Ella Langley dominated the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, taking home five trophies, including the prestigious Female Artist of the Year award. The 27-year-old singer, originally from Hope Hull, Alabama, also delivered a performance during the ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
A Night of Triumph
Langley was honored as Artist-Songwriter of the Year, while her hit single Choosin' Texas earned both Song of the Year and Single of the Year accolades. Additionally, her collaboration with Riley Green on Don't Mind If I Do won Music Event of the Year.
Accepting the Song of the Year award, an emotional Langley told the crowd, 'I'm trying to get to say something but I can't.' The Weren't for the Wind artist expressed her gratitude, saying she was 'at a loss for words.'
Female Artist of the Year Speech
When accepting the Female Artist of the Year award, Langley acknowledged her fellow nominees: Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, and Megan Moroney. 'Thank you to the women in this category - to the women in this life,' she said. 'This is a weird thing to do.'
She recounted a touching moment: 'Today, I was having a strange day … I walked right into Lainey's room and she hugged me. And all of a sudden, here comes Miranda Lambert in her pink hat ... Kelsea, thank you so much for lovin’ on me.'
Langley declared, 'I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women. Thank you to the women - I would not be standing up here without them - so, thank you.'
She also thanked her 'family, for showing up and being weird as always' and Jesus Christ 'for letting me do this for a living.'
Full List of 2026 ACM Award 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 - Parker McCollum (Winner)
- 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
- 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
- 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
