Multihyphenate superstar Miranda Lambert, the most-decorated artist in Academy of Country Music history, earned eight nominations for the upcoming 61st ACM Awards, the second highest tally of any artist.
“Honored to wake up and be among the most nominated for the ACM Awards,” Lambert shares. “It’s always special to be recognized and it’s even better when it’s alongside friends and heroes.”
She received her 18th nomination for Female Artist of the Year as well as her ninth nomination for Song of the Year and 16th total nomination (including Artist and Songwriter credits) in the category.
“You’d have to look pretty far and wide to find anyone in music who has been as consistently good or eternally enjoyable as Miranda Lambert,” remarks Rolling Stone. “Almost 20 years into her run, she’s defined her career by always going her own way, both musically and lyrically.”
In addition to her own artistry, Lambert is also nominated for her work as both a songwriter and a producer, demonstrating her ongoing impact across the genre. “Choosin’ Texas,” the record-setting hit recorded by Ella Langley, earns nods for Lambert in both the Song and Single of the Year categories as the track’s co-writer and producer.
“Miranda held down women in country on a mainstream level for a decade and change; this is as much a win for her legacy as it is for Ella’s still-growing stardom,” shares Billboard of the song, continuing, “while she continues to make music of her own – she was nominated for a GRAMMY this year – she definitely seems to be thriving behind the scenes, including co-running Big Loud Texas. This is validation for her influence, her talent and underrated ability as a songwriter.”
Additionally, Lambert is honored for her “A Song to Sing” duet with longtime friend and collaborator Chris Stapleton, earning nods in the Song, Music Event and Visual Media of the Year categories for their co-write.
“At a time when country is so many things, Lambert and Stapleton seem both a true north and a hinge for the future of the same Outlaw culture Waylon and Willie conjured,” notes POLLSTAR. “Musically robust, they want to make actual country music with their roots firmly planted, but with the ability to create on their terms. It’s not fighting Music Row as much as fighting for greatness.”
Fittingly for year where four women lead the nomination counts, Lambert also earned a Music Event of the Year nod for her female-empowered collaboration with Reba McEntire and Lainey Wilson, “Trailblazer.”
“Wilson is just about inarguably the best thing to happen to country music since Miranda Lambert, who in turn was one of the best things to happen since Reba. So it felt intuitively natural – but by no means commercially inevitable – when those three teamed up,” declares Variety of the song praised by Music Row as “an utterly historic collaboration among three generations of female country excellence.”
The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans will also be able to watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as in the Amazon Music app.
Tickets for the 61st ACM Awards and ACM Awards week events are available for purchase on AXS.com, offering fans exclusive entry into a nonstop weekend packed with performances by their favorite Country stars.
ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp Celebrates The Transformative Power of Music
ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music®, recently hosted the 16th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp, held in collaboration with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. The week-long residential program is designed for musically talented individuals with Williams syndrome, offering enriching musical experiences while also contributing to ongoing research on the rare genetic condition.
Throughout the week, campers were immersed in the Country music community. From songwriting sessions and studio visits with some of Nashville’s most acclaimed musicians and up-and-coming talent, participants experienced what it’s like to live and work as an artist in Nashville.
“ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is a tangible reminder of how unifying, inspiring, and meaningful music is,” shares Taylor Wolf, Director, ACM Lifting Lives®. “The campers’ song ‘Our Best Year Yet’ was written in homage to Opry100, and also speaks to the universal feelings of love, singing together, friendship, and how music makes us feel. Thank you to all the artists, venues, partners and supportive teams that made this week possible. We hope you, too, felt the energy and celebration of our best year yet.”
The camp is fully funded by ACM Lifting Lives®, in addition to providing scholarships to several campers. These efforts directly support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, education and community outreach.
Twenty seven campers with Williams syndrome from across the U.S. and Canada came together to take part in a customized lineup of activities, starting with the writing of an original song with some of Nashville’s top songwriters, and culminating with a live performance of the song on the Grand Ole Opry stage in front of a packed Opry House audience. Artists who joined the campers throughout the week include Roman Alexander, Priscilla Block, Tyler Braden, Ross Copperman, Jackson Dean, Dalton Dover, JT Harding, Bryce Leatherwood, Parmalee, Emily Ann Roberts, and Lauren Watkins.
The week began as campers teamed up with Ross Copperman (marking his 12th year participating in the camp), Dalton Dover and JT Harding to co-write “Our Best Year Yet” inspired by Opry’s 100th Anniversary. Later in the week, they joined Lauren Watkins to bring the song to life, recording their original song at Ocean Way Studios before culminating in a standing-ovation performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage alongside Jackson Dean.
In addition to their creative sessions, campers got an inside look at the Nashville music industry through exclusive experiences as Bryce Leatherwood welcomed them to the legendary Bluebird Cafe for a special performance and Q&A, while Parmalee met them at Gold Pacific Studio to share some studio 101 and record vocals on existing tracks. Emily Ann Roberts joined the campers at Seacrest Studios at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where they stepped into the role of radio DJs, asking Roberts curated questions and sharing their voices over the hospital’s internal airwaves.
While the week was filled with musical discovery and learning, it was also packed with opportunities for boisterous fun. Tyler Braden surprised campers for lively karaoke at Riley Green’s Duck Blind, and Roman Alexander and Priscilla Block both joined the group for a high-energy outing to Topgolf, adding to a week already full of connection and lasting memories.
Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives®/Terry Wyatt)
About Williams syndrome
Williams syndrome is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by strong verbal communication skills, highly social personalities, and a deep affinity for music. Many campers may also experience cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.
About ACM Lifting Lives®
ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. We harness the strength of the Country Music community to provide aid in times of need, with a focus on health-related initiatives. With generous donations and the support of artists and fans, ACM Lifting Lives has funded national music therapy programs serving various mental and physical health organizations. Recipients include patients at children’s hospitals and other healthcare facilities, recovering veterans, people with Williams syndrome, and individuals with mental illness. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.