Late Night With Stephen Colbert went out in style, winning outstanding variety series at the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which were presented at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Monday (Sept. 14). The show won a total of six Emmys for its final season, the most it ever won in any one season.

Widow’s Bay won a total of 14 Primetime Emmys, setting new records for the most wins in a single season by a comedy series, and most wins in a freshman season by a comedy series. It tops The Studio, which set new records in both categories with 13 wins last year.

Widow’s Bay was the top award recipient this year across the three nights of the Primetime Emmys. Runners-up were The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny, DTF St. Louis, The Pitt and The Traitors, each of which won seven awards.

Mariska Hargitay hosted the show, becoming the first woman to host the show in 15 years. She opened with “I Love TV Screens,” a parody version of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ’N Roll,” a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks in 1982. The spot featured cameos by basketball star Jalen Brunson, Jennifer Coolidge and Jean Smart.

Later in the show, she did a parody version of Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger,” a No. 15 hit on the Hot 100 in 1979, in which she saluted the many shows that are ending their runs this year.

Hargitay and the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit performed a clever sketch, which spoofed Taylor Swift fans’ obsessive search for clues about her next moves. Swift, a friend of Hargitay, made a fun cameo appearance in the sketch.

Sally Field and Reba McEntire paid tribute to Dolly Parton, who died three weeks ago.

Noah Kahan performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in the In Memoriam spot.

Colbert’s show had won outstanding talk series in 2025, soon after its cancellation was announced. This year it won in the outstanding variety series category that Colbert had won twice (2013-14) with The Colbert Report, his previous show on Comedy Central, and that Late Show With David Letterman won six times (1994 and 1998-2002).

Beginning this year, the Television Academy combined outstanding scripted variety series and outstanding talk series into a single category: outstanding variety series. The academy also converted it to what they call “an area award,” which means the nominees aren’t directly competing against each other. Instead, voters answer one question for each nominated show: “Does this nominee merit an Emmy?” Any series that receives at least 90% “yes” votes is awarded an Emmy. (If no nominee meets that threshold, the show with the highest approval percentage takes the trophy.) So, all five nominees could have won – or as few as one, which is what transpired this year.

The other nominees in the category were The Daily Show (Comedy Central), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC), Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO) and Saturday Night Live (NBC). Three of these shows had won an outstanding series award in the past. The only one that hadn’t previously won is Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has now gone 0-15 in the category.

“Thank you so much on behalf of the over 200 people who threw themselves at this show for 11 years to try to do the best show they possibly could for you,” Colbert said upon winning the award. “… I want to thank so many people in this room. Over the last 21 years, I’ve interviewed at least 1,000 of you. Thank you for coming on to talk to this idiot. I want you to know that you were the perfect guest. The segment went great, and I’m sorry I forgot to play your clip.

“But of course, there can only be one favorite guest, and that is my wife, Evelyn McGee, thank you, darling. … And I want to say to the audience, thank you so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed the show. We had a great time doing it for you. That’s it. Thank you. We’ll catch you all on the flip.”

Early in the telecast, Jean Smart (Hacks) and Allison Janney (The Diplomat) each won their eighth Primetime Emmys as performers, moving into a tie with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most Emmy wins in performing/acting categories.

Matthew Rhys became the first person to win outstanding lead actor honors in two fields: comedy series (Widow’s Bay) and limited or anthology series or movie (The Beast in Me).

Notably, a series in its first season has won outstanding comedy series in three of the past four years. The Bear won in 2023, preceding these back-to-back wins for The Studio and Widow’s Bay.

The Traitors won outstanding reality competition program for the third year in a row. It’s the first show to win three times in a row in this category since RuPaul’s Drag Race won four in a row from 2018-21.

The Pitt is the first show to take best drama series in each of its first two seasons since Mad Men, which won in each of its first four seasons.

There were cast reunions to honor Buffy, the Vampire Slayer; Baywatch; and Charlie’s Angels. Of these three shows, only Buffy won an Emmy during its run. Baywatch was never even nominated.

