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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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Conan O’Brien will return to host the Oscars broadcast for the third year in a row, and Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will return as the show’s executive producers for the fourth consecutive year. O’Brien will become the first person to host the Oscars three years in a row since Billy Crystal, who hosted the show four years running from 1990-93.

O’Brien received good marks for his two previous Oscars hosting stints, but nothing is assured in the world of awards shows. Kapoor made a host switch on two other upcoming shows he’s executive producing – from Reba McEntire to Shania Twain on the Academy of Country Music Awards, set for May 17, and from Cynthia Erivo to P!nk on the Tony Awards, set for June 7.

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“Getting to reunite with Conan O’Brien for a third year at the Oscars is really special,” Kapoor and Mullan said in a joint statement. “He brings that signature humor everyone loves, along with a real warmth and generosity that carry through the entire show. He’s a true creative partner, someone we trust completely, and someone who makes the whole process genuinely fun, both behind the scenes and on stage. We’re incredibly grateful to keep building this together and can’t wait to share what’s next.”

The 99th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show will be televised live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu.

O’Brien is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan. Currently, O’Brien hosts the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast and the HBO travel show Conan O’Brien Must Go. He has won six Primetime Emmys and earned 33 nominations, including a nomination for his work on the Oscars.

Kapoor has earned nine Emmy Award nominations and won Emmys for his work on the 96th Oscars and for executive producing Adele‘s Adele: One Night Only, which won as outstanding variety special (pre-recorded). Kapoor’s credits also include The Grammy Awards, ACM Awards, Latin Grammys and The Emmy Awards.

Mullan is an executive producer, showrunner and partner of the global live event production company Done + Dusted. She earned two Emmy nominations for her work on the Oscars and won for the 96th Oscars show.

Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a third time, and Sweeney will also serve as a writer.

The Los Angeles Press Club announced finalists for the 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards and Billboard has received seven nominations.

For more than we 60 years, the L.A. Press Club’s SoCal Journalism Awards has been “calling attention to LA’s fine journalists while promoting excellence in new and emerging media.” Every year, the press club honors journalists across print, audio, television and online platforms in categories spanning everything from faith reporting to hard news, cultural criticism to photography and graphic design. This year, Billboard is nominated across two photography, three feature and one entertainment news categories.

In the category of Portrait Photo, Entertainment Heather Hazzan, Grayson Khos, Jenny Sargent and Samantha Xu received a nod for their portraits of Gracie Abrams for the April 19, 2025 issue of Billboard‘s print magazine. Joe Pugliese, Jenny Sargent and Samantha Xu are up for Entertainment Photo, Single Image for a photograph of June 2025 Billboard “Indie Power Players” cover star ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.

Billboard snagged two nominations in the Feature, Entertainment (Over 1,000 Words) category. Billboard’s executive editor, features Rebecca Milzoff is up for her story “‘Weird Al’ Yankovic on His Unexpected Longevity, Biggest Tour Ever & Creative Freedom: ‘Nobody Owns Any Piece of Me’” from the same “Indie Power Players” issue as the nominated photograph of Weird Al. Meanwhile, executive editor, West Coast/country Melinda Newman is nominated for “Welcome to Koe Country,” her March 2025 cover story on country singer Koe Wetzel ahead of last year’s SXSW.

Staff writer Michael Saponara is nominated for his story “Country Power Players Innovator: BigXThaPlug” in the Feature (Under 1,000) category. Closing out the nominations in feature categories, staff writer Hannah Dailey is up in Entertainment Feature, Theater/Performing Arts Related for “Meet the College Marching Bands Who Play Hits By Chappell Roan, Tyler, the Creator & More.” Finally, Billboard contributor Sophie Dunne received a nod in the Culture News, Events category for her Coachella report “Coachella 2025 Expands ‘Soberchella’ With More Non-Alcoholic Options Than Ever.”

The winners of the 68th annual Southern California Journalism Awards will be announced on Sunday June 28. See the full list of this year’s finalists here.

Nettwerk Music Group co-founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Libera Awards, to be held on Monday, June 8, at the historic Gotham Hall in New York City. The recognition celebrates their four-decade commitment to artist development, innovation and leadership within the global independent music sector.

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The 15th annual Libera Awards (officially, The Libera Awards Presented By Merlin) are presented by the Foundation for Independent Music (FIM), with support from the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).

“Terry and Mark have been true mavericks and innovators in the independent music sector the past 40 years,” Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM, said in a statement. “Their tireless work supporting a diverse array of artists through their label, management, publishing and various non-profits has been an inspiration to generations of independent musicians and industry members. We are honored to recognize their extraordinary work with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Now in its 40th year, Nettwerk Music Group has become one of the world’s most influential independent music companies. As CEO, McBride has long been a champion of artist empowerment and digital innovation. Beyond Nettwerk, he co-founded the groundbreaking Lilith Fair, which raised more than $10 million for women’s charities, and has continued to expand his impact through ventures in wellness and industry advocacy.

Jowett, a founding partner of Nettwerk, has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s evolution into a global, multi-faceted organization spanning recorded music, artist management and publishing. His work has helped support artists including Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Dido and Sum 41, while also contributing to the broader industry through leadership roles with organizations such as FACTOR, SOCAN and the Canadian Music Publishers Association.

