Cody Johnson Snags ACM Entertainer of the Year Award

Cody Johnson won his very first Entertainer of the Year award at the ACM Awards on Sunday night (May 17), and it sounds like he wasn’t betting on himself.

The “Dirt Cheap” hitmaker joked (but no really) that he used up his thank you speech in winning Male Artist of the Year earlier in the night, so he didn’t really have much to say. His improvisation might have been the night’s highlight.

Related: Here Are All the Winners From the 2026 ACM Awards [Full List]

First, here is who Johnson topped for the ACM Entertainer of the Year:

Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

After talking about how music is the best drug ever produced and how he feels fortunate to be able to promote positivity with his songs night after night, Johnson paid tribute to his wife — seen crying some distance away from the stage — and admitted he’ll always be a family man first.

“I just want you all to know that when I go home, I take my phone and turn it face down. When I go home, I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m a cattle rancher,” he says.

“And as soon as I step on the jet, as soon as I step on the bus, all I look forward to is seeing you again, because I can’t wait to get back on that stage so we can experience those emotions together.”

What came next was truly special. Johnson dedicated his award to Combs, who wasn’t in the audience to see it. He recalled being with the hitmaker in Australia when he missed the birth of his child, and seeing the anguish on his face.

“And the very next night, I watched him get on stage and absolutely crush it — to go out there and play country music and preach its message to a crowd of Australians halfway across the world,” he recalled.

The award was Johnson’s second ACM of the night. Ella Langley won the most with five awards, including Female Artist of the Year.