Programs that won multiple awards across the three nights of the 2026 Primetime Emmys:

Widow’s Bay, 14

The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny, 7

DTF St. Louis, 7

The Pitt, 7

The Traitors, 7

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, 6

Pluribus, 6

Spider-Noir, 5

The Muppet Show, 4

Beef, 3

Love on the Spectrum, 3

Margo’s Got Money Troubles, 3

Palm Royale, 3

The Beast In Me, 2

Bridgerton, 2

Fallout, 2

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, 2

Hacks 2

My Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitay 2

Ocean With David Attenborough 2

Remarkably Bright Creatures 2

Individuals that won multiple awards across the three nights of the 2026 Primetime Emmys:

Stephen T. Colbert, 3, executive producer, host, writer

Steven Conrad, 3, director, executive producer, writer

Judah Getz, 3, ADR mixer

Matthew Rhys, 3, actor, executive producer

Larry Benjamin, 2, re-recording mixer

Michael Brumm, 2, producer, writer

Aaron Cohen, 2, supervising producer, writer

Alan Cumming, 2, executive producer, host

Paul Dinello, 2, supervising producer, writer

Katie Dippold, 2, executive producer, writer

Ariel Dumas, 2, head writer, supervising producer

Gabe Gronli, 2, producer, writer

David Harbour, 2, actor, executive producer

Mariska Hargitay, 2, director, producer

Tim Hoogenakker, 2, re-recording mixer

Barry Julien, 2, co-executive producer, writer

Jay Katsir, 2, head writer, supervising producer

Matt Lappin, 2, co-executive producer, writer

Opus Moreschi, 2, co-executive producer, writer

Hiro Murai, 2, director, executive producer

Cian O’Clery, 2, casting by, executive producer

Denise Pizzini, 2, production designer

Dave Porter, 2, composer, scoring mixer

Tom Purcell, 2, executive producer, writer

Albertina Rizzo, 2, executive producer, writer

Christian Sprenger, 2, director of photography, producer

Noah Wyle, 2, actor, executive producer

There will doubtless be tributes to Dolly Parton on many upcoming awards shows – the CMA Awards, the ACM Awards, the Grammys and the Oscars, to name a few. But the Primetime Emmys, airing on Monday (Sept. 14) — just three weeks after Parton died of cancer at age 80 — were the first.

Sally Field, who co-starred with Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, presented the tribute, which featured a performance by Parton’s longtime friend, Reba McEntire.

The spot was extremely well-produced, though it didn’t mention that Parton first rose to prominence in 1967 on a TV program, The Porter Wagoner Show, or that she soared to stardom in the late 1970s with winning appearances on such programs as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, or that she won a Primetime Emmy five years ago.

“If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one, Dolly Parton,” Field said. “It was my great good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Steel Magnolias, and over the years, I never stopped loving her. Though we lived very far apart, I adored her from day one. How could you not? She was genuine and humble, supportive, and blisteringly funny, with a bawdy sense of humor that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide. I couldn’t see then what a real giant Dolly was – not just as an artist, but as a human. She was a humanitarian whose contributions had made a profound difference in the lives of so many in her home state of Tennessee and across our country. God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on earth that will love you forever and ever.”

The show then aired a clip of Parton performing in 1983. “I’m very very proud of the fact that I had the kind of parents that I did and grew up in the Smoky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, and I’ve written a song that touches me very deep, and I’m sure that in your own way, that you certainly will relate to this. This song, like I say, is very important to me, and I hope you like it. And if you don’t like it, well, if you don’t mind, I would rather not hear about it later. OK? It’s a song that I call ‘Appalachian Memories.’”

Parton included the song on her 1983 album Burlap & Satin. The song wasn’t a hit, even on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, but it was a great choice here because it meant a lot to Parton. And it showed the depth of her catalog.

McEntire performed it live, with her characteristic class and warmth. “I love you, Dolly, so much,” she said at the end of her performance.

Parton won a Primetime Emmy five years ago as executive producer of Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, which was voted outstanding television movie. She received her first Primetime Emmy nod 48 years ago as a guest on Cher’s ABC special, Cher … Special. She received three more nominations as executive producer of the specials Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2017), Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones (2020) and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (2023), all of which were nominated for outstanding television movie.