The organizers also announced four performers for the show, three of whom are 2026 Libera Awards nominees. The announced performers are Nigerian Tuareg guitar innovator Mdou Moctax, nominated for best global record for Tears of Injustice (Matador Records); singer-songwriter Valerie June, nominated for best American roots record for Owls, Omens, and Oracles (Concord Records); Dawn Richard, a previous Libera Award winner, nominated for best R&B record for “A Flex” (Merge Records); and eclectic synth-pop artist PORCHES.

This year’s ceremony will feature 38 categories highlighting the best in independent music, including, for the first time, independent record store of the year. This year’s top artist nominees are Oklou, Geese, Clipse, Hayley Williams and Wednesday.

The event will once again be hosted by Delisa Shannon, Billboard’s short form content director. Tickets, which begin at $369.70, are on sale at the A2IM site.

The Libera Awards will once again kick off the Indie Week conference, which begins the following morning, Tuesday, June 9, and runs through Thursday, June 11, at the InterContinental New York Times Square.


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The Gold Gala returned to Los Angeles for its fifth edition on Saturday (May 9).

Held at downtown L.A.’s The Music Center, the annual event brought together celebrities and leaders from across industries to honor impactful Asian Pacific and multicultural changemakers.

Among the attendees were EJAE, Bowen Yang, Hayley Kiyoko, H.E.R., GIRLSET, Halsey, Simu Liu, Charles Melton, Eileen Gu, Jet Li, Chloé Zhao, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. The gala celebrated Gold House’s 2026 Gold100 List, recognizing the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders of the past year.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas received the inaugural Global vanguard honor, while Beef season two star Charles Melton was presented with the Gold artistic achievement honor. Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu earned the Gold impact award, and Avengers: Doomsday star Simu Liu received the Gold mogul award. Martial arts icon, actor and philanthropist Jet Li was honored with the Gold legend award.

H.E.R. at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

H.E.R. at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Chad Salvador/WWD

During the event, Hayley Kiyoko performed “Girls Like Girls” alongside ARKAI and Lindsey Stirling ahead of the release of her directorial debut. H.E.R. and actress Liza Soberano also shared an exclusive first look at their upcoming movie, Forgotten Island.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety

The Gold Gala was followed by the Billboard x Gold House Founders Party, which featured performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Nymphia Wind and Plastique Tiara, along with a DJ set from Mortal Kombat II star Joe Taslim.

The afterparty also included a Maybelline New York-sponsored celebrity karaoke room, where KPop Demon Hunters filmmaker Maggie Kang teamed up with actors Ross Butler and Saagar Shaikh to belt out Linkin Park’s “In the End.”

Hayley Kiyoko at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Hayley Kiyoko at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Chad Salvador/WWD

Ahead of the 2026 Gold Gala, Billboard caught up with several stars to hear about their favorite cultural foods. Hayley Kiyoko recommended trying the Japanese hot pot dish sukiyaki, while H.E.R. shouted out the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo. Priyanka Chopra Jonas suggested Indian chutney, and Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and husband Mark Hoying recommended traditional Filipino rice cake.

See more stars in attendance at the 2026 Gold Gala below.

Camila Ribeaux Valdes, Kendall Ebeling, Lexi Vang and Savanna Collins of GIRLSET at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Camila Ribeaux Valdes, Kendall Ebeling, Lexi Vang and Savanna Collins of GIRLSET at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety

Halsey at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Halsey at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Chad Salvador/WWD


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The roster of recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame always spans genres and generations, so it stands to reason that the annual Grammy Hall of Fame gala is a diverse and eclectic program.

The performances at the third annual gala, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on Friday (May 8), ranged from Josh Groban singing “Brucia La Terra,” the Sicilian-language version of the lushly romantic love theme from The Godfather, to Funkadelic mastermind George Clinton, joined by Erykah Badu and the group’s guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight, performing “Maggot Brain” and “Can You Get to That,” the first two tracks from the group’s 1971 album, Maggot Brain.

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Broadcast journalist Anthony Mason once again hosted the event. Fourteen recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, though only seven were spotlighted with live performances.

Heart, Lucinda Williams and Clinton each performed songs from their classic albums that were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, while in other cases, artists covered songs that were inducted. Take 6 performed the Soul Stirrers’ 1951 gospel classic “Jesus Gave Me Water.” Taylor Hanson performed Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon,” the title track from his 1972 album. Isabel Marie performed Selena’s “No Me Queda Mas” from her 1994 album, Amor Prohibido.

In addition, Norah Jones performed a two-song set as she received the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, and Teddy Swims and Groban each performed two songs as part of a tribute to Warner Records, this year’s label honoree.

Other inducted recordings, not otherwise mentioned in this report, were: 2Pac‘s All Eyez on Me, Radiohead’s OK Computer, Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full, Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidanada, The Rouse Brothers’ “Orange Blossom Special” and Bertha “Chippie” Hill’s “Trouble in Mind.”

