The Biggest Hits, Misses, and Surprises of the 2026 ACM Awards

Las Vegas felt a little bit like NashVegas last night as the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show marked not only a return to Las Vegas, but also the long-awaited return of Shania Twain to the ACM stage as host. From emotional speeches and surprise wins to standout performances and big surprises, the night delivered plenty for country music fans to talk about. In case you missed it, here are some of the highest highs, lowest lows, and most unexpected moments from one of country music’s most important nights.

Photo by Ethan Miller for Getty Images

Top 3 Biggest Hits:

1. Ella Langley swept the floor and broke ACM records.

Ella Langley was undeniably the artist of the night at the ACM Awards, turning what was already expected to be a big year into a history-making one. Langley walked away with seven wins throughout the evening, officially setting a new ACM record for the most awards won by an artist in a single year. As the night continued, it became clear that nearly every major category somehow had Langley’s name attached to it. Still, it was not just the awards count that made her stand out. Langley balanced massive commercial success with genuine emotional moments, delivering a stripped-down performance of “Be Her” before later giving one of the night’s most heartfelt acceptance speeches where she thanked the women who supported her rise. Between the performances, speeches, and record-breaking wins, the 2026 ACM Awards felt like an official announcement of who country music’s biggest star is.

2. Avery Anna and Carter Faith steal the show. 

At an event packed with larger-than-life performers like Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Zach Top, and Riley Green, it is incredibly difficult to stand out. However, performances from New Female Artist of the Year winner Avery Anna and Album of the Year nominee Carter Faith managed to do exactly that. Perhaps it was Avery Anna’s song choice, “Blood Runs Thicker,” which leaned into a more rock-driven performance that perfectly suited her scruffy, emotional voice. Or maybe it was the refreshing energy she brought to the stage that made the show feel alive again. On the other hand, Carter Faith’s bone-chilling performance of “If I Had Never Lost My Mind” made fans stop dead in their tracks. Together, the performances felt like a clear indicator of who the next generation of emerging stars in country music may be.

3. Blake Shelton’s tribute to Don Schlitz that was very fitting for Las Vegas.

While they are not always fully recognized by fans or award shows, songwriters are the backbone of the country music industry. One of the genre’s most prolific writers and beloved pillars, Don Schlitz, passed away just a month before the ACM Awards. Schlitz penned some of country music’s most iconic songs, including “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “The Gambler,” which won ACM Song of the Year in 1979. The ACMs paid tribute to Schlitz with Blake Shelton’s performance of “The Gambler.” Shelton approached the song with remarkable care and respect for its original form. Rather than trying to reinvent the classic, he simply performed it the right way. It was a fitting way to close the night in Las Vegas, a city forever tied to the spirit of the song itself.

Top 3 Biggest Misses: 

1. Morgan Wallen goes under recognized and awardless once again.

The ACM Awards passed without a single win for Morgan Wallen, continuing a trend that many fans have grown increasingly frustrated by. While it may not have come as a complete surprise given Wallen’s complicated history with major award shows, his lack of recognition still stood out considering the scale of his success over the past year. Wallen was nominated for multiple awards this year, including Entertainer of the Year, but did not attend the ceremony. As with nearly every award season where Wallen walks away empty-handed, fans quickly took to social media to question the disconnect between industry recognition and commercial success. From sold-out stadium tours and chart-dominating albums to viral walkout moments that have become cultural events of their own, Wallen remains one of the biggest forces in country music. Yet despite receiving 43 ACM nominations throughout his career, Wallen has won just two awards, a statistic many fans continue to point to when debating how award show recognition aligns with mainstream success in country music.

3. Riley Green and Ella Langley reignite rumors of their feud.  

After more than a year of romance rumors, controversy, and constantly being linked together because of the success of “You Look Like You Love Me,” things had finally seemed to quiet down for Ella Langley and Riley Green. However, last night’s Music Event of the Year win for their collaboration on “Don’t Mind If I Do” quickly reignited conversation surrounding the pair. More specifically, fans fixated on the duo’s acceptance speech, where Green largely spoke on behalf of Langley and joked that she showed up “in pajamas” to record the song. While some viewers interpreted the comment as harmless banter and a compliment to Langley’s raw talent, others felt the moment came across awkwardly and questioned why Langley was not given more space to speak for herself. Social media quickly filled with speculation about tension between the two, with fans dissecting everything from Langley’s facial expressions on stage to Green’s wording during the speech. As a whole, the speech resulted in a lot of backlash for Green due to the perceived slight.

3. Shania Twain’s hosting skills left fans wanting more.

Though many fans were excited for Shania Twain’s return to the ACM awards and to the forefront of the genre, many were disappointed by her qualities as a host. Many found her to be stiff, self obsessed, and overall difficult to watch. Nearly every transition or comment from Twain referred back to her own career or ACM experience rather than focusing on her colleagues who were to be honored that night. Additionally, her interactions with other presenters felt awkward especially with Shaboozy as they tried to film a video on stage to wish Willie Nelson a happy birthday. The whole interaction felt very scripted and forced. 

3 Most Surprising Moments:

1. Parker McCollum winning album of the year and bringing his Zyns on stage.

One of the night’s most surprising wins came when Parker McCollum took home Album of the Year for his self-titled record. In a category stacked with heavy hitters like Morgan Wallen, Riley Green, Zach Top, and Carter Faith, McCollum’s win genuinely caught both fans and the singer himself off guard. In fact, cameras caught him popping a Zyn right as his name was called, seemingly proving he did not expect to be making a trip to the stage anytime soon. Naturally, the internet immediately ran with the moment. Between McCollum casually carrying his Zyns onstage and delivering a visibly shocked acceptance speech, the win somehow became both one of the most heartfelt and most hilariously on-brand moments of the night. In true Parker McCollum fashion, the whole thing felt completely unpolished, unintentionally funny, and authentic in a way country fans loved.

2. Kacey Musgraves spicy and comical performance of “Dry Spell.” 

Though not being very heavily nominated, Kacey Musgraves completely stole the spotlight with her provocative and unexpectedly comical performance of “Dry Spell.” The performance leaned fully into the cheeky energy of the song, complete with playful visuals, laundromat-inspired staging, and Musgraves literally singing while sitting on top of a washing machine. It felt bold, theatrical, and refreshingly interactive in a way award show performances rarely do anymore, especially as anticipation continues to build around her new album and upcoming tour. What made the moment even more surprising is that, despite being a multiple-time ACM winner, this marked Musgraves’ first-ever performance on the ACM stage. Rather than playing it safe, she fully committed to the humor and personality that made fans fall in love with her in the first place. In a night packed with emotional ballads and polished production, Musgraves managed to make one of the loudest impressions simply by being completely herself.

3. Cody Johnson’s unexpected win for Entertainer of the Year.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came when Cody Johnson was announced as Entertainer of the Year. In a category stacked with massive names like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Megan Moroney, Johnson’s win genuinely caught many viewers off guard. While he had already taken home Male Artist of the Year earlier in the evening, Entertainer of the Year felt far less predictable, and judging by his reaction, Johnson himself did not appear fully prepared to hear his name called. Still, the moment quickly turned heartfelt as Johnson used part of his speech to recognize Luke Combs, who performed through an incredibly demanding year that included the birth of his child and sacrifices that kept him away from moments at home. Rather than making the win solely about himself, Johnson shifted the spotlight toward the dedication required from artists at that level, which made one of the night’s most shocking wins also one of its most sincere moments.