The segment saluting Parton aired prior to the annual In Memoriam segment, which included a Noah Kahan performance.

Noah Kahan soundtracked an especially emotional “in memoriam” segment at the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night (Sept. 14), which was introduced by the movie and TV children of late actress Catherine O’Hara.

Home Alone star Macauley Culkin tearfully remembered how O’Hara showed up for him in life just like a real parent would after first portraying his mother in the 1990 Christmas classic. Then Schitt’s Creek stars Annie Murphy and Dan Levy both shared joyful memories of O’Hara on set as their quirky mother in the 2015-20 television comedy as well as sweet recollections of how strangers rallied around them in the wake of her death at age 71 in January.

Following their intro, Kahan took the stage to perform Simon & Garfunkel‘s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” playing acoustic guitar and backed by a mournful string section. The folk duo’s 1970 six-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit has long soundtracked poignant moments, thanks to its sad-but-hopeful lyrics: “When darkness comes and pain is all around/ Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.”

Once Kahan finished his performance, Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage to pay tribute to Rob Reiner, the actor/director who first made a name for himself playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family and was tragically murdered alongside his wife, Michelle, in December. Curtis sobbed throughout her remembrance to the Hollywood legend. “He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all.”

Earlier in the Emmys broadcast, there was a stand-alone tribute to Dolly Parton, who died last month of cancer at age 80. Sally Field, who co-starred with Parton in Steel Magnolias, introduced the tribute and Reba McEntire performed “Appalachian Memories.”

Taylor Swift’s Law & Order: SVU dreams all came true Monday night (Sept. 14), as she and her cat Olivia Benson co-starred alongside the original Olivia Benson in a surprise Emmys sketch.

Hilariously, the premise of the sketch — which saw Emmys host Mariska Hargitay embodying the role she’s played for 27 seasons on the NBC crime drama — was whether or not Swift would be attending that night’s 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Hargitay and her SVU co-stars — including rapper-turned-actor Ice-T as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola — all gathered around an elaborate evidence board connected by pushpins and strings making increasingly outlandish connections between the night’s nominated television shows and Swift’s musical universe.

All of a sudden, Swift emerged wearing her best detective suit to let the group know: “Hey guys, this isn’t adding up.” After Ice-T let the “rookie” speak, Swift said the answer might be hiding in plain sight and rattled off four clues that are sure to send Swifties into a tizzy: “Saccharide. Aries. From the Vineyard. North or South.”

“This rookie’s weird,” Ice-T responded.

Swift regained her composure and came to this conclusion: Her category came up during the first two nights of the Emmys last weekend, so why would she attend Monday’s show? Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show was nominated for five Emmys this year, while Swift herself was up for one: outstanding variety special (pre-recorded), which ended up going to The Muppet Show.

Then came the real answer: Swift’s husband Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs teammates were playing the Denver Broncos at the exact same time on Monday Night Football. “OK then she’s not gonna be there, ’cause her husband’s got a work thing,” chimes in Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry.

And that was the correct answer: Swift could be seen sharing a suite with Tom Cruise at the Chiefs’ home opening game on Monday night.

Below, watch the full surprise sketch:

UPDATE (Sept. 11): Mandolin maestros Sam Bush and Sierra Hull will co-host and perform at the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, set for Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga Tenn.

The Del McCoury Band, Sister Sadie, Authentic Unlimited, The Grascals and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper are also set to perform.

The 2026 class of inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame consists of Byron Berline, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Poss and The Lost & Found. Musical tributes for each inductee are planned.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be livestreamed; details coming soon.

UPDATE (July 22): One week after announcing the nominations for the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced the nominees for the 2026 IBMA Industry Awards and the 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards.

