BMI Congratulates its 2026 ACM Nominees

Posted in News on April 9, 2026

BMI affiliates earned nods in the final nomination categories at the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Female artists led the nominations with longtime affiliate Miranda Lambert securing eight nominations, including her 17th nomination for Female Artist of the Year and ninth nomination for Song of the Year. The reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year Ella Langley and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson followed with seven nominations each. Langley earned her first nomination in the Artist-Songwriter of the Year category and her first nomination credited as a Producer for Single of the Year, among others. Wilson received her fourth consecutive Female Artist of the Year and third straight nod for Entertainer of the Year; two categories she has won every year she’s been nominated.

Zach Top earned nods in five categories including his first for Male Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”), both as an Artist and Songwriter, and for Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”). Riley Green and Morgan Wallen each earned four nominations, while Luke Combs eyes the coveted Triple Crown Award with his Entertainer of the Year nomination along with two others in additional categories.

The Songwriter of the Year category was flooded with BMI talents including 2025 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Charlie Handsome and 2024 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Chase McGill along with GRAMMY-nominated Jessie Jo Dillon and Blake Pendergrass all earning nods. Every Song of the Year nominee is also credited as a songwriter on their respective track, with Lambert earning two separate nominations in the category. First time nominees this year include 49 Winchester, Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Carter Faith, Caroline Jones, Vincent Mason and Hudson Westbrook.

The 61st ACM Awards will stream live on May 17 at 7 p.m. CST via Prime Video, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, or the Amazon Music app. Previously announced BMI performers include Johnson, Wilson, Little Big Town, Lambert and Green, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Congrats to our BMI affiliates! See the full list of nominees for the Main Awards below:

MAIN ACM AWARD NOMINEES:

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*

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avery Anna
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts*

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey*
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore

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
Producer: 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 [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton*
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton*, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor*, Jesse Frasure
Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney*
Songwriters: Megan Moroney*, Luke Laird*, Jessie Jo Dillon
Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert*, Harold Arlen* & Yip Harburg*
Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs Of Riser House; Songs Of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney*
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
Producers: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Jay Joyce
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Producers: Trent Willmon*
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton*
Producers: Dave Cobb
Record Company-Label: Republic Records

“Amen” – Shaboozey* & Jelly Roll
Producers: Danny Majic*, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook*
Record Company-Label: Empire

“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox*
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire*, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire*
Record Company-Label: MCA

“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney* & Kenny Chesney
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney*
Producers: Christen Pinkston* & Wesley Stebbins-Perry*
Director: CeCe Dawson*, Megan Moroney*

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton*
Producers: James Stratakis*
Director: Alexa King Stone*, Stephen Kinigopoulos*

“Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.*
Producers: Tim Cofield*
Director: Tim Cofield*

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Katie Babbage*
Director: TK McKamy*

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Producers: Christen Pinkston* & Wesley Stebbins-Perry*
Director: Dustin Haney*

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

*indicates not a BMI affiliate

SOURCENews TAGS Country Nashville ACM Awards