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Queen Latifah is getting ready to host the American Music Awards on Monday night. The last and only time she hosted was back in 1995 as part of a trio that included Tom Jones and country singer Lorrie Morgan. “It’s been a long time, but it was exciting then and It’s exciting now,” Latifah tells […]

The 2026 American Music Awards have arrived, airing Memorial Day (May 25) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Taylor Swift — the top winner in the history of the American Music Awards, with 40 trophies — leads the nominations for the 2026 AMAs with eight nods. Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr are runners-up with seven nods. Alex Warren and Lady Gaga each received six nods.

With eight nods, Swift is likely to pull even further ahead of the pack for most AMA wins. Michael Jackson is currently in second place with 24 wins, followed by Alabama with 23 and Whitney Houston with 21.

Justin Bieber, who has four nominations this year, is also in position to move up the all-time AMA leaderboard. He has won 18 awards. If he wins just one award this year, he’ll tie Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins among male artists. (MJ leads among men.)

Dean and sombr are competing in three categories — new artist of the year, song of the year, and breakthrough album of the year. The two fast-rising stars competed for best new artist at this year’s Grammys, with Dean winning. Other first-time AMA nominees include Warren, BigXthaPlug, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, PinkPantheress, RAYE, Role Model, Sienna Spiro and Tate McRae.

Queen Latifah is returning to host the 52nd AMAs, having co-hosted the show in 1995 with Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan.

But who will emerge the night’s biggest winner? Follow along with Billboard all night below.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle won film of the year at the 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which were held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Saturday (May 23). Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina won best score for their work on their film. The award for best anime song went to Kenshi Yonezu for “IRIS OUT” from Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

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The Weeknd, a long-time anime fan, presented the top award, anime of the year, to My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON. Other presenters included RZA, a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan; Puerto Rican rapper/singer Young Miko; and K-pop stars BamBam and TEN.

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards honors the creators, musicians and performers powering the global love of anime. This year, a record 73 million votes were cast by fans worldwide, according to Crunchyroll. The ceremony was hosted for the fourth year by voice actress Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira.

The event began with a video highlighting past anime of the year winners with music by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra — arranged by Kazunori Miyake and conducted by Hirofumi Kurita.

The event also included music performances and tributes to anime’s enduring impact on popular culture. Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi performed a 30th anniversary tribute to 1995’s anime Neon Genesis Evangelion featuring the theme “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” PORNOGRAFFITTI performed in honor of My Hero Academia’s 10th anniversary. Rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION performed their hit “Haruka Kanata” — the second opening theme for the shounen series NARUTO.

During the ceremony, director Tatsuya Nagamine was honored with the Global Impact Award. He died on Aug. 20, 2025, at age 53 following a year-long battle with an undisclosed illness. Masayuki Sato — an animator who worked closely with Nagamine on numerous projects, including Happiness Charge PreCure! and ONE PIECE — accepted the award. 

The Anime Awards pre-show was co-hosted by Crunchyroll hosts Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu alongside YouTube creator Gigguk. Presenters included singer DANNA, contemporary musician Ethan Bortnick, Australian singer-songwriter hannah bahng and creative cosplayer Snitchery.

The video-on-demand version of the ceremony will be available to stream on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll’s YouTube Channel, along with Sony Group Corp Global and Japan YouTube Channels. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions supported Crunchyroll in the execution of the event.

Here’s the complete list of 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners:

Anime of the Year: My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

Film of the Year: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Anime Song: “IRIS OUT” — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

Best Score: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina

Best Original Anime: Lazarus

Best Continuing Series: ONE PIECE

Best New Series: Gachiakuta

Best Opening Sequence: On The Way – AiNA THE END – DAN DA DAN Season 2

Best Ending Sequence – I:  BUMP OF CHICKEN — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

Best Action: Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-

Best Comedy: DAN DA DAN Season 2

Best Drama: The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Best Isekai Anime: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3

Best Romance: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Best Slice of Life: SPY x FAMILY Season 3

Best Animation: Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-

Best Background Art: Gachiakuta

Best Character Design: Gachiakuta

Best Director: Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Best Main Character: Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Best Supporting Character: Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

