Megan Moroney tops the 2026 ACM Awards nominations with nine as women lead major categories. Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson follow.
Megan Moroney’s name is lighting up the 2026 ACM Awards nominations, setting the stage for a Sunday night showdown in Las Vegas where women are dominating the conversation across the biggest categories.
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after three years in Frisco, Texas. Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony will spotlight the genre’s biggest artists, songs and albums from the past year and will stream live on Prime Video on Sunday night.
Even before the first trophy is presented. the nomination slate has already become a talking point for country music fans. with women heavily represented in many of the show’s marquee categories.. At the same time. there’s another storyline running alongside it: a new wave of genre-blending stars reshaping what mainstream country can sound like.
Leading the nominee list is Megan Moroney, who earned nine nominations. The momentum, sources indicate, follows a major year for the singer that has positioned her as one of the genre’s defining new voices.
Miranda Lambert follows closely with eight nominations, underscoring her continued presence at the center of the Academy’s recognition. In the mix right behind her are Ella Langley and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, each with seven nods.
Among male artists, Chris Stapleton leads the field with six nominations. Zach Top is also standing out, landing five nominations in what was described as a breakout showing for the rising star, with attention on his neo-traditional lean.
For emerging talent. two names are receiving especially strong scrutiny: Moroney for scoring her first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination. and Langley for continuing her breakout rise.. The report noted Langley’s recognition spans both artist and songwriting categories. signaling that her impact isn’t limited to performance alone.
The nominations also brought a few notable surprises.. Morgan Wallen received major nominations. including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year. yet he is absent from the Male Artist of the Year category. a discrepancy fans are already pointing to as one of the most prominent omissions on this year’s ballot.
Meanwhile, Top’s strong showing is being read as another signal of sustained appetite for traditional country sounds, even as the genre navigates the current wave of crossover and pop-influenced stars.
Collaboration trends are another thread running through the slate.. Fan-favorite partnerships appear prominently. including Langley and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do. ” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had to Be There. ” and “Trailblazer. ” a multigenerational collaboration featuring Reba McEntire. Lambert and Wilson.
The Academy’s nominee list is available on the official ACM website. For viewers planning their Sunday night watch, the ceremony begins at 8 p.m. ET on May 17, with Prime Video carrying the live stream.
The sweepstakes across major categories begins with Entertainer of the Year. where the nominees include Zach Top. Carter Faith. Riley Green. Morgan Wallen. Parker McCollum. and Megan Moroney.. In the Female Artist of the Year race. the lineup features Carter Faith. Riley Green. Morgan Wallen. Parker McCollum. Megan Moroney. and others as listed in the full ballot details.
For fans tracking who could break through in the upper tiers. the male field includes Zach Top with “Ain’t In It For My Health. ” Morgan Wallen with “I’m The Problem. ” and others appearing in the ballot.. Meanwhile, Group of the Year nominations list Parker McCollum’s “Parker McCollum,” alongside entries detailed in the published category list.
Song and album categories also show the same blend of established stars and rising momentum.. In Album of the Year. the nominations include Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It For My Health. ” Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley. ” Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem. ” Parker McCollum’s self-titled release. Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe).”
Song of the Year features a mix of big-name songwriting performances and current chart standouts, including Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton for “A Song To Sing,” Megan Moroney for “Am I Okay?,” Ella Langley for “Choosin’ Texas,” and Lainey Wilson for “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
Single of the Year also highlights the women-forward narrative driving much of the buzz, with nominations including Megan Moroney for “6 Months Later,” Ella Langley for “Choosin’ Texas,” and Lainey Wilson for “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
Music Event of the Year is where the collaborative momentum is most visible. with nominations such as Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton for “A Song To Sing. ” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll for “Amen. ” and Riley Green featuring Ella Langley for “Don’t Mind If I Do. ” alongside Reba McEntire. Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson for “Trailblazer. ” and Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney for “You Had To Be There.”
Visual Media of the Year features entries tied to performance and storytelling moments, including Megan Moroney’s “6 Months Later,” Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton’s “A Song To Sing,” Stephen Wilson, Jr.’s “Cuckoo,” and Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo,” as reflected in the published list.
The awards night may ultimately come down to trophies in top categories like Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year. but the nomination patterns already reveal what many fans want to see: women leading the spotlight. breakout artists pushing boundaries. and traditional country signals still resonating alongside crossover momentum.
2026 ACM Awards nominations Megan Moroney Miranda Lambert Ella Langley Lainey Wilson Zach Top Shania Twain