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Ella Langley celebrated a significant milestone on Friday afternoon (April 25), receiving her first Academy of Country Music Award for new female artist of the year. The announcement came during her performance at Rock the Country in Knoxville, Tennessee, through a heartfelt video message from Miranda Lambert, an iconic figure in country music and the artist with the most ACM wins.
Langley’s achievement was widely anticipated, as she led the pack with eight nominations for the upcoming 60th ACM Awards. In contrast, her fellow nominees in the new female artist category—Kassi Ashton, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, and Jessie Murph—did not exceed a single nomination.
In her congratulatory message, Lambert expressed her pride: “I’m here to tell you how proud I am of you for being the top nominated artist for the Academy of Country Music Awards this year,” she said. “You are my friend, first and foremost, a fellow dog rescue advocate, you are a co-writer, you are my soul sister in country music and a partner in crime. We are gonna celebrate so big in Dallas, Texas! They ain’t even ready!”
Lambert herself won this category back in 2007, a year following Carrie Underwood’s win and one before Taylor Swift claimed the award, showcasing a legacy of exceptional female talent in country music.
Both Ashton and Cooke have received two nominations in this category, meaning they are now ineligible for future nominations in the same. However, Dasha and Murph retain their chance for additional nominations, thanks to the ACM and CMA Awards’ policy allowing new artists to be nominated twice.
At just 25, Langley is also vying for the female artist of the year award and boasts four nominations for her breakout single, “you look like you love me,” featuring Riley Green. This sultry duet is recognized in several categories, including single of the year, song of the year, music event of the year, and visual media of the year. Langley is nominated both as an artist and songwriter in song of the year, and as both artist and director in visual media of the year.
The track has made impressive strides, reaching No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, No. 7 on Hot Country Songs, and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Langley has co-written all the songs on her debut album, hungover, which itself reached No. 11 on Top Country Albums and No. 49 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Zach Top was honored with the award for new male artist of the year on Thursday, while the ACM has yet to announce its winner for new duo or group of the year, with nominees Restless Road, The Red Clay Strays, and Treaty Oak Revival still in contention.
Langley will be celebrated for her achievements at the 60th ACM Awards, which will be hosted by Reba McEntire. This event, set to stream live for audiences worldwide via Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, will take place on Thursday, May 8, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase through SeatGeek.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, part of Penske Media Eldridge, a collaboration between Eldridge Industries and the parent company of Billboard, Penske Media.
Source
www.billboard.com