The IBMA Industry Awards recognize outstanding work in non-performing industry categories and honor the individuals who help advance bluegrass music and support its artists. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The IBMA Momentum Awards recognize artists and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers. In addition to honoring emerging talent, the awards also include recognition for a mentor whose guidance has had a significant and positive impact on upcoming artists and industry professionals. The Momentum Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, also at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

These award ceremonies are part of IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Oct. 20-24. The week encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, Oct. 20-22 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, Oct. 20-21 in downtown Chattanooga venues; the 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, Oct. 22 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium; and IBMA Bluegrass Live!, Oct. 23-24, a two-day festival of live performances and fan experiences. Tickets are now on sale for all IBMA World of Bluegrass events; visit their website for details.

PREVIOUSLY (July 15): This year’s nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association Bluegrass Music Awards were announced on Wednesday (July 15), with Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie and East Nash Grass among the year’s top nominees.

All three acts are up for entertainer of the year, alongside Billy Strings and The Del McCoury Band.

The 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be held Oct. 22 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., and will be presented by Get It Played. The awards are part of the annual World of Bluegrass, including Bluegrass Live! which runs Oct. 23-24 and will be spearheaded by performances from Sierra Ferrell, Leftover Salmon, Larry Sparks and more.

Last year’s top IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards winners included Billy Strings, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Authentic Unlimited and The Travelin’ McCourys.

In addition to this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, the 2026 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees were revealed, including multi-instrumentalist Byron Berline, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Lost and Found, and Sugar Hill cofounder Barry Lyle Poss.

The 2026 IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award recipients are Gallagher Guitars, pioneering fiddle player Matt Glaser, The Marshall Family, Gary Reid, and journalist/editor/biographer Derek Halsey.

See the full list of this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, followed by 2026 IBMA Industry Award nominees and 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards nominees.

2026 IBMA Music Award Nominees

Entertainer of the year

Billy Strings

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Sister Sadie

East Nash Grass

The Del McCoury Band

Vocal group of the year

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Authentic Unlimited

Sister Sadie

Blue Highway

Red Camel Collective

Instrumental group of the year

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Billy Strings

The Travelin’ McCourys

East Nash Grass

Appalachian Road Show

Song of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Can’t Outrun the Blues,” Trey Hensley (songwriters: Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes, Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Feat. Della Mae) (Arrangement: Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Cost of Living,” Authentic Unlimited (Songwriter: Jerry Cole, Producer: Authentic Unlimited, Label: Edisonic Records)

“Finding Your Way Home,” Red Camel Collective (Songwriters: Heather Berry Mabe/Joseph Scott Patrick, Producer: Red Camel Collective/Stephen Burwell, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Album of the year

Can’t Outrun the Blues, Trey Hensley (Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

All Will Be Well, Sister Sadie (Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

All God’s Children, East Nash Grass (Producers: Jake Stargel/East Nash Grass, Label: Mountain Fever Records)

Della Jane’s Heart, Appalachian Road Show (Producer: Appalachian Road Show, Label: Billy Blue Records)

Songs That Sing Me, Becky Buller (Producer: Stephen Mougin, Label: Dark Shadow Recording)

Gospel recording of the year

“I Will Someday,” NewFound Road (Songwriters: Ronnie Bowman/Garnet Bowman/Chris Stapleton/Morgane Stapleton, Producer: Tim Shelton, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Where the Soul Never Dies,” Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (Songwriter: William M. Golden, Producer: C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Turnberry Records)

“Some Day,” Blue Highway (Songwriters: Olive Stockton/Tim Stafford, Producer: Blue Highway/Dan Boner, Label: Rounder Records)

“You Don’t Knock,” Darin & Brooke Aldridge with John Cowan (Songwriters: Cedar Walton/Wesley Westbrooks, Producer: Mark Fain/Darin Aldridge, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Two Old Church Pews,” Danny Paisley (Songwriters: Mark “Brink” Brinkman/Daryl Mosley, Producer: Greg Cole, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Instrumental recording of the year

“Grandfather’s Clock,” Bryan Sutton and Sierra Hull (Songwriter: Henry Clay Work arr. Bryan Sutton/Sierra Hull, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Big Daddy Rabbit,” Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (feat. Nathan Livers) (Songwriter: Nathan Livers, Producer: Michael Cleveland, Label: Yeah, Man Records

“Cacklin’ Hen,” Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Let’s Get Out of Here,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Songwriters: Alison Brown/Steve Martin, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Tom & Jerry,” Andy Leftwich (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Andy Leftwich, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

