country
MUSIC PEOPLE
NEWS
JUNE 2026 Volume 57 Number 06 Issue 676
Editor Kelly Gregory
Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Jonny Brick, Chris Brown, Tony Byworth, Rosie Carter, Don Cusic, Larry Delaney, Julie Flaskett, Marshall Gardener, Michael Hingston, Stan Hitchcock, Tony Ives, Sianna King, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III, Bryce Martin, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Chris Smith, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Dan Wallace, Dave Watkins, Jack Watkins
New release consultant Steve Tidbury
Photographers Patricia Presley, Barry Dixon
Advertising countrymusicpeople @ gmail. com
Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd micropress. co. uk
Distributor Seymour International Press Distributors Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue London EC1A 9PT Telephone + 44 020 7429 4000
Country Music People is published the last Thursday of each month by KICKIN’ CUTS LIMITED
24 Darley Close, Wittering, Peterborough PE8 6EQ, UK
+ 44 07787 203131
countrymusicpeople @ gmail. com www. cmpcountry. com
© 2026 Kickin’ Cuts Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for statement of fact or opinion expressed by contributors. The views of the contributors are not necessarily those of Country Music People or its editor.
Please recycle this magazine
Shania Twain
ACM AWARDS
T he 61st Academy of Country Music because of her excitement to host and
Awards took place on May 17, reflected on her own first ACM Awards
2026, at the MGM Grand Garden wins in 1996 for New Female Artist of Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, returning the Year and Album of the Year. Twain to its Sunday night time slot. The also acknowledged the year’ s nominees ceremony was hosted by Shania Twain and described this as a strong period for and streamed live exclusively on Prime country music, noting its presence from Video for viewers in more than 240 local venues to a global platform. countries and territories. A rebroadcast The night’ s top honour, Entertainer of the show is available on Prime Video. of the Year, went to Cody Johnson, The ACM also announced that the marking his first time receiving the 62nd Awards will return to Las Vegas award. Ella Langley led all artists in in 2027. total wins with seven. Johnson, Miranda
Twain, a legendary songwriter and Lambert and Stephen Wilson Jr. each the best-selling female country artist, earned two awards. Other winners opened the show with a monologue included Avery Anna, Brooks & Dunn, that included congratulations to Lainey Jessie Jo Dillon, Parker McCollum, Riley Wilson on her recent marriage. She Green, The Red Clay Strays and Tucker remarked that she“ can’ t sit still”
Wetmore.
4 country music people