Cody Johnson is the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year. Johnson beat out Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson to win the night’s highest honor at the 2026 ACM Awards.
Johnson began his speech by recalling a memory in his early childhood, one that hinted at the superstar career he would one day have.
“I remember my mom walked in my roon, and I had this little microphone, and it was duct-taped to the side of my bunkbed,” Johnson recalls. He adds that he also had a guitar with no strings, but he vividly remembers singing Rick Trevino’s 1996 single, “Learning As You Go.”
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is be in front of a crowd and entertain,” Johnson says. “Every night on stage, I get to stand in arenas like this. They say that music is the sound of emotion, and I get to use my platform to not only promote positivity in this country and in the world, all over the world. I get to use it to make you feel emotions that I feel, whether we’re crying, whether we’re laughing, whether we’re happy or sad. I get to convey that through this thing that God gave me called music. It’s the greatest drug that has ever been introduced on planet earth.”
Johnson goes on to say that when he is home, he leaves his phone off, and focuses on being the best husband, father, and cattle rancher that he can be. But when he is on the road, he is fully focused on his fans.
“As soon as I step on the jet, as soon as I step on the bus, all I look forward to is seeing you, because I can’t wait to see you on that stage, so we can experience those emotions together,” he says.
View this post on Instagram
Cody Johnson Dedicates His Entertainer of the Year Award to Luke Combs
In a surprising move, Johnson dedicated his Entertainer of the Year trophy to another artist: Luke Combs.
“There’s a man that was up for this award, that I personally watched devote his life to country music,” Johnson shares. “I was there the night in Australia when his wife gave birth to one of their sons. And I watched the anguish, and I watched the defeat on his face for not being there, because he was across the world playing music in a sold-out arena. The next night, right after, I watched him get on stage and absolutely murder the stage, and go on stage and play country music and preach the message of country music to a bunch of Australians across the world.
“So, tonight I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy, Luke Combs,” he adds. “I love you, brother.”
Cody Johnson Wins the ACM Award for Male Artist of the Year.
The Entertainer of the Year award isn’t the only one Johnson won throughout the evening. The father of three also won the trophy for Male Artist of the Year. Johnson beat out Combs, Riley Green, Chris Stapleton, and Zach Top to win in that category.
“Without sounding too cliché, I will say, the ride has been worth the fall,” Johnson says. “I have been in so many places in my life that I shouldn’t even be on this stage. Without the grace and the mercy and the forgiveness of Jesus, I wouldn’t be here tonight. My wife, Brandi, at home with our kids, has stood beside me for 17 years, even sometimes when I gave her no reason to. But she believed in this crazy bullrider prison guard that wanted to play music and sing. So baby, I love you. Thank you so much. … Most of all, thank you to every country music fan that makes this possible. I love each and every one of you.”
Photo Credit: ACM / Brian Friedman