The 2026 ACM Awards nominees list arrived on Thursday morning (April 9), and the first thing you’ll notice about the list is that women absolutely dominated this year.
Who Are the Most-Nominated Artists in the 2026 ACM Awards?
Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson hold spots 1-4 for the most-nominated artist. Moroney’s on top with nine mentions, many of which come from her hit single “6 Months Later.”
Lambert follows with eight nominations, and Langley and Wilson are tied with seven.
Read More: Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2026 ACM Awards
Though country’s female A-list may make up the majority of the most-nominated artists, the ACM spread the love to some first-time nominated women in its New Female Artist of the Year category, with acts like Dasha and Caroline Jones getting mentions in that category.
Another first-time nominee, Carter Faith, made her way into the hotly competitive Album of the Year category for her stunning breakout project, Cherry Valley.
Other artists with reason to celebrate on nominations day include Chris Stapleton and Zach Top, the latter of whom is the reigning ACM New Male Artist of the Year. He’s nominated in 5 categories in 2026, including in the Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year categories.
The 2026 ACM Awards will take place on Sunday, May 1. Keep reading for a full breakdown of who’s nominated on the ACM stage.
2026 ACM Awards Nominees:
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
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore
Album of the Year (awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Label or Company
Zach Top, Ain’t in it For My Health
Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
Riley Green, Don’t Mind if I Do (Deluxe)
Morgan Wallen, I’m the Problem
Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s))
Miranda Lambert and Cris Stapleton, “A Song to Sing” ( Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure)
Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon)
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” (Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor)
Zach Top, “I Never Lie”I (Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols)
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo” ( Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg)
Single of the Year (Awarded Artist(s), Producer(s), Record Company or Label)
Megan Moroney, “6 Months Later”
Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Zach Top, “I Never Lie”
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Cody Johnson, “The Fall”
Music Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Record Company or Label)
Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, “A Song to Sing”
Shaboozey and Jelly Roll, “Amen”
Riley Green feat. Ella Langley, “Don’t Mind if I Do”
Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, “Trailblazer”
Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney, “You Had to Be There”
Visual Media of the Year (Awarded to Producer(s), Director(s), Artist(s)
Megan Moroney, “6 Months Later”
Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, “A Song to Sing”
Stephen Wilson, Jr., “Cuckoo”
Lainey Wilson, “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Cody Johnson, “The Fall”
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
All of the Women Who’ve Won Country Entertainer of the Year Awards
Entertainer of the Year is by and large the biggest award an artist can receive in the world of country music. To put it simply, winning that trophy means you crushed the country music game with music, touring, and festivals, and you likely also found mass appeal outside of the genre.
It’s a highly coveted award, and historically, it’s been handed out to more men than women. Just 10 women in country music have heard their names called at the end of the night at either the CMA Awards or the ACM Awards over the years.
Here’s a list of women who’ve won country Entertainer of the Year awards.
