The Academy of Country Music Awards is switching up its usual host lineup this year. Instead of a rotating cast of country stars, it’s bringing in Shania Twain for her first-ever turn as a country awards host. The Canadian singer, who rose to fame with hits like Man! I Feel Like a Woman! in the ‘90s, steps into dual roles: co-host for the show and one of the performers. Her hosting gig marks the first time a non-country artist has led the ACM Awards since 2010, when Blake Shelton took the reins. Vegas isn’t new to the ACMs, but it’s been seven years since the awards called the city home. The last time was in 2017 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Thomas Rhett took home Entertainer of the Year. This year, the show moves to the 22,000-seat T-Mobile Arena, right off the Strip, where producers promise a tighter, more intimate vibe despite the packed schedule. It’s a gamble that reflects how the ACMs are trying to balance tradition with fresh energy. The show’s producers told Variety the goal is to keep the energy high while avoiding the sprawling runtime that’s frustrated viewers in past years. They’ve sliced the broadcast down to two and a half hours, down from three hours in 2023. That’s no small feat when you’ve got 17 live performances lined up, along with awards presentations and host segments. The producers didn’t just cut the time—they reworked the entire flow. Instead of long pauses between awards and performances, they’re weaving them together. Shania Twain will introduce most of the performances, keeping the show moving like a live concert. The setlist leans heavily on the year’s biggest country hits, including a performance of Ella Langley’s Choosin’ Texas, which dominated streaming charts after its release in early 2024. Langley, a 24-year-old rising star from Texas, isn’t just another performer—she’s the breakout story of the year. Her song, which blends traditional country with a modern twist, has topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for six straight weeks. Producers say they’re giving her a prime slot, likely during the first hour, to capitalize on the momentum. The ACM Awards aren’t just about the performances. They’re also handing out hardware to the year’s top artists. Luke Combs is up for Entertainer of the Year, while Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen lead the nominations with seven each. The show’s producers hinted that the winners might get a surprise twist this year—something they’re keeping under wraps until Sunday. T-Mobile Arena’s acoustics and sightlines are a big part of the plan. Producers worked with audio engineers to ensure every performance sounds crisp on TV, even when the crowd’s cheering. They’ve also placed cameras strategically to capture the crowd’s reactions, especially during emotional moments like the career achievement awards. The ACM Awards air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and stream live on Paramount+. Fans can expect a mix of nostalgia and new talent, all wrapped in the glitz of Las Vegas. It’s a bet on Shania Twain’s star power to draw viewers who might not typically tune into country awards, while still giving the genre’s core fans what they want. Whether it works remains to be seen, but the producers are confident they’ve created a show that’s both familiar and fresh. For Shania, it’s a chance to prove she’s more than just a ‘90s pop-country icon. For the ACMs, it’s a test run for a new era of country television.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Variety
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 20:00 UTC
  • Category: Entertainment
  • Topics: #variety · #movies · #hollywood · #war · #conflict · #awards-producers

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Shania Twain brilhou como nunca ao assumir pela primeira vez o comando da cerimônia dos ACM Awards 2024, em Las Vegas, transformando a noite em um espetáculo de country music repleto de energia e nostalgia. Com 17 apresentações ao vivo em pouco mais de duas horas e meia, a canadense não só provou seu talento como anfitriã, mas também homenageou o legado do gênero com performances marcantes, incluindo um momento especial de Ella Langley.

A escolha de Twain para comandar o evento não foi apenas simbólica, mas também um marco para o público brasileiro, que tem cada vez mais acesso ao country graças a plataformas de streaming e ao sucesso de artistas como ela. Nos últimos anos, o gênero ganhou força no Brasil, com festivais dedicados e uma legião de fãs que acompanham de perto as tendências internacionais, tornando a cerimônia ainda mais relevante para quem consome música em português. Além disso, a presença de Twain, ícone global do country, reforça a importância do estilo no cenário mundial, especialmente em um momento em que a diversidade musical ganha espaço nas grandes premiações.

A noite deixou claro que o futuro do country pode ser tão dinâmico e inovador quanto o legado de Twain, que promete seguir como referência para novas gerações — e, quem sabe, não seja a vez do Brasil brilhar em uma edição futura.