“Must Protect at all Cost” Character: Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3

Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese): Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Best Voice Artist Performance (English): Lucien Dodge — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic): Tariq Obaid — Taro Sakamoto — SAKAMOTO DAYS

Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese): Charles Emmanuel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish ): Carles Teruel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Voice Artist Performance (French): Bastien Bourlé — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

Best Voice Artist Performance (German): Gerrit Schmidt—Foß — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi): Abhishek Sharma — Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian): Mosè Singh — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish): Jose Antonio Toledano — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle


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Hitmaker Sarah Aarons adds more silverware to her heaving collection by snagging several Billions Awards, presented to APRA AMCOS’s songwriter members and their publishers in recognition of a song surpassing one billion streams.

The Los Angeles-based, Melbourne-raised Aarons earns two awards for her breakup song “I Miss U, I’m Sorry,” co-written with and performed by folk-pop darling Gracie Abrams. Her second award is for another love song “Love Me Not,” performed by Ravyn Lenae and co-written with Anderson Paak, Brent Reynolds, Christian Farlow, Craig Balmoris, Dahi, Dominic Angelella, Jaelen Irizarry, Julian Nixon and Spencer Stewart. Aarons is published by Sony Music Publishing.

Just last month, Aarons was on hand at the 2026 APRA Music Awards, where she won the international recognition award, for her work with the likes of Tame Impala, BTS, Flume, Gracie Abrams, ROSÉ and Maren Morris. All told, she has won sixth APRA Awards, included the coveted songwriter of the year at the 2019 APRAs.

Meanwhile, sibling duo Amy and George Sheppard, along with co-writer Jay Bovino, collected their first Billions Award for “Geronimo,” recorded by the Brisbane-based pop group Sheppard. The song won two APRA Music Awards in 2015 for most played Australian work and pop work of the year, and cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in 2014, peaking at No. 53. The Sheppards are published by Mushroom Music Publishing.

“It’s been an amazing journey for us, and to have the amazing team that we’ve had, getting to bring joy to people for the last 14 years, it’s a dream come true,” comments George Sheppard. “Thank you so much for this amazing honor.”

Sneaky Sound System‘s Connie Mitchell is feted for the hip-hop song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” co-written with DJ Toomp and Kanye West. Following its release in 2007, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Also in the winners’ circle is Kota Banks (published by Gaga Music) and Taka Perry (published by Concord Music Publishing ANZ) for their work on KATSEYE’s “TOUCH.” Other co-writers on the song were Blake Slatkin, Caroline Ailin, Magnus Holberg and Omer Fedi.

“We wrote ‘TOUCH’ a few years ago at my old studio in Glebe,” explains Perry at a special presentation for the Billions Awards. “At the time I was a huge K-pop fan and I wanted to write some K-pop demos. I hit up Kota (Banks), and I was like, ‘do you want to come to the studio and work on a few songs together?’ And one of those songs was ‘TOUCH.’ I think we probably wrote it in an hour or two. It was just one of those things where it was the right song, in the right place.”

The eighth recipient is Los Angeles-based, Scottish songwriter and producer Stuart Crichton (published by Concord Music Publishing ANZ), who enters the 1,000,000,000 List with Kygo’s “Stargazing,” which he wrote back in 2017 alongside Kygo, Jamie Hartman and Justin Jesso.

Crichton, who called Australia home in the 2000s, and is represented by Concord Music Publishing ANZ, enjoyed APRAs glory last month with most performed dance/electronic work for “Tell Me,” recorded by Sonny Fodera and Clementine Douglas.

The Billions Award takes into account streaming numbers from the major services, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

“When APRA’s founding publishers first met 100 years ago in 1926, they could never have imagined we’d be here in 2026 celebrating songwriters and publishers for reaching one billion streams,” comments Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS.

“It’s an extraordinary achievement, especially given the sheer volume of music released every day – both human and AI-generated. We’re incredibly proud to have been able to support these eight members throughout their careers and now see their songs connecting with huge audiences around the world.”

Read more here.

