The greatest to ever do it.
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced its special honorees for the 19th annual ACM Honors Awards back in June, which will be taking place on Wednesday, August 19th, at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Returning for her sixth straight year, Carly Pearce will host the star-studded night alongside reigning Album of the Year winner, Parker McCollum.
The concept of ACM Honors, unlike the ACM Awards, highlights an artist’s individual performance, album or event, it awards recipients for their impact on the genre at large in a multitude of different categories, including the Poet’s Award, International Award, Spirit Award, Lifting Lives Award and many more.
Given his long history of charity and philanthropy, Eric Church is receiving the 2026 ACM Lifting Lives Award. In particular, the ACM highlighted his massive effort in the wake of the Hurricane Helene, which included co-organizing the Concert for Carolina with Luke Combs, donating all royalties from his single, “Darkest Hour,” and continuing to remain active in the rebuilding of North Carolina. Additionally, the Academy would also point to his non-profit, Chief Cares, which has given millions in support, including helping orphanages in Nepal, relief efforts in Haiti, and humane society no-kill shelters.
The late, great Brett James, who tragically died in an airplane crash this past September, is set to posthumously receive the Poet’s Award alongside The Carter Family for their songwriting careers. James, in particular, wrote a laundry list of smash hits, including the likes of Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” Jessica Andrew’s “Who I Am,” Kenny Chesney’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” Jason Aldean’s “The Truth” and many more.
The ACM Spirit Award, which was inspired by Merle Haggard and is “presented to an honoree that exemplifies Merle’s dedication to country music and passion for storytelling,” will go to none other than Kacey Musgraves. Musgraves, a 7x time ACM Award winner and 8x Grammy winner, is fresh off her most successful album to date, Middle of Nowhere, which debuted at #3 all-genre back in May.
Taylor Sheridan’s hit show, Landman, is also being honored, receiving the ACM Film Award. Of course, this is thanks to its killer soundtrack that features the likes of Turnpike Troubadours, Colter Wall, George Strait, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, The Red Clay Strays and many more.
As for the Icon Award, “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson and Mike Curb will be honored thanks to their roles across a plethora of different avenues throughout the decades. For Anderson, he co-wrote the likes of George Strait’s “Give It Away,” Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby” and Kenny Chesney’s “A Lot of Things Different” and is also known for being an acclaimed author, television personality and radio personality. For Curb, he is the founder and owner of Curb Records. Since entering the music industry in the 1960s, Curb has worked with the likes of Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna Judd, Hank Williams Jr. and many more. Additionally, he co-wrote hits and themes for countless major films and television series, including films starring Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson and more.
And today, it was announced that there will be a special tribute to the icon herself, Mrs. Dolly Parton, as she will be honored with the ACM Poet’s Award, and while she unfortunately will not be there in-person, Dolly will accept the honor via a special video message which I’m sure we’ll all get to see.
You don’t need me to tell you how influential Dolly has been on this genre, and it’s more than deserved, obviously:
The Academy says Dolly is being recognized for her “extraordinary, decades-long impact as one of country music’s most gifted and influential songwriters”:
“Dolly Parton is receiving the ACM Poet’s Award in recognition of her extraordinary, decades-long impact as one of Country Music’s most gifted and influential songwriters. A 13-time ACM Award recipient, Parton’s relationship with the Academy spans generations. She has also hosted the ACM Awards three times, further cementing her place as one of the genre’s most beloved and enduring figures.”
Dolly has of course won many awards for her classic songs over the years, and she has been nominated multiple times in the ACM Song of the Year category, including for “You’re the Only One,” “9 to 5” and “When I Get Where I’m Going,” underscoring the lasting power of her songwriting within Country Music. From “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors” to “I Will Always Love You,” Parton has “written with honesty, heart and unmatched storytelling power, creating songs that have shaped the culture of country music and continue to resonate far beyond genre lines.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself…
They also announced a ton of performers set to take the stage that evening, including Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Dierks Bentley, Dylan Scott, Gabriella Rose, Gavin Adcock, Kaitlin Butts, Mark Collie, Margo Price, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum and Trisha Yearwood.
Additionally, Ella Langley, who broke the record this year by winning seven trophies at the 61st ACM Awards, will be honored at the ceremony for her first-career Artist-Songwriter win, in particular.
Other honorees include the likes of Scott Zolke for the Service Award, Leslie Fram for the Lift Every Voice Award, the festival, C2C: Country to Country, for the International Award and Jessie Jo Dillon for Songwriter of the Year.
Full List of ACM Honors Recipients
- POET’S AWARD – Brett James and The Carter Family
- INTERNATIONAL AWARD – C2C: Country to Country
- FILM AWARD –Landman
- ICON AWARD – Bill Anderson and Mike Curb
- SPIRIT AWARD – Kacey Musgraves
- SERVICE AWARD – Scott Zolke
- LIFTING LIVES AWARD – Eric Church
- LIFT EVERY VOICE AWARD – Leslie Fram
- ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Ella Langley
- SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Jessie Jo Dillon
