Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Three acts from Alabama walked away as big winners at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. The show took place this past weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Shania Twain hosted the ceremony, which streamed live on Prime Video. It was a strong night for the state, with artists from Hope Hull, Jacksonville, and Mobile, Alabama, all taking home trophies.

The awards took place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show began at 8 p.m. ET and ran for about three hours. It marked the ACM's return to Las Vegas after three years in Frisco, Texas.

Ella Langley of Hope Hull, Alabama, was the night's biggest winner, taking home five awards: Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Event of the Year. Her song "Choosin' Texas" was the highlight of her big night, winning both Song and Single of the Year. "I'm not at a loss for words very often," Langley said on stage. "Thank you to the fans."

Langley also shared the Music Event of the Year award with Riley Green of Jacksonville, Alabama. Their duet, "Don't Mind If I Do," earned the honor. Green has been building momentum in country music for several years, and the win added to a growing list of ACM hardware for the Jacksonville native.

The Red Clay Strays, the rock-influenced country band from Mobile, Alabama, won Group of the Year. The band performed "Demons in Your Choir" at the show. Their win capped a strong stretch for the group, which had previously won New Duo or Group of the Year at the 60th ACM Awards in 2025.

The night's top prize, Entertainer of the Year, went to Cody Johnson. But many in the crowd agreed it was Langley's evening. She was the first artist called to the stage, winning Song of the Year before the show was even underway. She returned multiple times throughout the night.

Langley's rise has been rapid. She received her first ACM nomination at the 60th awards in 2025 and walked away with five wins that night. Back-to-back five-win performances at the ACMs are a rare feat for any artist, let alone one still early in her career.

The show featured performances by a wide range of country stars, including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Zach Top, and Kane Brown. Wilson, who won Entertainer of the Year for the past two years, opened the show with her new single, "Can't Sit Still."

For Alabama, the night was a reminder of the state's deep roots in country music. From the Gulf Coast to the Black Belt to the suburbs of Montgomery, the state has long produced artists who have shaped the genre. Sunday night in Las Vegas, three of them proved it again.