SYDNEY, Australia — Young Australian music creators and their teachers have a new award to pursue.  

Established by experienced music industry executive Milly Petriella, the NUMAs (Next Up Music Awards) are a youth-led celebration of emerging talent in schools supported by student internships, and are designed to strengthen the pathways connecting young creators and the contemporary music industry.

Homegrown artists Sia and Troye Sivan will support the initiative as the first wave of industry patrons, with Mahalia Barnes announced as artistic director alongside DOBBY as First Nations artistic director, and Ruby Rodgers and Myka Champion appointed as the first youth patrons, with a remit to helping shape the program and reflect how music is created and shared today. Others will be announced in due course.

The NUMAs will have its own presentation, too. The inaugural event is slated for Jan. 28, 2027 at venue partner Carriageworks in Sydney.

According to reps, the NUMAs are a response to declining access to music education and growing concern for the future creative workforce and recognizes school-aged recording artists, producers, and songwriters. Moving ahead, the initiative provides a national stage through awards, live performance, mentorship, and paid youth roles behind the scenes.

The spotlight will also shine on educators, with a music teacher of the year awards presented by Music Australia across both primary and secondary categories, recognizing the important role teachers play in guiding the next generation of artists and industry.

And on the way is a paid Youth Intern Program, recognizing young recording artists, producers and songwriters.

“NUMAs is not just an awards program,” comments Petriella. “At a time when so much of our young people’s lives are shaped online, we want this to be a real-world space for creativity, connection and live expression. Through paid internships, mentorship and hands-on involvement in the event, we’re helping young people build skills, confidence and community, whether they see their future on stage, in the studio or behind the scenes.”

NUMAs founder Petriella was lauded in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for “service to music and the performing arts.” That service included a 27-year stint as director, member relations and partnerships at APRA AMCOS, from 1995 to 2022, where she earned a reputation for moving mountains for the PRO’s members.

Over the years, Petriella founded the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition, which has raised over A$2.5 million for Nordoff-Robbins since its launch in 2009; served as creative producer of the APRA Music Awards; championed the SongHubs program; administered the society’s Ambassador program; the Professional Development Awards; the Women In Music Mentorship program; the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition; and grew its Los Angeles, London and Nashville as director, Global Music Export Offices.

Open nationally to students aged 6–18 and their music teachers, nominations and intern applications will open in June 2026 via nextupmusicawards.com.

The NUMAs are backed by the federal government’s Revive Live program, with partners including The Song Room, Carriageworks, and Music Australia, and others yet to be announced.

When Queen Latifah takes the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host the American Music Awards on Monday (May 25), she’ll become the first person ever to have solo-hosted both the Grammys and the AMAs. She hosted the Grammys in 2005.

If you add in performers who solo-hosted the Grammys and co-hosted the AMAs, you pick up two more names – Kenny Rogers and LL Cool J.

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The personable Queen Latifah has solo-hosted several other shows: the BET Awards in 2010, the NAACP Image Awards in 2023-24 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2024.

Latifah is also set to be a coach on The Voice this fall, alongside Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green. “All roads lead back to music for me,” she told Billboard on Tuesday (May 19). “Everything I’ve done in my career, it all started with music.”

The 52nd American Music Awards are set to air live coast-to-coast on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+.

Taylor Swift is this year’s most nominated artist with eight nods, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven each.

Billy Idol will receive this year’s lifetime achievement award and deliver his first-ever AMAs performance. Karol G will perform and receive the international artist award of excellence.  Other performers include Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, Riley Green, sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes and Twenty One Pilots.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

What makes a good host? I’ve seen big singers, big names, who just don’t have it. It’s a particular skill. What does it take?

I think you just have to be able to relate to an audience. I know a lot of really huge stars who are pretty camera-shy. They can be still quite shy when it comes to relating to people, and definitely a room full of people. I think you have to be able to allow for a certain amount of spontaneity, because it’s live and you don’t know what might happen. So you sort of have to feel comfortable at the helm. Rehearsal — you gotta be able to read and rehearse. To me, I feel much more comfortable when I know everything that’s gonna happen, and I feel like I’ve changed the words that don’t sound like things that would come out of my mouth and made it my own. I think it’s important for anybody who’s hosting the show to sort of make it theirs, so that they feel comfortable, and it just flows.

