Author: alaskaadmin

The 2026 ACM Awards in Las Vegas are set to bring together country music’s biggest stars for a night of performances, wins, and unforgettable moments. Ahead of the big show, a handful of winners have already been announced. Here’s a winners list that will be continuously updated so fans can keep track of the biggest honorees.

Early winners include Avery Anna, who was named New Female Artist of the Year. She was surprised with the news on stage by her friend and duet partner, Sam Barber.  

“I cannot believe this. I can’t even behind to process it, thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you thank you thank you, ACM Awards,” she shared. 

Tucker Wetmore was also surprised on stage, however, this special moment took place in London when his mom interrupted his show to share a video from Thomas Rhett. In the clip, Rhett revealed that Wetmore was the winner of ACM New Male Artist of the Year. In the moment, Wetmore was overcome with emotion and admitted he was “at a loss for words.”

Additionally, Stephen Wilson Jr. was revealed as the winner in the Visual Media of the Year category for his official music video for “Cuckoo,” which he co-directed with Tim Cofield.   

It’s unclear if additional winners will be revealed ahead of the show. Winners in more categories will be unveiled at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, set for Sunday, May 17, 2026. Hosted by Shania Twain, the show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will stream live exclusively on Prime Video for a global audience across more than 240 countries and territories at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Megan Moroney
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney
• Lainey Wilson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
• Riley Green
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Zach Top

GROUP OF THE YEAR

• 49 Winchester
• Flatland Cavalry
• Old Dominion
• Rascal Flatts
• The Red Clay Strays

DUO OF THE YEAR

• Brooks & Dunn
• 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

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top

Producer: Carson Chamberlain

Record Company-Label: Leo33

•  Cherry Valley – Carter Faith

Producer: Tofer Brown

Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA

•  Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green

Producer: Dann Huff, Michael Knox

Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

•  I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen

Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett

Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records

• Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum

Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse

Record Company-Label: MCA

SONG OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton

Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure

Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

•  Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney

Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon

Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine

• Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley

Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor

Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing

• I Never Lie – Zach Top

Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols

Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music

• Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson

Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg

Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs Of Riser House; Songs Of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• 6 Months Later – Megan Moroney

Producers: Kristian Bush

Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

• Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley

Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West

Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

• I Never Lie – Zach Top

Producers: Carson Chamberlain

Record Company-Label: Leo33

• Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson

Producers: Jay Joyce

Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records

• The Fall – Cody Johnson

Producers: Trent Willmon

Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton

Producers: Dave Cobb

Record Company-Label: Republic Records

• Amen – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll

Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook

Record Company-Label: Empire

• Don’t Mind If I Do – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley

Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox

Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

• Trailblazer – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson

Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire

Record Company-Label: MCA

• You Had To Be There – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney

Producers: Kristian Bush

Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• 6 Months Later – Megan Moroney

Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry

Director: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney

• A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton

Producers: James Stratakis

Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos

• Cuckoo -Stephen Wilson, Jr. – WINNER! 

Producers: Tim Cofield

Director: Tim Cofield

• Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson

Producers: Katie Babbage

Director: TK McKamy

• The Fall – Cody Johnson

Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry

Director: Dustin Haney

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Jessie Jo Dillon
• Ashley Gorley
• Charlie Handsome
• Chase McGill
• Blake Pendergrass

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs
• Riley Green
• Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney
• Morgan Wallen

The post 2026 ACM Awards Winners List appeared first on Country Now.

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Hannah Harper has officially earned a spot in American Idol’s Top 3, which meant returning home to Willow Springs, Missouri for the show’s “Hometown Hero” tradition. Amid the excitement of the already special weekend, Harper received the surprise of a lifetime when country music icon Jo Dee Messina unexpectedly joined her on stage.

Fan-captured videos have surfaced online, showing the moment the Idol standout was overcome with pure shock. She was in the midst of performing Messina’s signature hit, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” the same song she had delivered previously in the season as part of the Judges’ Song Contest.

Harper returned to her usual style with a blue patchwork dress and had fans singing and dancing along to the beloved tune. Suddenly as she reached the chorus, the cheers from the crowd amped up and Harper noticed another voice had joined her. Turning to the side, the “String Cheese” singer let out a massive scream and jumped back from the microphone at the sight of Messina.

Meanwhile, Messina confidently strutted across the stage towards Harper, who was trying to wrap her head around the moment unfolding before her. After taking a second to process everything, she let the country music superstar finish off the chorus and then introduced her to the crowd.

“Jo Dee Messina, everybody,” she said before turning to Messina saying, “Welcome to Willow Springs, Jo Dee!”

@elizabethsummerw What an amazing night supporting our girl @hannahharperofficial with a surprise guest @Jo Dee Messina ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #joedeemessina #hannahharper #americanidol #idol #hannah ♬ original sound – elizabeth | MO Hairstylist

Harper joked that she wouldn’t be able to continue singing the track in front of the artist behind it, but she persevered and the two of them traded off the remaining lyrics, making for a performance to remember.

The initial surprise may have thrown Harper off guard, but like the true professional she is, she was able to collect herself enough to finish it off.

This isn’t the first time Messina has shown support for the Idol contestant. Last month she posted a heartfelt video reacting to Harper’s performance of the same tune.

“Okay Hannah, you’re not allowed to sing it better to me,” she joked. A few seconds later tears filled her eyes as she watched the vocalist take on her song in front of the Idol judges.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jo Dee Messina (@jodeemessina)

After the show, Harper took to Facebook to fully reflect on how much this recent surprise meant to her.

“I can’t even begin to thank every single person who showed up or worked behind the scenes to make yesterday happen. I flew into Missouri with no idea what the schedule was, and I was surprised all throughout the day in the sweetest ways,” she began. “This was my “Hometown Hero” visit, and getting to experience it surrounded by the people and places that shaped me made it even more special. I was born and raised in Bunker, Missouri, and later married into Willow Springs — the town where Devon and I are raising our babies.”

She went on to say that getting the chance to return to the place that means so much to her and her family, surrounded by everyone who has supported her dreams throughout this journey is something she will “never forget.”

“I still don’t think I’ve fully processed the entire day, but I was so proud to bring American Idol to Willow Springs. Also Jo Dee Messina made a pit stop from her tour to come to Howell County and surprise me,” Harper added. “Thank you for showing up. Thank you for praying. Thank you for voting. Thank you for believing in me long before the rest of the world knew my name. It’s because of each and every one of you that I get to continue sharing my music and chasing this dream. To God be all the glory,” she concluded.

Hannah Harper’s hometown performance will air next Monday night, May 11, as part of  the three-hour Season 24 finale. Fans will also get to see Harper’s fellow finalists Keyla Richardson and Jordan McCullough take the stage in hopes of taking home the ultimate win.

Next week’s episode will also feature star-studded lineup of special guests, including Blues Traveler, Cameron Whitcomb, En Vogue, Gin Blossoms, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown, Tori Kelly, and Clay Aiken. 

American Idol airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and available to stream the following day on Hulu.      

The post ‘American Idol’ Finalist Hannah Harper Shocked as Jo Dee Messina Unexpectedly Crashes Hometown Show appeared first on Country Now.

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