Shania Twain Is About to Make the ACM Awards the Most Glam Night of the Year — Here's How

Shania Twain is finally doing something she has somehow never done: host the ACM Awards. And she is very aware of the moment. Ahead of Sunday night, the country icon sounded equal parts amped and reflective — bucket lists, Vegas glam, horses, the whole thing.

Shania takes the mic (and the reins)

At 60, Twain is stepping in to host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards for the first time, taking the baton from Reba McEntire. Fittingly, the gig lands exactly 30 years after Shania won her first ACMs in 1996. She told reporters from Us Weekly, McClatchy outlets, and USA Today that she sees the job as representing the genre and keeping the night fun and comfortable for the artists — which is very her.

"This is the biggest gig of my life."

That was the headline sentiment. The runner-up: she joked that her bucket list now includes more time with her horses, ideally on a beach. Hosting may be the dream-come-true line item, but she is not letting the horse agenda go.

What to expect Sunday

Twain promised Vegas energy to match the setting at MGM Grand Garden Arena: lots of polish, lots of spectacle. With women leading the nomination count for the second year in a row, she also expects the red carpet and onstage looks to swing a little higher fashion — and, let’s be honest, Vegas loves a costume change.

Why this one matters

Beyond the milestone hosting debut and her 30-year ACM anniversary, Twain’s in what she calls a period of mental liberation after a long stretch of work, personal loss, and public scrutiny about her body. In a March 2025 cover story, she laid out the framework she is clearly taking into this show: originality over perfection, conviction over second-guessing. Live is messy by design, and that is the point — you are not there to hear the record again, you are there to see people perform. She also framed artists, herself included, as working entertainers first, trophies and spotlights or not. That is a healthy way to run an awards night.

The night, at a glance

• What: 61st Academy of Country Music Awards (hosted by Shania Twain, for the first time)
• When: Sunday, May 17, 2026, live at 8 p.m. ET
• Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
• How to watch: Streaming on Prime Video; also on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel and the Amazon Music app
• Context: Women top the nominations for the second straight year; expect a few shake-ups and probably a fashion arms race

Final lap

Twain keeps calling this a bucket-list moment, and it shows. She is hosting in a year when the women of country are once again leading the board, in a city built for sparkle, at the exact moment she has decided to ditch perfection and double down on authenticity. That is a strong recipe for a lively show — and yes, probably several excellent outfits.