Ella Langley leads ACM Awards with seven wins; Cody Johnson named entertainer of the year

Ella Langley wins seven at ACM Awards as Cody Johnson named entertainer of the year Ella Langley leads ACM Awards with seven wins; Cody Johnson takes top honor

The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards returned to Las Vegas, streaming globally on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony featured 17 performances and recognized top achievements in country music.

Cody Johnson earned Entertainer of the Year, his first win in the category. Ella Langley led all artists with seven awards, setting a record for most wins in a single year. Johnson, Miranda Lambert and Stephen Wilson Jr. each took home two awards.

Other winners included Parker McCollum, Brooks & Dunn, The Red Clay Strays, Riley Green and Jessie Jo Dillon. McCollum won Album of the Year for his self-titled record, while Brooks & Dunn extended their record with their 18th Duo of the Year win.

Langley won Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” marking her second consecutive Single of the Year win. Accepting Female Artist of the Year, she thanked fellow artists and supporters. Johnson, accepting Male Artist of the Year, said, “Without sounding too cliché, I will say the rise has been worth the falls,” and described music as “the sound of emotion.”

Performances included collaborations and debuts from major country artists, along with tributes and new material. A highlight of the night came from Dan + Shay, whose performance addressing suicide prevention earned a standing ovation after being introduced as a song that was “going to save lives.”

Twain opened the show reflecting on her career and celebrating the genre’s growth, saying, “What a time it is in Country Music – our songs and storytellers are everywhere from your local honky tonk to this global stage and tonight we get to celebrate it all together.”

See the night’s winners listed below, with the complete list of winners and nominations available on the Academy of Country Music website.

Entertainer of the Year: Cody Johnson

Female Artist of the Year: Ella Langley

Male Artist of the Year: Cody Johnson

Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays

Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn

Album of the Year: Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse; Record Company-Label: MCA

Song of the Year: “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

Single of the Year: “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West; Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

Visual Media of the Year: “Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.; Producer: Tim Cofield; Director: Tim Cofield

Music Event of the Year: “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley; Producer: Dann Huff; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

Songwriter of the Year: Jessie Jo Dillon

Artist-Songwriter of the Year: Ella Langley

New Male Artist of the Year: Tucker Wetmore

New Female Artist of the Year: Avery Anna