [Wilson]'s room, and I just got emotional, and she hugged me, wrapped me up, and started praying for me.

"And then all of a sudden, here comes Miranda Lambert in her little pink hat. I would not be standing up here without just [the] encouragement of so many women. Kelsea [Ballerini], thank you so much for loving on me."

The performer - who was nominated in the Female Artist of the Year category alongside Lainey Miranda and Kelsea - also thanked Lauren Alaina, 31, for her support.

Cody Johnson was another big winner at the ACM Awards 2026, taking home two accolades from his four nominations - Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year (The Fall)

He scooped up the Entertainer of the Year gong - beating Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and Luke Combs.

And Cody dedicated the accolade to the latter.

In Cody's acceptance speech, the ‘Til You Can’t hitmaker said: "There's a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music.

"I was there the night in Australia when his wife gave birth to one of their sons. And I watched the anguish, I watched the defeat on his face for not being there, because he was across the world playing music in a sold-out arena.

"The next night, right after, I watched him get on stage and absolutely murder the stage, and go on stage and play country music and preach the message of country music to a bunch of Australians across the world.

"So, tonight I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy, Luke Combs. I love you, brother."

Cody was also named Male Artist of the Year.

Other winners on the night included Jessie Jo Dillon (Songwriter of the Year), Parker McCollum (Album of the Year - Parker McCollum), Brooks + Dunn (Duo of the Year), The Red Clay Strays (Group of the Year), Avery Anna (New Female Artist of the Year), and Tucker Wetmore (New Male Artist of the Year).

2026 Country Music Awards Winners:

Entertainer of the Year:

Luke Combs

Jelly Roll

Cody Johnson — WINNER

Megan Moroney

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Ella Langley — WINNER

Megan Moroney

Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year

Luke Combs

Riley Green

Cody Johnson — WINNER

Chris Stapleton

Zach Top

Group of the Year

49 Winchester

Flatland Cavalry

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

The Red Clay Strays — WINNER

Duo of the Year

Brooks + Dunn — WINNER

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Muscadine Bloodline

Thelma + James

New Female Artist of the Year

Avery Anna — WINNER

Mackenzie Carpenter

Dasha

Caroline Jones

Emily Ann Roberts

New Male Artist of the Year

Gavin Adcock

Vincent Mason

Shaboozey

Hudson Westbrook

Tucker Wetmore — WINNER

Album of the Year

Ain't In It for My Health — Zach Top

Cherry Valley — Carter Faith

Don't Mind If I Do (Deluxe) — Riley Green

I'm the Problem — Morgan Wallen

Parker McCollum — WINNER

Song of the Year

A Song to Sing — Miranda Lambert + Chris Stapleton

Am I Okay? — Megan Moroney

Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley — WINNER

I Never Lie — Zach Top

Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson

Single of the Year

6 Months Later — Megan Moroney

Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley — WINNER

I Never Lie — Zach Top

Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson

The Fall — Cody Johnson

Music Event of the Year

A Song to Sing — Miranda Lambert + Chris Stapleton

Amen — Shaboozey + Jelly Roll

Don’t Mind If I Do — Riley Green feat. Ella Langley — WINNER

Trailblazer - Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert + Lainey Wilson

You Had to Be There — Megan Moroney + Kenny Chesney

Visual Media of the Year

6 Months Later — Megan Moroney

A Song to Sing — Miranda Lambert + Chris Stapleton

Cuckoo — Stephen Wilson Jr. — WINNER

Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson

The Fall — Cody Johnson

Songwriter of the Year

Jessie Jo Dillon — WINNER

Ashley Gorley

Charlie Handsome

Chase McGill

Blake Pendergrass

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

Luke Combs

Riley Green

Ella Langley — WINNER

Megan Moroney

Morgan Wallen