ACM Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees and 4 Early Winners as Megan Moroney Leads With 9 Nods
Updated
Updated · Forbes · May 14
ACM Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees and 4 Early Winners as Megan Moroney Leads With 9 Nods
8 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 14
Four pre-show ACM winners were announced ahead of Sunday’s 61st ceremony, with Avery Anna taking New Female Artist and Tucker Wetmore winning New Male Artist.
Megan Moroney leads the 2026 field with nine nominations, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight, while Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each drew seven in a year dominated by women.
Seven artists are up for Entertainer of the Year: Wilson, Moroney, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen; Wilson won the top prize in 2024 and 2025.
Jessie Jo Dillon won Songwriter of the Year for a third straight year, and Stephen Wilson Jr. claimed Visual Media of the Year for “Cuckoo.”
The 61st ACM Awards air Sunday from Las Vegas on Amazon Prime Video, with Shania Twain hosting and performers including Langley, Kacey Musgraves and Dan + Shay.
With a new host and departing CEO, how will the ACMs capitalize on country music's global streaming boom?
With women leading nominations, can one capture the male-dominated Entertainer of the Year award tonight?
Does the rise of stars like Ella Langley signal a permanent return to traditional country music sounds?