Avery Anna has been named the 2026 ACM New Female Artist of the Year, adding a major honor to her country music career. Organizers announced the award ahead of the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, which will take place Sunday, May 17, 2026, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and stream live on Prime Video.
Anna, whose full name is Avery Anna Rhoton, is from Flagstaff, Arizona. She first gained wide attention during the COVID-19 pandemic by posting performance videos online, including a cover recorded in her bathtub because of the room’s acoustics.
Her catalog includes the EP Mood Swings and the albums Breakup Over Breakfast and Let Go Letters. She also collaborated with Sam Barber on Indigo, a song that reached the Hot 100 and introduced her to a wider audience.
The 2026 New Female Artist of the Year nominees also included MacKenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Caroline Jones, and Emily Ann Roberts.