Megan Moroney Leads 2026 ACM Awards Nominations

The Academy of Country Music announced the nominations for its 61st awards ceremony on Tuesday, revealing that female artists dominated the field, with rising star Megan Moroney leading all nominees with seven nominations. The announcement, made from the ACM's headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, highlights a significant shift in the genre's recognition, as the top four most-nominated artists are all women, each receiving more nominations than any male contender this year. This outcome reflects both the commercial success and critical acclaim of women in contemporary country music. Megan Moroney's impressive haul includes nominations for the coveted Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for her debut 'Lucky.' She is closely followed by established superstar Miranda Lambert, who earned six nominations, and breakthrough artists Ella Langley and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, who each garnered five. This collective achievement marks one of the most female-dominated nomination slates in the awards' recent history, signaling a powerful moment for women in a genre that has often faced criticism for gender imbalance on radio playlists and major awards stages. The dominance of these artists is not an isolated incident but part of a broader resurgence. Lainey Wilson's sweep at last year's ceremony, Miranda Lambert's record-breaking career tally of ACM awards, and the viral, chart-topping success of newcomers like Moroney and Langley have created a formidable wave. Industry analysts note that streaming platforms and social media have allowed female artists to build massive, dedicated fanbases outside traditional radio gatekeeping, which is now being reflected in peer-voted awards like the ACMs. The 61st ACM Awards ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, later this year.