New artist of the year

Jaelee Roberts

Mason Via

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain

Vickie Vaughn

Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours

Collaborative recording of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Gentle on My Mind,” Tony Trischka and Billy Strings (Songwriter: John Hartford, Producer: Tony Trischka/Lawson White, Label: Down the Road Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Songwriters: Arr. Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Songwriters: Tom Crain/Charlie Daniels/Taz DiGregorio/Fred Edwards/Charlie Hayward/James W. Marshall adapted by Bryan Sutton/Billy Strings, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Just a Holler Over,” Sister Sadie and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (Songwriters: Robin Macy/Deanie Richardson, Producer: Sister Sadie/C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

Male vocalist of the year

Dan Tyminski

Russell Moore

Greg Blake

Del McCoury

Trey Hensley

Female vocalist of the year

Alison Krauss

Jaelee Roberts

Heather Berry Mabe

Sierra Hull

AJ Lee

Banjo player of the year

Kristin Scott Benson

Gena Britt

Ron Block

Alison Brown

Tony Trischka

Bass player of the year

Mike Bub

Vickie Vaughn

Missy Raines

Barry Bales

Alan Bartram

Fiddle player of the year

Michael Cleveland

Jason Carter

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Deanie Richardson

Andy Leftwich

Resophonic guitar player of the year

Justin Moses

Jerry Douglas

Rob Ickes

Andy Hall

Matt Leadbetter

Guitar player of the year

Trey Hensley

Billy Strings

Bryan Sutton

Cody Kilby

Molly Tuttle

Mandolin player of the year

Sierra Hull

Ronnie McCoury

Jesse Brock

Sam Bush

Alan Bibey

Music video of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Videographer: Natalie Simmons, Producer: Olly Rowland)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Animator: Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation, Producer: Josh Serrato)

“Ralph’s Banjo Special,” Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, & Alison Brown (Videographer: Joseph Spence, Producer: Alison Brown)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin, Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Videographer: Drew Levin, Producer: Alison Rose Gregory/Scott Roberts)

“Let the Circle Be Broken,” Sister Sadie (Videographer: David Rossow, Producer: Joshua Britt/Neilson Hubbard)

2026 IBMA Industry Award Nominees

Writer of the year

Paul Burch

John Curtis Goad

Derek Halsey

Garret K. Woodward

Gary Reid

Songwriter of the year

Mark “Brink” Brinkman

Chris Jones

Rick Lang

Tim Stafford

Photographer of the year

Ashli Linkous

Laci Mack

Scott Simontacchi

Jay Strausser

Madison Thorn

Broadcaster of the year

Orin Friesen, Truckers Radio USA

Barb Heller, NCPR

Matt Hutchinson, Bluegrass Jam Along podcast

Michelle Lee, Michelle Lee On Air

Peter Thompson, KALW and Bluegrass Country Radio

Graphic designer of the year

Audrey Fletcher

Robert Hakalski

Grace van’t Hof

Carla Wehby

Remy Zimmerman

Sound engineer of the year

Scott Barnett

Elliot Beckley

Key Chang

Matt Coles

Cameron Reichert

Event of the year

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, Annapolis, Maryland

Bluegrass in La Roche at 20, La Roche-sur-Foron, France

Bluegrass Spartanburg, Spartanburg, S.C.

CBA 50th Anniversary Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Grass Valley, Calif.

Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series, Marysville, Ohio

Liner notes of the year

Safe Sensible & Sane – Alison Brown and Steve Martin; Liner notes by: Alison Brown and Steve Martin

Kentucky Troubadour – The Rebel Collection – Don Rigsby; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins

Keep On Keepin’ On – Bobby Osborne, C.J. Lewandowski & Friends; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins and C.J. Lewandowski

The Rich-R-Tone/Folk Star Story – Appalachia on Record 1946-1954; Liner notes by: Ted Olson and Matteo Ringressi