Who are some hosts, not just of the AMAs or the Grammys, but of all shows over your lifetime where you thought, “Boy, they’re good.

I think Jamie Foxx is a great host. I’ve seen him host, and I thought he was a great host because he’s funny, and he can sing, he can play instruments, so he could break into song at any moment, but he’s also a comedian, so he’s funny, and he’s an Oscar[-winning] actor, so he knows how to play and just fall into a role. Just something about his little grin makes you think there’s always something coming, something is about to happen, so I think he was always a great host. We can take it way back into other people, but he’s the one that comes right to mind.

Who are some other people?

How far back are we going?

Well, on the Oscars, you have Bob Hope and Johnny Carson and Billy Crystal.

Billy Crystal – I thought was an amazing host. Yes, and I think Robin Williams [was] a great host, and Whoopi Goldberg, if we’re going there, I think those three are killer combination of hosts. But yeah, Billy Crystal, top-notch, top quality. Just all the quick-witted, funny things.

Do you know most of the artists performing on the AMAs? I imagine some of the newer people, like sombr and Teddy Swims, you’re probably meeting for the first time.

I met sombr at the Grammys, because I was already a fan, and I was already plugging in. “Back to Friends,” that was like my song, because that song really sounds like something of my era, that I would have grown up on those harmonies, and the rhythm of it. It’s not such a new style that you can’t really grasp it. It’s just a proper song. He’s great, and just his whole performance style, just going out there and just being himself in just the most amazing way.

How about other artists who are either performing or are nominees this year?

Leon Thomas, I’ve been playing his record a lot, so of course I know him. Karol G, I’ve been a fan of. Taylor Swift, of course, you know. New Kids, come on. You know, we’re talking a lot of people that I’m quite familiar with, and of course Billy Idol, like I just can’t wait to see him. Sabrina Carpenter is great, you know. I’ve gotten to see a lot of these performers perform at other shows, or on SNL or somewhere along the way. So I’m just excited to see them actually under one roof one night to see how they get down in Vegas.

Teyana Taylor is on fire, as you know, with an Oscar nomination, a Grammy nomination, just everything. It occurs to me that you are one of the people who paved the way for her and made her success possible.

Maybe I have seen her so much and so closely that it didn’t even occur to me to say her name, but I play her albums like religiously, like her music goes everywhere I go, and has for years, and everything she does, even if she’s opening up a nail salon in Harlem, she does everything with a certain style. She just did a collab with [Michael] Jordan, she gave me some sneakers, you know, we had the All-Star Game together, we were at a Tom Brown fashion show together.

I’ve been trying to support her, but, like, give her her space at the same time, because being nominated for every single thing in the world on the planet is not easy, and she has done it with such an amazing style and flair, and making it her own, which she always does, that I’ve just gotten to enjoy watching it all happen for her. But she knows I’m here if she ever needs to talk. All I’ve told her to do is just enjoy the moment, because this is not something that happens very often, so make sure you stop to enjoy this. Make sure you stop to just enjoy this thing, and not let it just all be the grind of what it is when it all happens, because it can be. It’s quite a grind, but it’s also a grind that you not might not see very often. You [should] actually have a party at one of these parties you’re at, enjoy it.

You’re doing The Voice this year. Have you started taping those episodes?

No, we haven’t started taping, but that’s going to come pretty soon. So the gears are grinding, the gears are grinding. I’m so elated about that, to be able to hear, I mean, I’m going to be like, ‘turn a chair’ and work with a bunch of great people, and be in one of my most comfortable spaces, which is around music. Leave me in music, and all roads lead back to music for me. Everything I’ve done in my career, it all started with music, and music goes along with me through everything that I do. I find some song that I can put on that can connect me to that thing or the feelings I may have at that moment. So, it all comes back to music. So, I’m really happy for it to come back to music on this one, and just the real music, like what this is, people’s dreams, you know, people have a dream, they have a gift, and they want to share it, and it’s always exciting to hear that, and to help it come to fruition, because people help me, and so I’ve always been one to want to help do the same thing.

