{"id":133630,"date":"2026-05-19T08:31:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/a-blake-shelton-cover-a-facial-hair-epidemic-and-keith-urban-gossip\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T08:31:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:31:26","slug":"a-blake-shelton-cover-a-facial-hair-epidemic-and-keith-urban-gossip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/a-blake-shelton-cover-a-facial-hair-epidemic-and-keith-urban-gossip\/","title":{"rendered":"A Blake Shelton cover, a facial hair epidemic and Keith Urban gossip"},"content":{"rendered":"

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LAS VEGAS \u2014 As a Southerner and a longtime country music fan, I\u2019ve been raving for weeks to anyone who would listen about how the face of the genre has changed dramatically over the last few years. I saw that firsthand at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n

As I sat in the MGM Grand Garden Arena surrounded by fans, artists and industry professionals, I couldn\u2019t deny that what used to be a total bro-fest is now dominated by women. Ella Langley, the new queen of modern country<\/a>, won a whopping seven awards, including Song of the Year and Single of the Year for \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d and Female Artist of the Year. Megan Moroney<\/a> was the most-nominated artist of the night with nine nods, but she skipped the ceremony to be the maid of honor<\/a> at her best friend\u2019s wedding. Just as well: She somehow went 0-9.<\/p>\n

Between star-studded performances and delightful appearances by host Shania Twain<\/a>, I gossiped with reality TV stars, spied on celebrity interactions and got the scoop on the artists getting fans most excited these days. Let me tell you all about what you didn\u2019t see onscreen.<\/p>\n

Not your average awards show\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unlike the Oscars or the Emmys, the ACMs are more of a concert with a few awards sprinkled in than an actual awards show. It\u2019s a hoot.<\/p>\n

It also has the strangest layout for any awards show I\u2019ve ever seen. In front of the stage are two fan sections, where an employee instructs them on when they should clap, raise their hands or sway.<\/p>\n

Then the entire floor space is covered with tables, where industry professionals are assigned seats to mingle. I know because I accidentally went down there when I was looking for my seat \u2014 a mistake so grave that an usher repeatedly told me I\u2019m very much not supposed to be there, and urged me to reveal who let me in.<\/p>\n

I found it fascinating that they often displayed the lyrics to songs on a teleprompter while artists performed, as if they were doing karaoke.<\/p>\n

Ella Langley\u2019s stardom cannot be overstated<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not only was Langley the biggest winner of the night, but she was the recipient of constant thunderous applause. Before the show began, a dance remix of \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d played in the arena, and fans sang along like it was the national anthem. A publicist sitting near me gave me advice on how to maintain bangs like Langley\u2019s<\/a>. I haven\u2019t seen a woman in country music ascend to superstardom this quickly since Taylor Swift.<\/p>\n

I kept an ear out for the stars who drew the biggest applause. Riley Green and Cody Johnson definitely generated enthusiasm. When Tucker Wetmore took the stage, the women sitting around me were abuzz about how cute he was. Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen, who weren\u2019t there for the ceremony, had crowds amped up when their names were called as nominees.<\/p>\n

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