4 Country Queens Dominating the 2026 ACM Awards

The 2026 ACM Awards are rapidly approaching, set to premiere on Prime Video on May 17, hosted by country superstar Shania Twain. Though this year’s lineup of performers and nominees is loaded with some of the biggest acts in country music, it’s the ACM women who are stealing the show.

Leading the nominations are four of the most influential female artists in country music right now: Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson. Here, find out which awards they’re nominated for and what they’ve been up to leading up to the ACM Awards.

Megan Moroney leads the way with nine nominations

Megan Moroney made waves with her latest record, Cloud 9, but it’s her work off of her previous album, Am I Okay?, that’s earning her recognition at this year’s awards.

Moroney is nominated this year for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Single of the Year (“6 Months Later”), Music Event of the Year (“You Had To Be There” by Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney), Visual Media of the Year (“6 Months Later”) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Megan received one of her nominations as both an artist and songwriter and another nomination as both an artist and director.

Miranda Lambert follows her with eight

Miranda Lambert has been on the country music scene for years, and racking up eight ACM nominations, it’s clear she isn’t going anywhere.

The “Tin Man” singer is nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“A Song to Sing” by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton), Music Event of the Year (“A Song to Sing” by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton), Music Event of the Year (“Trailblazer” by Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson) and Visual Media of the Year (“A Song to Sing” by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton).

Ella Langley is nominated for seven ACM awards

The “Choosin’ Texas” singer has taken the country music world by storm over the last few years, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that she’s in the top three this year. At the 2026 ACM Awards, Ella is nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Choosin’ Texas”), Music Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do” by Riley Green featuring Ella Langley) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

Lainey Wilson also has seven noms

Lainey Wilson has left her mark on the ACM Awards in the past, and this year, she’s back and ready to prove her luck hasn’t run out. Wilson previously took home the award for Entertainer of the Year, and this year, she’s nominated in the category yet again. She’s also nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”), Single of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”), Music Event of the Year (“Trailblazer” by Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson) and Visual Media of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”).

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 2:05 PM.