Man! She feels like a host. The ACM Awards are what feels like right around the corner, taking place next month in Las Vegas. The dedicated country music awards show will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, and will stream live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music Twitch channel. The ACM Awards are returning to Las Vegas this year, which is the show’s old stomping grounds. Before they moved to Frisco, Texas, in 2022, the awards programs were hosted there for 16 years. After the show announced its location change earlier this month, the Academy of Country Music announced its nominations for the year. And after what seems like well over a decade of head-scratching nominations, snubs, and wins, many were wondering if they would finally diverge from the mainstream stranglehold that they’ve so clearly found themselves in despite the growth of the independent and alt-country scene over the past five years. After seeing the list of nominees, I have to admit, it’s one of the more interesting sets of nominees we’ve seen in quite some time. Similar to how the women in country music dominated last year’s CMA Awards, that trend continues into 2026, with women fiercely leading the pack of nominees. This is also the second consecutive year women lead the pact, with Ella Langley leading the pack in 2025 with eight nominations. This year, Megan Moroney racked up the highest number of nominations with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight nominations and then Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven. With Miranda Lambert being the most decorated artist in ACM history The ACM Awards are keeping the girl-power theme going as they just announced that another female trailblazer in the industry will be leading the awards. Shania Twain has been tapped to host her first ACM Awards. View this post on Instagram Twain is a three-time ACM Award-winning artist. She won both Best New Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for The Woman in Me in 1996. “I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home. It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating Country Music’s biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year. I can’t wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night.” Twain shared in a statement. Shortly after the announcement, Twain shared a video montage of performances and wins from the ACM Awards. She also joked in her caption that she now has to figure out what to wear. After Lainey Wilson showed out with her CMA hosting outfits, I am sure Shania Twain will show up and show out with many outfit changes throughout the night. View this post on Instagram May 17 should be a great night celebrating the incredible talent in the genre. Check out the full list of nominees while you’re here: 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 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; Producers: 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 “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor “I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols “Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg Single of the Year “6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley “I Never Lie” – Zach Top “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson “The Fall” – Cody Johnson Visual Media of the Year “6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton “Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr. “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson “The Fall” – Cody Johnson Music Event of the Year “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton “Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley “Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson “You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney 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 New Male Artist of the Year Gavin Adcock Vincent Mason Shaboozey Hudson Westbrook Tucker Wetmore New Female Artist of the Year Avery Anna Mackenzie Carpenter Dasha Caroline Jones Emily Ann RobertsThe post Shania Twain Tapped To Host 61st Annual ACM Awards first appeared on Whiskey Riff.