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LEGENDARY SONGWRITER AND BEST-SELLING FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST SHANIA TWAIN WILL TAKE THE STAGE TO HOST THE 61ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME

61st ACM Awards Makes Its Triumphant Return to Las Vegas on May 17, 2026
Streaming Live Around the Globe from MGM Grand Garden Arena
Exclusively on Prime Video and Amazon Music

Great Seats for the 61st ACM Awards and ACM Awards Week Events Just Released at AXS.COM

ACM press release | April 22, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 22, 2026 — Today, the Academy of Country Music® (ACM), Prime Video, and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) announced that legendary songwriter and best-selling female country artist Shania Twain will host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards for the first time. 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.

As the top-selling female country-pop artist of all time, globally celebrated songwriter, artist, and performer Shania Twain has established herself as one of music’s most iconic and influential voices. A three-time ACM Award winner and five-time GRAMMY Award winner, Twain helped redefine country music for a global audience with her bold, boundary-pushing sound and undeniable crossover appeal. With six acclaimed studio albums and more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, her influence continues to shape the music industry today.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home.” said Twain. “It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating Country Music’s biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year. I can’t wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night.”

“We are honored to welcome global music superstar Shania Twain as our host this year,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside said. “We couldn’t imagine a more perfect icon to follow our previous iconic hosts, Dolly, Garth, and Reba, blending one of the most important nights in Country Music with the excitement of Las Vegas . Shania has an impressive history on the ACM Awards stage including her win of the coveted ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy and receiving the ACM Poet’s Award honoring her prolific songwriting career.”  

Returning to the Sunday night timeslot, the Emmy-nominated, star-powered ACM Awards experience will feature unprecedented performances, exclusive collaborations, and unexpected moments from the biggest Country Music stars, including performances by Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, and Riley Green, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Leading up to the big night, the Academy of Country Music will take over Las Vegas with previously announced ACM Awards week events including a “Whiskey Jam Welcome Party” at Ole Red Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14 with Avery Anna, Caroline Jones, Jenna Paulette, and The Band Perry; “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” at Topgolf Las Vegas Friday, May 15 with Lauren Alaina, Randy Houser, and Rodney Atkins, alongside headliner Riley Green; as well as “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach Saturday, May 16 with Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith, Dasha, Flatland Cavalry, Keith Urban, Tucker Wetmore, and more.

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.

Fans can also stream the Official ACM Awards playlist available now on Amazon Music in celebration of this year’s nominees. Fans can listen to country music’s biggest stars, such as Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson, directly on the Amazon Music app HERE.

Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards is the longest-running Country Music awards show and made history in 2022 as the first major awards ceremony to exclusively livestream, in collaboration with Prime Video. The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions (DCP). Raj Kapoor and Patrick Menton are executive producers, with Kapoor also serving as showrunner. Damon Whiteside serves as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music, and Jay Penske and Barry Adelman serve as executive producers for DCP. John Saade will also continue to serve as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. The Media Credential Application to cover on-site in Las Vegas, Nevada, is now available HERE.

The Mountain Valley® Spring Water (Instagram: @mountainvalleywater) is the Official Water of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Follow the Academy of Country Music on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok, join the conversation with #ACMawards, and sign up for the FREE ACM A-List to be the first to know the latest news and for exclusive pre-sale opportunities.

https://www.acmcountry.com/news/legendary-songwriter-and-best-selling-female-country-artist-shania-twain-will-take-the-stage-to-host-the-61st-academy-of-country-music-awards-for-the-first-time

I think this photo is new, yes. It's been a while; she should use it as her profile picture. I think the lead single from the new album will be performed at this event. Then promoted in London with Harry Styles. At the least she'll talk about the new album in interviews.

matteotempo wrote:

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Koko Twain wrote:

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I think this photo is new, yes. It's been a while; she should use it as her profile picture. I think the lead single from the new album will be performed at this event. Then promoted in London with Harry Styles. At the least she'll talk about the new album in interviews.

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Yes, the single could be released Friday 15th and performed live during the show.

At least, this is what I'd do...

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Yes, I hope Shania uses this to promote her new album. Hopefully she will perform a new song!

100% She will perform. She's pretty much said new music soon. Plus The ACM awards are streamed lived and reaches a world wide audience. 

Melissa wrote:

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Tommy your input always helps. Do you think Shania Twain will perform live? I said that because with her last two albums she didn't perform at any awards shows. Also is the new ACM promo photo brand new? I also ask because if new could that be the new single or album cover hint?

