ACM Awards fans fume over Brooks & Dunns | Music News

The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards kicked off live on Sunday, May 17, on Prime Video.

The annual awards show happened in Las Vegas and featured over a dozen performances as nation music’s greatest stars have been honored for their contributions to the style. Brooks & Dunn made historical past by successful Duo of the Year for a record-breaking 18th time, prompting accusations that the show was ‘rigged’ as the Tennessee musicians haven’t launched new music in years.

Brooks & Dunn, comprised of musicians Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, also received Duo of the Year in 2025, making this their second consecutive win.

This yr, the Neon Moon hitmakers have been nominated in the class alongside Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine seen injuryline, and Thelma & James. ACM Awards viewers have been less-than-thrilled about Brooks & Dunn’s win, taking to X with feedback like, “are you kidding me Brooks and Dunn for duo. RIGGED!!!!! ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT DESERVE THIS AWARD!”

More pissed off nation music fans expressed their disappointment on social media, with one writing, “Really @ACMawards Brooks and Dunn!!!!! They don’t deserve to win because they haven’t done crap!!!!!”

The duo’s most current studio album, Reboot II, was launched in 2024. The file was a follow-up to their 2019 project Reboot, which featured re-imaginations of their hit singles with visitor vocals from other standard nation artists.

A 3rd viewer chimed in, “Pissed about Brooks and Dunn won…they have done NOTHING!!” as a fourth wrote, “Brooks & Dunn for no reason, by the way.”

Other fans consider there ought to be a rule change after the history-making win as one fan instructed, “LOVE Brooks & Dunn. . . BUT, there should be a rule that you have to actively release new music to be considered for an award!”

More fans piled in with feedback like, “I’m so mad. How many times do they have to give it to Brooks and Dunn?? Wtf” and “How are Brooks & Dunn still winning this award in 2026?”

Not all fans have been upset by the win, with one fan claiming, “Brooks & Dunn could win country duo of the year every year for eternity and I’d be good with it.”

During their acceptance speech, Kix playfully remarked, “Have you ever been invited to a really cool party that you just can’t believe you’re there?”

The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards have been broadcast live from Las Vegas on Prime Video and featured performances from artists like Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Riley Green, and Blake Shelton.