The Academy Of Country Music Celebrates Honorees At 19th Annual ACM Honors

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Leslie Fram accepts the Lift Every Voice Award onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

The 19th Annual ACM Honors took place last night (Aug. 19) at The Pinnacle in Nashville, raising over $65,000 for ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music.

Carly Pearce returned for the sixth consecutive year as the evening’s host, joined by Parker McCollum, who co-hosted the event for the first time. The evening’s special honorees included Bill Anderson, Brett James, C2C: Country to Country, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Paramount+ hit TV series Landman, Leslie Fram, Mike Curb and Scott Zolke.

The ceremony also celebrated previously announced ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year Ella Langley, ACM Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon, as well as the ACM Studio Recording Award and Industry Award winners from the 61st ACM Awards cycle.

David Kells accepts the Arena of the Year Award on behalf of the Bridgestone Arena onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Hosts Pearce and McCollum kicked off the evening with a special tribute performance to ACM Poet’s Award recipient Dolly Parton. The duo covered Parton’s beloved hits including the Kenny Rogers duet “Islands in the Stream,” and then Pearce, Kaitlin Butts and Carter Faith performed “9 to 5.” Later in the evening, Pearce performed “Whiskey Lullaby” while McCollum additionally sang “Solid Country Gold” in honor of C2C: Country to Country.

Dylan Scott then took the stage for a mashup of McGraw’s “Don’t Take The Girl,” with his own hit “My Girl” before presenting Curb with the ACM Icon Award. Trisha Yearwood performed “Every Girl In This Town,” then honored Leslie Fram with the ACM Lift Every Voice Award. Gavin Adcock also performed his song “Winner at Losing” and Mark Collie and Flatland Cavalry performed “Midland After Midnight” in honor of the TV hit Landman.

Margo Price and Logan Ledger joined forces for a version of “Coal Miner’s Blues/Ring of Fire” in honor of The Carter Family. Prior to the Carter Family coming onstage to accept the award, Brenda Lee made an appearance and encouraged the crowd in a sing along of her beloved classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” before the Carter Family joined her in singing “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By),” a Carter Family song.

Margo Price and Logan Ledger perform onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Sheryl Crow celebrated Church by performing his fan-favorite hit “Drink in My Hand.” Before presenting Church with his award Crow shared, “I’ve known Eric for years, and one of the things I’ve always admired about him is the way he goes about life. He’s incredibly humble, he lets his music speak for itself, and he’s always been someone who gives back without looking for recognition in return. He’s a truly remarkable human being, and I’m so proud to call him a friend.”

Faith gave a riveting tribute to Musgraves, performing the breakthrough hit “Merry Go ’Round,” and Big Kenny delivered an exuberant rendition of “I Fought the Law” as an introduction to his presenting entertainment attorney Zolke with the ACM Service Award.

Dierks Bentley delivered a powerhouse performance of “I Hold On” in tribute to his longtime friend James before presenting James’ sons with the ACM Poet’s Award. Before singing Bentley spoke about the writing process with James and how he cherished their time writing together but their friendship even more saying, “His friendship was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.”

Reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year recipient Avery Anna, Butts and Gabriella Rose teamed up for a medley of Langley’s hits “weren’t for the wind,” “Choosin’ Texas,” and “Be Her” as an introduction to her ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year honor. Megan Moroney offered up a performance of “Beautiful Things” before presenting Dillon with the ACM Songwriter of the Year honor, with Zach John King rounding out the evening, closing with a performance of “Get To Drinkin’.”

Gordon Mote accepts the Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year Award onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Bill Anderson accepts the ACM Icon Award from Carly Pearce onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Dann Huff accepts the award for Producer of the Year onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Zach John King performs onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Eric Church poses backstage with Taylor Wolf and John Hickman after accepting the ACM Lifting Lives Award during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

Trisha Yearwood performs onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM 

Megan Moroney and Jessie Jo Dillon are seen backstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM

Lorie Hollabaugh
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