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Actually, she performed "Waking Up Dreaming" as part of a medley during the 2022's People's Choice Awards where she won the music icon award.

From Shania's Instagram Stories

2:13 PM ET - 5 May 26

https://www.instagram.com/stories/shaniatwain/

REDISCOVER Shania Twain

https://music.amazon.com/playlists/B01N5KSPIE

Another ACM Awards promo pic

'Honey, I'm Home': ACM host Shania Twain sees herself as a country girl

By Stephen Hubbard | Yahoo! Entertainment | ABC Audio | May 8, 2026

Even though she's a global pop/country superstar, Canadian Shania Twain sees hosting the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas as a homecoming of sorts.

"This is fun to me," she says. "Hosting the ACMs is a chance to go celebrate all of the other artists, meet the new artists, the up-and-coming artists, [to] celebrate a lot of the artists that have been rockin’ it the last several years that I have not been around much, to say 'congratulations' and 'way to go' and all that kinda stuff."

After finding success in multiple formats, the "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" hitmaker leaves little doubt which one is closest to her heart.

"For me, it is a chance to reconnect with my favorite genre, which is my root music, country, and do my best job representing my genre," she says of hosting the ACMs. 

Shania has quite a collection of ACM trophies herself, having won both top new female vocalist and album for The Woman in Me in 1995, before taking the entertainer trophy in 1999. The academy also gave her its special Poet's Award for her songwriting in 2022.

The 61st ACMs take place Sunday, May 17, at MGM Grand Garden Arena and stream live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/honey-im-home-acm-host-100001056.html

Is Shania bringing 'Dirty Rosie' to the ACMs?

By Stephen Hubbard | ABC Audio | May 11, 2026

If you like to take your chances in Vegas, it's probably a safe bet Shania Twain will be performing during Sunday's 61st ACMs, as well as hosting.

Why? Well, she just confirmed she has a new song.

"You can drive a hummer, in the summer," she wrote on Instagram Monday. "You can EVEN drive the ladies, in my mercedes. BUT you can’t drive my truck. New song Dirty Rosie coming this Wednesday."

Shania leans against the steering wheel of said ride on the cover of the track, which is included in the post.

If you've seen her earlier tease, you know she's quoting the lyrics of the song, which she previewed in what seems to be a clip from the music video.

Shania's most recent album is 2023's Queen of Me, though she's put out a handful of collabs since.

https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/shania-bringing-dirty-rosie-acms

Shania Twain: ACM Awards Host Previews Show, Talks New Music and More

The 61st edition of the ceremony will take place May 17 in Las Vegas.

By Jessica Nicholson | Billboard | May 12, 2026 

After two consecutive years with Reba McEntire at the mic, the ACM Awards will get a new host this year when Shania Twain presides over the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and airing on Prime Video on May 17.

“It’s a chance for me to just get back with everybody,” Twain says of hosting. “It’s one of the rare moments when I get the chance to see everybody and catch up with a lot of the newer artists. A lot of them I have not met yet, and I’m excited to just be among the whole experience of the ACMs.”

Of course, some of Twain’s own top career moments have taken place on the ACM Awards stage. In 1996, she was named top new female vocalist and her album The Woman in Me won album of the year. In 2000, she earned the ACM’s most coveted trophy, entertainer of the year. In 2022, she was celebrated with the ACM Poet’s Award, which honors a songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical contributions to country music.

As an artist, Twain has achieved some of music’s most elite milestones. Her 1997 album, Come on Over, not only spent over 150 weeks on the all-genre Billboard 200 but also is one of the biggest-selling albums ever, with certified double diamond status from the RIAA. Her 2002 album, Up!, resided at the pinnacle of the Billboard 200 for five weeks, while her smash hits like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “You’re Still the One” have become enduring classics that continue to reach new generations of listeners. And she remains a major live draw: Her 2023 Queen of Me tour was No. 4 on Billboard Boxscore’s year-end Top Country Tours list, and her Come on Over — All the Hits! Las Vegas residency in 2024 and 2025 sold out 33 shows at Planet Hollywood’s PH Live.

The Canadian singer-songwriter has amassed plenty of accolades, but she’s still as busy as ever. She’s gearing up to join Harry Styles for a run of shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in June and early July and working on a new album. Ahead of her debut hosting gig at the ACM Awards, Twain spoke about taking on the task — and what she’s got cooking in the studio, too.

