Shania Twain Says Country Music Feels Fresh Again. But the ACM Winners Prove the Genre Is No Longer What It Used to Be

In an exclusive interview ahead of the ACM Awards, Shania Twain opens up about the changing landscape of country music.

Shania Twain is back in Las Vegas, and that is cause for celebration! The 60-year-old icon is in town to mark something off her bucket list—hosting the ACM Awards.

Shania is no stranger to Vegas. The “Come On Over” singer has hosted a trio of residencies in Sin City throughout her career, and feels right at home on the Vegas stage. Still, the country star is ready to bring something new when she steps into her hosting boots for the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Shania has a remarkable list of awards to her name, from Grammys to CMAs to ACMs (the organization presented her with its prestigious Poet’s Award in 2022). Now, she’s ready to show her support for a new generation of singers.

“I feel that the new generation coming up has a more free-spirited approach to songwriting, and to their musicality,” she tells Country Living. “I feel like country music is expanding. And I feel like the windows have been opened and the air is getting refreshed.

“So we have a nice influx of fresh air, new artists, and the joy is not bringing in the new and get rid of the old, because that would not suit me very well,” she says, laughing. “I think it's all about being together.”

“Part of my excitement is always to see my old pals that have been around for years in the country music industry, but also to meet the new artists coming up,” she says. “And watch the performances, and just get a feel for where we're going. This is the excitement for me.”

To Shania, the future is bright. “Where are we going? I get inspired by seeing what's possibly to come,” she explains. “Certainly there are more females now. And that just broadens the horizons in general, also, for the audience. The audience wants to see a little bit of everything. They want to be inspired—especially the global audience. They demand it.”

What’s to come for Shania? Her fans have plenty to look forward to. This summer, she’s joining Harry Styles for a dozen dates at Wembley Stadium in London, and she’s getting ready to drop her seventh studio album, Little Miss Twain, on July 24. Ella Langley was the big winner at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, which were handed out Sunday night, though Cody Johnson took the top award of entertainer of the year.

Langley went home with five awards in all. Her “Choosin’ Texas” scooped up the first award of the night, for song of the year, and also was named single of the year. Langley also was named female artist of the year and artist-songwriter of the year, and she scooped up another nod for “Don’t Mind If I Do,” by Riley Green feat. Langley, which was named music event of the year.

Meanwhile, Johnson also was named male artist of the year.

Parker McCollum’s self-titled album was named album of the year. The Red Clay Strays won group of the year, while Brooks & Dunn took home the ACM Award for duo of the year. Avery Anna was named best new female artist, and Tucker Wetmore won for best new male artist. Jessie Jo Dillon was named songwriter of the year for a record third consecutive year.

Three-time ACM Award winner Shania Twain hosted the show for the first time. The ceremony, which streamed live exclusively on Prime Video, took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Wilson opened the show with an energetic performance of “Can’t Sit Still.” The night was stacked with performances from the likes of Langley, Anna, Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett & Jordan Davis, Zach Top, Little Big Town, Riley Green, the Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Carter Faith. Parker McCollum & Lee Ann Womack and Kane Brown.

Lauren Alaina became emotional when introducing Dan + Shay, who performed their song “Say So” in tribute to Ben Vaughn, a beloved figure in the music community who was president and CEO of Warner Chappell Nashville and died by suicide last year.

The show closed with Blake Shelton covering Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” written by Don Schlitz, who died last month.

Awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Country Music, which has a record-high membership this year of more than 5,000 members. The eligibility period for submissions for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards was the calendar year 2025.

A full list of winners from the 2026 ACM Awards follows. (ACM Awards producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.)

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 

[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 (WINNER)

  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 (WINNER)

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

  Publishers: Bada Bing Bada Boom Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing; Verse 2 Music

• 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 Recordsz

• Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley (WINNER)

  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 (WINNER)

  Producers: Dann Huff

  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 (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