Watch Miranda Lambert's Emotional Surprise To 'Soul Sister' Ella Langley

By Kelly Fisher

Photo: Getty Images, ACM

Miranda Lambert revealed an epic surprise to first-time ACM nominee Ella Langley.

The “you look like you love me” star, who is also the most-nominated artist at the upcoming 60th ACM Awards, received the New Female Artist of the Year honor. Lambert, the most awarded artist in ACM history, made the announcement in a special video that played while Langley performed in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Academy of Country Music confirmed over the weekend.

“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. You are my friend, first and foremost, a fellow dog rescue advocate, you are a cowriter, you are my soul sister in Country Music and a partner in crime,” Lambert said in the video. “We are gonna celebrate so big in Dallas, Texas! They ain’t even ready!”

Langley said in her emotional reaction that she’s “really grateful” to her team and her fans as she marked an unforgettable milestone in her career. The “weren’t for the wind” artist received the most ACM nominations with eight nods. The star-studded 60th ACM Awards will include performances by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Clint Black, Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, and Wynonna Judd. Additionally, Reba McEntire will host the show for her 18th time, more than any other artist. Brooks & Dunn recently surprised Zach Top with the ACM New Make Artist of the Year award.

Watch Lambert announce Langley’s first-ever ACM win here, and see the full list of nominees below.

The 60th ACM Awards will kick off at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 8.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 

DUO OF THE YEAR

 

GROUP OF THE YEAR

 

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Producer: Kristian Bush

Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville

Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder, Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym

Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records

 

Producer: Carson Chamberlain

Record Company-Label: Leo33

 

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

 

Producer: Jay Joyce

Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville

 

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry

Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE

 

Producer: Trent Willmon

Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

 

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

 

Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton

Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

 

Producer: Will Bundy

Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

 

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson

Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent

 

Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne

Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing

 

Songwriter: Josh Phillips

Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing

 

Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak

Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing; Universal Music Corporation

 

Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

 

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym

Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

 

Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

 

Producer: Trent Willmon

Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

 

Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records

 

Producer: Will Bundy

Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

 

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

Producer: Jennifer Ansell

Director: Dano Cerny

 

Producer: Dustin Haney

Director: Dustin Haney

 

Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry

Director: Dustin Haney

 

Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis

Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)

 

Producer: Whale Tale Music

Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

 

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

  • Jessi Alexander
  • Jessie Jo Dillon
  • Ashley Gorley
  • Chase McGill
  • Josh Osborne
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