Carroll Best – The Best of the Best – Carroll Best; Liner notes by: Ted Olson

2026 IBMA Momentum Awards Nominees

Band of the year

The Creekers

ShadowGrass

Remedy Tree

The Cody Sisters

Under the Rocks

Industry involvement

Sarah Larsen

Melanie Wilson

Payton Burdette

Helen Ludé

Rebekah Speer

Instrumentalist of the year (2 awards)

Steven Moore

Lilly Anne Svrlinga

G Rockwell

Luciya Sullivan

Jean-Baptiste (JB) Cardineau

Noah Gobel

Nathan Beaumont

Vocalist of the year

Adam Miller

Lydia Hamby

Morgan Brake

Akulina Shamanov

Ellie Hakanson

Mentor of the year

Louisa Branscomb

Becky Buller

Pammy Davis Lassiter

Deanie Richardson

Jim Pankey

UPDATE (Sept. 11): Iconic Vanguard Performances, the first of two primetime specials leading up to the 2026 MTV VMAs, is set to air on Sunday, Sept. 13 (9:30 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. PT) on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium). Hosted by Donnie Wahlberg, the special celebrates the artists who have received the Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs, from David Bowie, The Beatles and film director Richard Lester (the first recipients in 1984) to Mariah Carey (who received the honor in 2025).

Watch the exclusive clip above.

PREVIOUSLY (Sept. 3): CBS will air two new primetime specials to build anticipation for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, which the network is carrying for the second year in a row. Donnie Wahlberg will host Best of VMAs: Iconic Vanguard Performances on Sunday, Sept. 13. Former MTV VJ Vanessa Lachey will host Best of VMAs: Unforgettable Moments on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Both specials seem sure to include Madonna, who is the leading nominee for the 2026 VMAs, with 11 nods.

Best of VMAs: Iconic Vanguard Performances airs Sunday, Sept. 13 (9:30 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT) on CBS, streaming on Paramount+ (Premium). The special celebrates trailblazers who redefined the visual landscape of music. The Video Vanguard honorees’ performances stand as some of the most iconic, career-defining moments in MTV history.

The Vanguard Award, sometimes known as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, has been presented since 1984, but it has been given more time and attention on the telecast in recent years. Since 2013, recipients have been invited to perform a medley of songs leading up to their acceptance speech. The recipients in time span, who will presumably make up the bulk of the special, are Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Ye (formerly Kanye West), Rihanna, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Katy Perry and Mariah Carey. 

Best of VMAs: Unforgettable Moments airs Sunday, Sept. 20 (9 p.m. ET/PT) on CBS, streaming on Paramount+ (Premium). This will be a retrospective of the most unpredictable VMAs moments — from bold fashion choices and game-changing collaborations to performances that transformed rising stars to celebrated icons. The best example of that may be Madonna, whose jaw-dropping performance of “Like a Virgin” on the very first VMAs in September 1984 stole the show and set her on her path to becoming an icon.

“VMA Countdown” specials are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van Toffler serves as producer. Alex Castino serves as executive producer alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Rebecca Terán serves as senior producer.

The 2026 VMAs on Sept. 27 are also produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Toffler serves as producer for the second year in a row. Jesse Ignjatovic of Den of Thieves, Barbara Bialkowski and Bruce Gillmer serve as executive producers, alongside Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer. Melanie Block serves as co-executive producer and Gary Lanvy as co-producer.

The 2026 VMAs air live coast-to-coast from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 (7:30-9:30 p.m., ET/4:30-6:30 p.m., PT) on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium) in the U.S. The show will also be available globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

Bad Bunny won his first Primetime Emmy on Saturday (Sept. 5) – night one of what were formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, which were held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The Puerto Rican superstar won outstanding variety special (live) for The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC). He won as both the lead performer and a producer.

It’s just the second Super Bowl Halftime Show to win the top program Emmy. The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent won four years ago. Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), Desiree Perez and Jesse Collins won as executive producers of both shows. Dave Meyers won as co-executive producer of both shows.

The other nominees in the category this year were 83rd Annual Golden Globes (CBS), 68th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS), The Oscars (ABC) and 78th Annual Tony Awards (CBS).

The award comes seven months after Bunny became the first artist to win album of the year at the Grammy Awards for a Spanish-language album. He won for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.