OK, this has been great. You gave me just what I need. I thank you for taking the time.

What you got back there on those shelves?

CDs, from days of yore.

Oh man, I thought I had a lot of CDs. You got me beat.

Ella Langley and Cody Johnson dominated this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards trophy winners on Sunday night (May 17) in Las Vegas, with Johnson picking up both male artist of the year and entertainer of the year, while Langley took home the lion’s share of the accolades, with song and single of the year (for “Choosin’ Texas”), female artist of the year, artist-songwriter of the year, and musical event of the year (for the Riley Green collab “Don’t Mind If I Do”).

Parker McCollum took home album of the year, while The Red Clay Strays picked up group of the year and Brooks & Dunn won duo of the year. When it came to performances, more than a dozen performances were packed into just over two hours, highlighting both multi-ACM Award winners such as Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert, to newcomers including Tucker Wetmore and Carter Faith.

Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the stars came out to play, as the performances leaned heavily on newer song releases from artists including Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town, while there were also a plethora of ballads from artists including Dan + Shay, Carter Faith, and Riley Green.

Shania Twain hosted the awards ceremony, which was streamed again on Amazon Prime Video, and highlighted both established hitmakers and rising newcomers to the stage.

Billboard ranked every performance at Sunday night’s ACM Awards, counting down to the top performance.

The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

No one was surprised when Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” won single of the year or song of the year at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, which were presented at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday (May 17). The superbly crafted, universally relatable song is one of the biggest country crossover hits in history. It would have been a shock if it hadn’t won.

And many pundits figured The Red Clay Strays, Brooks & Dunn and Cody Johnson would repeat their CMA Awards win from Nov. 19 as group of the year, duo of the year and male artist of the year, respectively. Indeed, they all won here as well. The only handover in the top categories was female artist of the year. Lainey Wilson won in that category at the 2025 CMA Awards for the fourth year in a row. Langley took the award at the ACM Awards.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t some snubs and surprises among the results at the ACM Awards. It wouldn’t be an awards show without ’em.

Shania Twain hosted this year’s awards show, which was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show streamed live via Prime Video for the fifth consecutive year.

Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises at the 2026 ACM Awards.

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards have arrived, and they’re back in Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, after the last three years at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. They also have a brand-new host in country superstar Shania Twain, who’s taking over after repeat host Reba McEntire the past two years.

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But who will emerge the night’s biggest winner? Well, this year’s four most-nominated artists are all women: Megan Moroney leads with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert (eight) and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson (seven apiece). It’s the second year in a row that a female solo artist has led the nominations; Langley was out front last year with eight nods.

Billboard will be following along all night (and all over the Vegas show), so stick with us for the updating list of winners below.

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

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; Producers: 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; Producer: 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; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33

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

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

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; Producer: James Stratakis; Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos

WINNER: “Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.; Producer: Tim Cofield; Director: Tim Cofield

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Katie Babbage; Director: TK McKamy

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

Music Event of the Year

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Producer: 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; Producer: Dann Huff; 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; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

Songwriter of the Year

WINNER: Jessie Jo Dillon

Ashley Gorley

Charlie Handsome

Chase McGill

Blake Pendergrass

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

Luke Combs

Riley Green

WINNER: Ella Langley

Megan Moroney

Morgan Wallen

New Male Artist of the Year

Gavin Adcock

Vincent Mason

Shaboozey

Hudson Westbrook

WINNER: Tucker Wetmore

New Female Artist of the Year

WINNER: Avery Anna

Mackenzie Carpenter

Dasha

Caroline Jones

Emily Ann Roberts

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

Taylor Swift’s career-transforming 1989, Beyoncé’s iconic “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” José Feliciano’s perennial “Feliz Navidad,” Chaka Khan’s defining recording of Prince’s “I Feel for You” and the Broadway cast album to Chicago are among 25 selections newly added to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress, which oversees the Registry, announced this year’s additions early Thursday (May 14).

