May 17, 2026 1:00pm PT

ACM Awards Producers on What to Expect Sunday Night: Shania’s First Country Hosting Gig, Show’s Return to Vegas, 17 Performances in 2½ Hours and Meeting the Ella Langley Moment

Chris Willman

Plus Icon

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

Latest

ACM Awards Producers on What to Expect Sunday Night: Shania’s First Country Hosting Gig, Show’s Return to Vegas, 17 Performances in 2½ Hours and Meeting the Ella Langley Moment

5 hours ago

Happy 60th Birthday, ‘Pet Sounds’: Beach Boys Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston Recall the Making and Aftermath of One of Rock’s Greatest Albums

8 hours ago

Has Raye Already Busted Into the Pantheon of Great 21st-Century Entertainers? This Year’s Smashing Tour Has Told the Tale

1 day ago

See All

Academy of Country Music

Ella Langley has conquered not just the country world but the music world generally this year with her song “Choosin’ Texas.” But for the producers of the Academy of Country Music Awards, this year’s show is all about choosin’ Vegas. Certainly no fight is being picked with the Lone Star state, where the ACM Awards were held the previous three years. For the 61st annual telecast, though, the powers-that-be wanted the show to get back to its roots… and in this case, and maybe this case alone, country music rootsiness means the Las Vegas Strip.

ACM Awards Producers on What to Expect Sunday Night: Shania's First Country Hosting Gig, Show's Return to Vegas, 17 Performances in 2½ Hours and Meeting the Ella Langley Moment