Shania Twain made her ACM Awards hosting debut on Sunday, May 17, helming the 61st ceremony at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and honoring past women hosts including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire, whom she followed after taking over the ro
When Shania Twain walked onstage to lead the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, it wasn’t just a new job—it was a first. The singer, 60, hosted the ceremony on Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In her opening remarks, Twain went straight for gratitude and hometown energy.. “Thank you Las Vegas.. Thank you Lainey [Wilson] and congratulations on your wedding last Sunday.. Like Lainey. I cannot sit still either because I tell you I am so full of energy and excitement that I am hosing the concert of the year for the first time ever.” She added. “Tonight the ACM awards are choosing Vegas. and I sure do love this town and nothing makes me happier than being with these amazing stars sitting right here in the front.”
Twain also used the moment to look backward, paying homage to the women who had hosted the annual event before her. Among the country icons she cited were Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, aligning her debut with the legacy of past hosts.
McEntire’s name mattered beyond recognition: Twain’s hosting debut this year meant she took over the role from the 71-year-old Reba McEntire. McEntire previously hosted the ACM Awards 18 times over the years.
In an April press release, Twain framed the gig as both an honor and a personal homecoming.. “I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas. a place that feels like home. ” she said.. “It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating country music’s biggest stars. especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year.. I can’t wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night.”
ACM CEO Damon Whiteside echoed that sentiment. saying the organization “couldn’t imagine a more perfect icon to follow our previous iconic hosts Dolly. Garth [Brooks] and Reba.” Whiteside also pointed to Twain’s ACM track record. noting her “win of the coveted ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy” and her receiving the “ACM Poet’s Award honoring her prolific songwriting career.”
Twain’s awards history is substantial.. Across her career, she has won five ACM Awards and received 14 nominations.. Her past accolades include Top New Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for The Woman in Me in 1996. the Double Diamond Award for The Woman in Me and Come on Over in 1999. Entertainer of the Year in 2000 and the Poet’s Award in 2022.
Days before stepping into the hosting chair, Twain described what she wanted from the night.. In a Billboard interview published on Tuesday. May 12. she said. “It’s a chance for me to just get back with everybody.. It’s one of the rare moments when I get the chance to see everybody and catch up with a lot of the newer artists.. A lot of them I have not met yet. and I’m excited to just be among the whole experience of the ACMs.”
Having hosted the People’s Choice Country Awards in 2024, Twain brought that experience into the way she approached the ACMs.. “I like to put my own personality into things because I’m a terrible reader.. If I rely entirely on the teleprompter, I’m definitely going to stumble and get lost,” she explained.. “I just really like having fun and going with the flow. getting into the excitement that I’ll be sharing with the artists who are performing and up for awards.”
She also credited McEntire as a model—while still insisting on her own style.. Twain said, “When it comes to Reba, she’s flawless.. I’m definitely more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person. very spontaneous. which makes it a different style and character to hosting something.. But Reba is everything.. She’s funny. she’s a great actress. which makes her really good at getting the flow of speaking and cadence.. She’s just a pro.”
That handoff—Twain taking over from McEntire after the 18-time host’s long run—ties directly to Twain’s stated choices for the night: she named women legends from the ACM stage. then described her own preference for spontaneity and personality. while still pointing to McEntire’s cadence and professionalism as the kind of hosting craft she’s aiming to match in her own way.
Shania Twain ACM Awards 61st Academy of Country Music Awards Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena Reba McEntire Dolly Parton Loretta Lynn Lainey Wilson Damon Whiteside