Story perspectives

Ella Langley Sweeps ACMs; Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer

5/18/2026

Summary

Ella Langley Sweeps

Ella Langley swept the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17, 2026, winning all seven nominations, including Song of the Year and Female Artist of the Year.
Cody Johnson captured Entertainer and Male Artist of the Year, beating Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Shania Twain hosted the ceremony in Las Vegas, streaming it exclusively on Prime Video and Amazon Music to viewers in over 240 countries.

Summary

Ella Langley Dominates

Ella Langley became the first woman to simultaneously top Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts with “Choosin’ Texas.”
The single held the Hot 100 No. 1 position for nine weeks, the longest run of 2026.
Women dominated the 2026 ACM nominations, with Langley receiving more nods than any male contender.
Dick Clark Productions, a Penske Media Eldridge joint venture, produced the ceremony after Langley’s album Dandelion debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

History

Historical Context

In February 1995 Shania Twain released *The Woman in Me*, which the RIAA certified 12× Platinum (12 million U.S. shipments) and ultimately sold about 20 million copies worldwide, launching her as a crossover country-pop star. Her success set a template that 2026 ACM winner Ella Langley followed, achieving a nine-week Hot 100 run and an ACM sweep, prompting labels such as Sony and Universal to invest more in female country artists.

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Ella Langley Sweeps

Ella Langley swept the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17, 2026, winning all seven nominations, including Song of the Year and Female Artist of the Year.
Cody Johnson captured Entertainer and Male Artist of the Year, beating Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Shania Twain hosted the ceremony in Las Vegas, streaming it exclusively on Prime Video and Amazon Music to viewers in over 240 countries.

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