The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny won seven awards, easily becoming the most-awarded Super Bowl halftime show in Emmy history, surpassing the aforementioned 2022 hip-hop show, which won three. It is also the first Spanish-language program to win outstanding variety special (live).

Bunny’s Halftime Show also won outstanding music direction; outstanding directing for a variety special; outstanding sound mixing for a variety series or special; outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming; outstanding lighting design/lighting direction for a special; and outstanding technical direction and camerawork for a special.

A second program starring Bunny won a Primetime Emmy: The Season 51 opener of Saturday Night Live that he hosted won outstanding makeup for a variety, nonfiction or reality program.

Another pop megastar, Taylor Swift, was nominated for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show (Disney+), but lost to another Disney + program, The Muppet Show.  The show, which paid tribute to the beloved series, also featured top talent, including Sabrina Carpenter (who won her first Primetime Emmy as an executive producer and performer on the special), Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen. The other nominees in the category were Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable… (Netflix), Nikki Glaser: Good Girl (Hulu) and Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC).

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert won five awards, two for episodes that featured rock royalty by name in the episode descriptions. The series, which concluded an 11-year run in May, won outstanding picture editing for variety programming (segment) for an episode that featured Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello and outstanding lighting design/lighting direction for a series for an episode that featured Bruce Springsteen and special surprise guests.

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max • HBO) won outstanding sound mixing for a nonfiction program.

The “Blink Again” segment of Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix) won outstanding picture editing for a nonfiction program.

Mr. Scorsese, the Apple TV program about film director Martin Scorsese, won outstanding documentary or nonfiction series.

Hamish Hamilton won for outstanding directing for a variety special for the third time in the past four years. He won this year for his work on Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime show. He won in that category in 2023 for co-directing (with Jay-Z) the Super Bowl Halftime Show starring Rihanna and in 2024 for directing the Oscars.

On Sunday, night two of the Primetime Emmys, Julie Andrews won outstanding character voice-over performance for the second year in a row for her role as Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Andrews, who turns 91 next month (Oct. 1), becomes the oldest woman to win a Primetime Emmy, narrowly edging out her long-time friend and co-star Carol Burnett, who was a few months away from turning 91 in January 2024 when she won her most recent Primetime Emmy for Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, on which Andrews appeared. The NBC program won outstanding variety special (pre-recorded).

Prior to these back-to-back wins for Bridgerton, Andrews had won two other Primetime Emmys – outstanding variety musical series in 1973 as the star of ABC’s The Julie Andrews Hour and outstanding nonfiction series in 2005 as host of PBS’ Broadway: The American Musical.

Andrews headlined two Broadway cast albums (My Fair Lady and Camelot) and two film soundtracks (Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music) that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Rob Reiner, who was tragically killed in December, won outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role as Albert on The Bear. It was his third Primetime Emmy, following a pair of wins in 1974 and 1978 for All in the Family, the biggest TV hit of the 1970s.

Comedy Central’s South Park won outstanding animated program for the sixth time. Executive producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone were among the recipients. Parker and Stone were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in August.

Also on Sunday, the Television Academy presented its first-ever Legacy Award. The first honoree, fittingly, was I Love Lucy — the CBS series that virtually created the blueprint for sitcoms. The landmark show starring Lucille Ball and executive produced by her husband Desi Arnaz will mark its 75th anniversary next month. It debuted on Oct. 15, 1951.

A total of 49 categories were presented on Saturday. A total of 53 categories were presented on Sunday. Just 19 categories will be presented on the live Emmy telecast, set for Monday Sept. 14.

The two pre-telecast awards ceremonies are not telecast or streamed but highlights from the two ceremonies will air on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. PT on FXX. The program will be available to stream on Hulu starting the next day.

Mariska Hargitay won two awards on Saturday for producing and directing My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay, about her mother, 1960s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay is set to host the 78th Emmy Awards telecast, which will air live coast-to-coast on NBC on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live. It will also stream on Peacock.

Here’s a complete list of programs that won multiple awards across the two nights of the pre-telecast Emmy Awards.