You previously hosted the People’s Choice Country Awards in 2024. How did that prepare you to host the ACM Awards?

I like to put my own personality into things, because I’m a terrible reader. If I rely entirely on the teleprompter, I’m definitely going to stumble and get lost. I just really like having fun and going with the flow, getting into the excitement that I’ll be sharing with the artists who are performing and up for awards. It’s a big moment in their career and in their life. For some of them, it might be a one-time-chance thing. For some, it’s a first-chance thing. For other artists, they’re just happy that they’re still there. So there’s all kinds of excitement from top to bottom. It’s a joy.

As a host, you are following in the footsteps of Reba McEntire, who has hosted the ACM Awards 18 times dating back to 1986. What inspiration do you take from her?

When it comes to Reba, she’s flawless. I’m definitely more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person, very spontaneous, which makes it a different style and character to hosting something. But Reba is everything. She’s funny, she’s a great actress, which makes her really good at getting the flow of speaking and cadence. She’s just a pro.

Fans love to anticipate a host’s fashion choices. How are you and your team approaching that, since with the show on Prime Video there are no commercial breaks?

I’m going to have to think that one through for sure. There might be quick changes. I always want to look my best, and I haven’t really decided the exact direction yet. So I’m going to leave a little mystery to that answer because those things kind of evolve right until the last second. I really just want to be there to respect and to pay homage to a genre and fans that have been so good to me over the years. I’m there to have fun and watch and listen and meet all of the other artists, but I really am there for the fans and I want them to have a fabulous night.

Are you planning any surprises, perhaps debuting any new music?

There’s a couple of moments that I know that production is looking forward to hopefully surprising the audience with. I’m not going to give anything away in that regard, but yeah, I think the fans will be happy.

You won entertainer of the year at the 2000 ACM Awards. What did that mean to you? 

Well, talking about entertainer of the year, that really comes down to the fans. The fans go to the shows. They are the ones that are either walking away really happy or… maybe they’re walking away going, “That was really not worth my money.” So when you get entertainer of the year, it really means that fans have tipped their hat off to you as a live artist. And it’s such a compliment because it is so hard to be out there on the road putting on shows and being your best night after night. So it’s just a huge honor to be appreciated as an entertainer. Making records and writing hit songs is a huge part of what we do, especially if you’re a songwriter. There are some really outstanding recording artists that are not necessarily the best entertainers. So I think there is a departure there that deserves recognition for the artists that do get out there and are able to really entertain the fans.

The ACM Awards return to Las Vegas this year. Why do you feel like Vegas is such a great home for the show?

I do feel like Las Vegas has become the entertainment capital of the world for every genre. People go there for sports, they go there for every side of entertainment. So of course we should be there. That makes total sense. We are on a global scale of appeal, and that’s the ideal location.

How do you plan to celebrate once the ceremony is over?

I’m going to want to run around and personally congratulate everybody that won — I hope I’ll get to do that with a couple of people, at least. But it will be mayhem backstage, so I’m sure that won’t be ­entirely possible.

You’ve acted as well, including recently on Doctor Odyssey. Do you have plans for more of that?

I would love to carry on acting. I think it is in my future. My focus is on a new album and getting that out, and some shows this summer with Harry Styles. So that’s all really consuming me right now as far as just art direction. But yes, in the line of things to do this year, acting is definitely on the list.

Though your next album is still in the works, what can fans expect from it?

The album was written storywise and also sonically, musically, based on a lot of reflection on my childhood, whether it’s stories reflecting back to my youth or whether it is music that influenced me most as a child and as a teen. I’ve brought all of that together.

Which new artists are you excited about seeing at the ACM Awards this year?

Ella Langley. I only actually heard of her probably two months ago. I was in the studio and everyone was like, “You’ve got to hear about Ella.” And sure enough, I think she’s going to be one of the artists that I’m going to be crazy about meeting this year. I’m really excited for her. When I first saw her, I thought, “Wow, she looks so much like Linda Ronstadt.” She’s an incredible songwriter and I’m thrilled about that. She’s what our genre really needs from a female right now — or anytime, really. There’s also a great duet right now from Carly Pearce and Riley Green [“If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay”]. I hope to meet Tucker Wetmore. Max McNown is a great artist — I love his song [“Better Me for You (Brown Eyes)”]. There’s a lot of collaborations — I think there are more collaborations than I’ve ever seen in country music, so I feel like the atmosphere backstage will be more community than ever.

https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/shania-twain-acm-awards-2026-host-interview-1236244142/