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

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

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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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.

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