The show was produced by former Grammy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich, alongside Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo and Lynne Sheridan, with musical direction by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara.

Here are eight highlights from the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala.

Bryan Adams makes his second trip to YouTube Music’s Billion Views Club, this time with “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You.”

The Canadian singer-songwriter passes the billion views milestone with performance video for “I Do It For You,” the 1991 ballad that soundtracked Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

“I Do It For You” was an unstoppable hit following its release, much like the film it was connected to. It’s one of Adams’ four titles to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for seven weeks — by some margin the longest reign by Adams on the national singles survey.

Across the Atlantic, “I Do It For You” enjoyed a fairytale run on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, which included an historic 16-week reign, all of it consecutive. No other song in OCC history has enjoyed a longer stretch at No. 1.

The song led-off Adams’s Waking Up the Neighbours, which topped the Official U.K. Albums Chart, the ARIA Chart, and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200. 

The action-adventure film from which “I Do It For You” was synced was a box office success, coming in at No. 2 among the year’s highest-grossing films with $390 million, behind the sci-fi masterpiece Terminator 2: Judgment Day with $520 million, and comprehensively trounced, at the box office at least, the critically-acclaimed, Patrick Bergin-starring Robin Hood, also released in 1991.

Adams first entered YouTube’s Billion Views Club with another ballad, 1993’s “Please Forgive Me.”

“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” was written by Adams, Robert “Mutt” Lange and Michael Kamen. Its official black and white video was filmed in Miami, Florida 1992, directed by Andy Morahan, and can be seen in full below.

Brandi Carlile is the newest inductee into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

The 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, producer and performer will be elevated during the ACL Hall of Fame induction and taping on July 1, with Bonnie Raitt on hand to induct Carlile. Raitt, who was inducted in 2016, will also perform a tribute on the night.

“Being inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame by one of my absolute heroes — Bonnie Raitt — means everything to me,” comments Carlile in a statement. “I’m so grateful to have had such a deep and powerful connection to the city of Austin and Austin City Limits all these years — and I cannot wait to hit the Moody stage in July to celebrate this immense honor.”

Adds Raitt: “I’m thrilled to induct my friend Brandi into the ACL Hall of Fame. She is truly one of our most respected and impactful artists. I admire her not only for her incredible music, but for standing up for the causes and artists she’s passionate about, all while balancing her wonderful family life. I can’t wait to get to perform together for this show that has meant so much to us both.”

The 12th Annual ACL Hall of Fame will be presented at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, Texas.  Highlights, including performances and speeches, will be packaged for an hour-long broadcast during Season 52 of Austin City Limits, premiering this September on PBS, and available to stream online and via the PBS App.

Established in 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame recognizes artists who’ve played a defining role in the series’ half-century legacy. Honorees have included Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lucinda Williams, Roy Orbison, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, and last year’s inductee Garth Brooks.

Carlile has “deep roots at ACL” and is a frequent presence at the ACL Hall of Fame, reads a statement announcing her special night. Also, Carlile handed induction honors for Sheryl Crow in 2022 and has delivered three standout appearances: in 2010 (Season 36), 2018 (Season 44) and 2022 (Season 48).

Across a two-decade-plus career, Carlile has landed 10 titles on the Billboard 200 chart, including five top 10s.  At the back end of 2025, Carlile broke the record for most No. 1’s by a woman on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, as her latest album Returning to Myself debuts atop the Nov. 8-dated tally. Earlier this year, Carlile performed “America the Beautiful” during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, and presented the Innovator Award to Laufey at Billboard Women In Music 2026.

“When Brandi Carlile first stepped onto the ACL stage more than 15 years ago, it was immediately clear she possessed a rare and singular talent,” says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “The moment you hear her voice, you know exactly who it is. She will always have a home here at ACL, and now she takes her well-deserved place in the ACL Hall of Fame. Having Bonnie Raitt there to welcome her into the fold makes the occasion all the more special.”

Austin City Limits and the ACL Hall of Fame are produced by Austin PBS.

Avery Anna, who was named the Academy of Country Music Awards’ new female artist of the year on Tuesday (April 28), ahead of the 61st annual ACM Awards on May 17, is a fast-rising 22-year-old singer from Flagstaff, Arizona.

She is signed to Warner Music Nashville, for whom she has released two full-length albums, Breakup Over Breakfast and Let Go Letters, and two EPs: Mood Swings and forgive, forget. She co-wrote all 17 songs on Breakup Over Breakfast, which features collaborations with Parmalee, Dylan Marlowe, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna. She also co-wrote and was featured on Sam Barber’s hit “Indigo,” which reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.She has served as an opening act on tours by Josh Turner, Parmalee and Martina McBride.

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She joins a very impressive list of winners in the new female artist of the year category, which has been presented in all but seven years since the ACM Awards got underway in 1966. Shania Twain, who is set to host this year’s show, won the award in 1996. Each of the top four nominees for this year’s ACM Awards – Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson – is a past winner in the category. Other past winners include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini and Ashley McBryde. And that’s just in this century. Pre-2000 winners include Barbara Mandrell, Tanya Tucker, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt, Crystal Gayle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes.

Here are five things to know about Avery Anna.