It’s Ella Langley and Texas for the win in 2026, as Academy of Country Music voters chose Texas artists, and Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” as the top winners. You could also say the ACMs chose authenticity and twang along the way. Though much of the presentation failed to represent the best in popular country music, many of the awards did, even with performers like Zach Top and Megan Moroney walking away empty handed.

It was a clean sweep for Ella Langley and all the awards she was up for. She won both Single and Song of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” which actually doubles her take on both since she was also a co-producer and songwriter on the tracks. She also won Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and Music Event of the Year for “Don’t Mind If I Do” with Riley Green.

Those seven wins mean that Ella Langley had a historic night, with the most wins ever accrued by an artist in one ACM year. Three artists have won six total over the years: Garth Brooks (1991), Faith Hill (1999) and Chris Stapleton (2016). Ella Langley probably would have won Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year if she’d been nominated for them. Next year she will be, and will go in as a front runner for both.

Ella Langley is from Alabama, not Texas. So are The Red Clay Strays, who walked away with Group of the Year, breaking Old Dominion’s dominant (and rather ridiculous) 8-year winning streak for the award. The Red Clay Strays won New Duo or Group of the Year in 2025, and now up their game with the big boys in the mainstream with the win.

But it’s two artists who started in the Texas scene that scored the rest of the evening’s top prizes. Parker McCollum’s self-titled album might have not come with massive hits, or been a critical favorite of the Americana crowd. But it was clearly deeply personal to him, and illustrated how a mainstream album could still hit a bit left of center and with a deeper tone, and still be successful, including winning Album of the Year.

Parker McCollum mentioned Koe Wetzel, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band, and “all my Texas country and Red Dirt family” in his acceptance speech. Winning Album of the Year is a career-defining moment for Parker, and a moment the entire State of Texas can be proud of.

Same goes for Cody Johnson, who except for Langley, was the big winner of the night. After taking home his first ACM for Male Vocalist of the Year, he walked away with the evening’s top prize of Entertainer of the Year. Though Morgan Wallen fans will rightfully argue that their boy is multipliers bigger than Cody Johnson, the Texas native is no slouch. He’s been tearing it up as an entertainer (the award is considered just as much about live performance as anything), and unlike Wallen, Cody’s kept his nose clean over the years.

If Luke Combs or Chris Stapleton would have won Entertainer, it would have felt like the safe pick. If Lainey Wilson won for a third straight year—especially with Ella Langley’s big night—it would have illustrated how the industry has really overextended for Lainey, even if she’s one of the better voices in the mainstream. It was too early for Megan Moroney to win, and she’ll have more opportunities. Cody Johnson might not, but he cashed in this year, and will forever be the 2026 ACM Entertainer of the Year.

What does all of this mean? Well first, you always have to remind yourself that it’s “just the ACM Awards.” As an example, only three of the seven artists up for Entertainer of the Year were even present in the building (Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson). Streaming on Amazon as opposed to being broadcast on TV, and conducted on a Sunday, the social media chatter for the awards was incredibly low.

The energy level was also low throughout the entire presentation, and host Shania Twain brought nothing but slurred words and awkward moments to the table. Carter Faith distinguished herself with her performance, and so did Ella Langley by performing “Be Her” acoustically. Cody Johnson’s “Traveling Soldier” (written by Bruce Robison and originally recorded by the [Dixie] Chicks) was a sincere gesture as opposed to performing his current single.

It was a little awkward when New Female Artist of the Year winner Avery Anna started her performance off with “Bang, Bang”—something written by Sonny Bono, but a song Kaitlin Butts has been featuring for the last few years. Kaitlin felt like she was overlooked for ACM New Female Artist consideration, but maybe the imitation by Avery is the greatest form of flattery.

Again, it’s just the ACM Awards. But the 2026 wins do seem to validate the moment we’re enjoying in country music. As silly songs from folks like Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett fell flat, it felt like the future is with artists, songs, and albums with integrity. “Texas” might not be a perfect synonym for authenticity and integrity, but it tends to hit closer to that than Nashville. And in the neutral setting of Las Vegas, Texas and top performers from Alabama won out.

There was plenty to criticize from the 2026 ACM Awards. But ultimately, the good guys won.

For a full blow by blow of the presentation, check out Saving Country Music’s 2026 ACM Awards LIVE Blog.

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RESTAURANTS like Texas Roadhouse and Olive Garden are among the many enforcing a strict attire policy.

The “one ring” policy is put in place for diner safety concerns, and is strictly enforced likewise.

The “one ring” policy refers to the jewelry that employees preparing food can safely wear while performing their daily tasks.

Generally speaking, jewelry and other accessories are banned for their ability to harbor bacteria and potentially transfer it to food.

This applies to virtually any accessory worn on the fingers, hands, wrists, or arms, including watches and bracelets of any kind, including those with medical info.

However, there is one exception to the rule according to the latest version of the FDA’s food code, published in 2022.

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It specifies that the lone exception is “a plain ring such as a wedding band.”

The FDA permits this since wedding bands and similar styles of rings lack “grooves here pathogens can hide,” according to StateFoodSafety.com.

Employees should also wash their hands often and be sure to wear gloves in order to minimize risk of contamination from their ring, per StateFoodSafety.

In cases where an employee has a need for a medical bracelet, the FDA urges a conversation between the worker and management to find a new solution.

This can include wearing a necklace or anklet with the needed medical info, or taking advantage of other widely available alternatives.

Restaurants including Texas Roadhouse also have strict hair and beard rules, also as a result of the FDA’s Food Code.

These hygiene standards are fully in effect, and part of a push toward “Active Managerial Control,” replacing the older system where managers could enforce hair rules at their own discretion.

“Everyone entering the kitchen must wear a hair restraint to prevent contamination, and anyone with a beard must wear a beard net,” says the FDA.

These rules don’t apply to staff handling pre-packaged food and drinks, such as hosts and some wait staff.

(KBTX) – Twelve times this season, a Texas A&M athletic program raised a Texas-shaped trophy after knocking off the Texas Longhorns.

It was more than enough for the Aggies to claim the Lone Star Showdown title for the 2025-26 season.

A&M downed the Longhorns 11.5-7.5 in the season-long contest between the athletic departments, claiming the title for the first time since it was renewed in 2024.

On Saturday, the men’s and women’s track and field teams recorded higher team finishes at the SEC Championship, ensuring the Aggies’ win. The men’s squad finished fourth, ahead of Texas’ seventh-place finish. The women finished tied for sixth, three spots ahead of the Longhorns.

Every single matchup between the programs is worth one point. For men’s and women’s basketball, which play Texas twice during the regular season, each game is worth a half point. A series win in baseball is worth a point.

A&M soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor track and baseball all claimed wins over Texas. A&M men’s basketball earned a half point this season.

Texas claimed last year’s title 12.5-5.5.

The rivalry debuted in 2004 and ran through 2012 when A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC. It was renewed due to Texas’ entrance into the SEC. The Longhorns have claimed seven titles in that span to A&M’s three.