Plus: Brad Paisley’s got new music, and CMA Fest week just added another must-do stop.

If you missed it, the Academy of Country Music Awards went down Sunday, May 17, 2026, streaming live on Prime Video (and Amazon Music’s Twitch). The big headline: Ella Langley had a huge night, and Cody Johnson took home Entertainer of the Year. That’s a pretty solid one-two punch for fans who like their country loud, proud, and built for big stages.

Staying on the “mark your calendar” train: Spotify just confirmed Spotify House is back for CMA Fest, taking over Ole Red in downtown Nashville June 4–6. If you’re heading to town for Fest week, it’s three straight days of country sets and pop-up moments—basically the kind of lineup you want in your back pocket when you’re bouncing around Broadway.

Now for the new-music lane: Brad Paisley dropped a fresh one called “Fallin’,” and it’s the first taste of an ongoing project he’s calling Tacklebox. On top of that, his “BRAD PAISLEY LIVE” tour added new dates—so if you’ve been waiting to catch him this year, your odds just got better.

And for the industry side, the CMA and Disney extended their relationship through 2032. Translation: a long runway for big-picture country TV moments and CMA’s broader projects, with that partnership locked in for the rest of the decade.

Sources

• Associated Press — Ella Langley dominates the ACM Awards; Cody Johnson wins entertainer of the year
• Spotify Newsroom — Spotify House returns to CMA Fest (June 4–6)
• Live Nation Newsroom — “BRAD PAISLEY LIVE” tour adds dates; new song “Fallin’” from Tacklebox
• CMA — CMA and Disney extend relationship through 2032