The Librarian of Congress, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, selects 25 titles for the Registry each year that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old. This year’s selections bring the number of titles on the honor roll to 700.

This year’s selections include three debut albums: Go-Go’sBeauty and the Beat, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s Texas Flood and Weezer’s Weezer (often called The Blue Album). Ric Ocacek, mastermind of The Cars, produced Weezer. The Cars’ own eponymous debut album (produced by Roy Thomas Baker) was inducted into the Registry two years ago.

Ray Charles becomes one of the few artists with two inductions in the Registry. His groundbreaking 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was saluted this year. His 1959 hit “What I’d Say (Part I & II)” was one of the inaugural selections in 2002. (On Modern Sounds, a pop and R&B legend proved he was also adept at country music. On 1989, a top country star made a bold midcareer pivot to pop.)

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Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” was cited this year, eight years after Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint was inducted. The Carters are one of the few married couples with recordings in the Registry.

This year’s selections include three singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season),” Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” They also include three albums that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Beauty and the Beat and 1989.

The roster includes a Grammy-winning album of the year (1989) and another landmark album that was nominated for that award (Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music); a Grammy-winning song of the year (“Single Ladies”) and releases by three acts who were Grammy-nominated for best new artist (The Byrds, Go-Go’s and Swift).

Rosanne Cash’s The Wheel was honored 23 years after voters chose her father Johnny Cash’s 1968 album Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. The Registry says this is the first time a father and daughter have both been selected.

Producers Tony Brown and Don Costa are each represented with two of this year’s selections. Brown produced Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on that Mountain” and co-produced Reba McEntire’s Rumor Has It with McEntire. Costa produced Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and arranged and conducted Kaye Ballard’s “In Other Words,” the first recording of the future standard “Fly Me to the Moon.” (Yes, that is the same Kaye Ballard who was a sitcom star and game and talk show regular in the 1960s and ’70s.)

Fun Fact: Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 for three weeks in 1959. It was kept out of the top spot by another smash that was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2015, Bobby Darin’s all-timer “Mack the Knife.” Anka, 84, received a BMI Icon Award on Tuesday (May 12), less than two days before this announcement, proving that it’s a good idea to stick around for awhile.

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Spike Jones and His City Slickers’ “Cocktails for Two,” a madcap 1944 rendition of the Duke Ellington classic from 1934, becomes one of the few comedy/novelty singles to make the Registry. Others include Allan Sherman’s 1963 hit “Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp).”

Bobby Prince’s soundtrack for the video game Doom was selected, marking the third time video game music has been honored. Koji Kondon’s theme from Super Mario Brothers and Daniel Rosenfield’s music for Minecraft were the first two video game soundtracks inducted, in 2023 and 2025, respectively. 

“Your Love,” the house music classic released in 1986 by Jamie Principle and again the following year in a remix with Frankie Knuckles, was inducted. The song ranked No. 5 on Billboard’s 2025 staff list of The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time.

Fight fans will be glad to know that “The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier,” a broadcast of the boxers’ March 8, 1971 showdown at Madison Square Garden, was honored. A broadcast about a headline-making bout from a generation earlier, the Joe Louis/Max Schmeling fight on June 22, 1938 at Yankee Stadium, was previously inducted.

“Music and recorded sound are essential, wonderful parts of our daily lives and our national heritage,” acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen said in a statement. “The National Recording Registry works to preserve our national playlist for generations to come.”

“The sweep and diversity of the National Recording Registry class of 2026 beautifully captures the scope of the American experience as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board, said in a statement. “From icons of R&B to a holiday favorite en Español, from a legendary sports broadcast to this generation’s superstars, it is a thrilling reflection of America at its best.”

The public made more than 3,000 nominations this year. Weezer was among the most nominated selections. The public can submit nominations throughout the year on the Library’s website. Nominations for next year will be accepted until Oct. 1.

Here are the 2026 selections for the National Recording Registry. They are listed in chronological order of their release. The paragraph with the subhead LOC says: was provided by the Library of Congress. We share those with you, unedited, to give you insight into the Library’s rationale for each selection.


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