2026 ACM Awards: Cody Johnson pays tribute to Luke Combs after big win
Key takeaways
- The emotional victory marked Johnson’s first win in the prestigious category after previously being nominated twice before.
- “There’s a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music,” Johnson told the crowd.
- “I watched the anguish, I watched the defeat on his face for not being there,” Johnson said.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize Cody Johnson took home the biggest award of the night at the 2026 ACM Awards, winning Entertainer of the Year during the ceremony held Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The emotional victory marked Johnson’s first win in the prestigious category after previously being nominated twice before. But instead of focusing solely on his own achievement, the country star used his acceptance speech to honor fellow nominee Luke Combs in a heartfelt moment that surprised fans and drew applause from the audience.
“There’s a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music,” Johnson told the crowd. He then recalled touring with Combs in Australia in 2023, when the singer missed the birth of one of his sons because of his concert commitments overseas.