ACM Awards Set Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Riley Green to Perform

Mar 19, 2026 1:36pm PT ACM Awards Set Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Riley Green as Performers By Chris Willman Plus Icon Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic ChrisWillman Latest Taylor Swift Set to Appear on iHeartRadio Music Awards Show 8 hours ago Lola Young Proves She’s a Bona Fide Rock Star in a Bravura Return to the Stage in L.A.: Concert Review 19 hours ago Paul McCartney Announces Two Intimate Shows at L.A.’s Fonda Theatre, His First Concerts Since Arena Tour Wrap-Up Last Year 2 days ago See All ACM The ACM Awards have announced the first round of performers set for the May 17 show, with Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Riley Green leading the initial charge. All three performers are on a hot streak, chart-wise and/or awards-wise. Wilson is the ACMs’ reigning entertainer of the year, and she will be bringing the show the live premiere of her new single, “Can’t Sit Still,” which is included in her forthcoming Netflix documentary. Johnson won song of the year at the ACMs last year. Green will perform his hit “Change My Mind.” Related Stories 'G.I. Joe' Reboots in the Works at Paramount; Max Landis Pitching a Script Years After #MeToo Allegations Derailed Career (The Academy of Country Music also has Green on tap to headline an affiliated charity event, the 2026 ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green benefit, being held at Topgolf Las Vegas May 15.) Popular on Variety Once again, the Academy of Country Music’s awards will be seen exclusively on Prime Video, with a switch this year from the previous Texas base for the webcast to a return to the ACMs’ old home in Las Vegas. The show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT on May 17. A host, nominees, presenters and other details about the show have yet to be unveiled. The Academy also announced that Patrick Menton has been upped to the role of executive producer of the ACMs; he previously serverd as talent producer from 2018-2019, co-producer from 2020-2022, and co-executive producer in the years 2023-2025). He will partner as executive producer with longtime showrunner Raj Kapoor. The show is produced by Dick Clark Productions. Other producers on board besides Menton and Kapoor are Damon Whiteside as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music; Jay Penske and Barry Adelman as executive producers for DCP; and John Saade as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios. Whiteside broke the news earlier in March that he will step down as head of the Academy of Country Music later this year, but will be staying on to see the awards program through. Jump to Comments ‘Voice of Hind Rajab’ Actor Can’t Attend Oscars Due to Trump’s Palestine Travel Ban: ‘You Can Block a Passport. You Cannot Block a Voice’ Awards Circuit Podcast: Will Timothée Chalamet Win? How Many Times Will Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler Hit the Stage? Jane Fonda Asks Why Barbra Streisand Did Oscars Tribute to Robert Redford and Quips: ‘She Only Made One Movie With Him. I Made Four! I Have More to Say’ James Ransone’s ‘Sinister’ and ‘Black Phone’ Director Says the ‘Oscars In Memoriam Ignored Him but I Cannot’ After Late Actor Excluded: ‘He Is Dearly Missed’ ‘Bridesmaids’ Star Wendi McClendon-Covey Missed Oscars Reunion Due to ‘Neck Lift’ and Says There’s ‘No Drama’ ‘Weapons’ Star Amy Madigan Wins Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Bursts Into Witchy Cackle JavaScript is required to load the comments. Loading comments...