Shania Twain Ignites the 2026 ACM Awards With a Fierce Salute to Country’s Sheroes

Shania Twain ran point at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas and used the gig to tip her hat to the women who built the stage she was standing on. It was her first time hosting the ACMs, but she came in hot, sentimental, and just a little chaotic in that fun, Shania way.

The setup

The show went down Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Twain, 60, opened by thanking Vegas, congratulating Lainey Wilson on getting married the previous Sunday, and basically admitting she could not sit still if she tried. She also shouted out the room full of stars up front and the fact that, yes, the ACMs made Vegas their home base this year — which she clearly loved.

A nod to the trailblazers

Early on, Twain paid tribute to the women who hosted before her, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire. Class move, and honestly, the right one — because if you are taking over a job Reba has done 18 times, you acknowledge the queen.

"I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home. 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."

That was Twain in an April preview of what she wanted the night to feel like. The ACMs backed her up, too. CEO Damon Whiteside called her the perfect follow-up to Dolly, Garth Brooks, and Reba, and reminded everyone she is not just a host — she has history on that stage, from Entertainer of the Year to the ACM Poet's Award for her songwriting.

How she approached it

In the days before the show, Twain told Billboard she was mostly excited to reconnect — both with longtime friends and a bunch of newer artists she has not actually met yet. She also admitted she is not a teleprompter person. If she reads it straight, she trips. So she leans into personality, keeps it loose, and feeds off the live energy. That tracks if you have ever seen her work a crowd.

The Reba factor

Twain was open about taking cues from McEntire — who, at 71, has this hosting thing down to muscle memory. Reba is precise and theatrical; Shania is more spur-of-the-moment. Different flavors, same goal: keep the night moving and fun. Her words, not mine: Reba is everything — funny, an ace performer, and a pro at rhythm and flow on live TV.

Receipts: Shania's ACM record

• 5 ACM Awards, 14 career nominations
• 1996: Top New Female Vocalist; Album of the Year for 'The Woman in Me'
• 1999: Double Diamond Award for 'The Woman in Me' and 'Come On Over'
• 2000: Entertainer of the Year
• 2022: Poet's Award (honoring her songwriting)

Bottom line: Twain made her ACM hosting debut feel like a reunion, a handoff, and a little bit of a victory lap. She honored the legends, embraced the chaos of live TV on her own terms, and planted the show firmly in Vegas for a night built around big performances and a lot of women at the front of the pack. That is a win.