Here’s a complete list of individuals that won multiple awards across the two nights of the pre-telecast Emmy Awards. Their names are followed by the number of awards they won and the classifications in which they won.

The ARIA Award for Best Music Festival will return for a second year, the Australian Recording Industry Association announced Monday, with entries opening the same day and closing at 5 p.m. AEST on Friday, Sept. 18.

Developed jointly with the Australian Festival Association (AFA), the award recognizes festivals that put Australian artists in front of the audiences that build their careers, along with the programmers who back local talent on their lineups.

To be eligible, a festival must feature an Australian headline act or a lineup that’s at least 50% Australian artists, and must hold AFA membership.

Laneway Festival won the inaugural award in 2025, beating out nominees Ability Fest, Beyond the Valley, Bluesfest Byron Bay and Yours and Owls Festival. The category’s debut year drew attention as one of the first ARIA honors specifically tied to festival programming decisions rather than individual artist or record achievements.

“Festivals are where Australian artists meet the audiences that change their careers,” ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said in a statement.

“Programming Australian talent is a deliberate decision and has a huge impact on the careers of local artists. It is a delight to continue celebrating those who go above and beyond to do this.” AFA chair Adelle Robinson — who also leads Australian promoter Fuzzy — added that festivals are “a key part of the music industry’s eco system,” having “platformed many Australian artists at the beginning of their career,” and called the award a recognition of “the link between Australian music, fans and a unique live experience.”

The category’s return lands amid a milestone year for the organization. The 2026 ARIA Awards will mark the ceremony’s 40th anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion — the sixth consecutive year the venue has hosted the event, and the same site where ARIA held a standalone Hall of Fame anniversary celebration earlier this year, inducting six artists into its Hall of Fame in June.

The 2026 ceremony, presented in partnership with Spotify and broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+, will look back at four decades of Australian music while highlighting current stars. Nominations for the main ARIA Awards will be announced Thursday, Sept. 24.

Gavin Brivik and Andrew Bird were giant-slayers on Sunday (Sept. 6) – night two of what were formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, which were held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The songwriters beat both Lady Gaga and South Park creator Trey Parker to win outstanding original music and lyrics for a song (“Need Someone”) they wrote for the hit drama series The Pitt.

Gaga was nominated for “The Dead Dance,” which she co-wrote with Andrew Watt and Henry Walter Russell (Cirkut) for Wednesday. Parker was nominated for “Christian Woman,” which he wrote for South Park.

Widow’s Boy won in two of the seven music categories. David Fleming won outstanding music composition for a series (original dramatic score) for the Apple TV hit. It’s his second Primetime Emmy. He won two years ago for Jim Henson Idea Man, which was voted outstanding music composition for a documentary series or special (original dramatic score). Toko Nagata won outstanding music supervision for her work on the show. It’s her first Primetime Emmy.

Dave Porter won two Primetime Emmys for the Apple TV hit Pluribus. He won outstanding original main title theme music and outstanding sound mixing for a comedy or drama series (one hour) as a scoring mixer on the show. These are his first Primetime Emmys.

Sean Callery and Sara Barone won outstanding music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special (original dramatic score) for their work on Netflix’s The Beast in Me. This is Callery’s fifth Primetime Emmy, following three wins for 24 and one for Marvel’s Jessica Jones. This is Barone’s first win.

Two of the seven music categories were presented on Saturday (Sept. 5) – night one of the 2026 Primetime Emmys. Miguel Gandelman won outstanding music direction for The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny. Tyler Strickland won outstanding music composition for a documentary/nonfiction or reality program for John Candy: I Like Me.

Gandelman is the third person to win outstanding music direction for work on a Super Bowl Halftime Show. Adam Blackstone won four years ago for The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar and Tony Russell won last year for The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar.

Here’s a complete list of nominees in the seven music categories across the two nights of the pre-telecast primetime Emmys, with winners marked.

Outstanding Music Direction

WINNER: The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny • NBC • Roc Nation, Rimas, Jesse Collins Entertainment and DPS; Miguel Gandelman, music director

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert • “Series Finale” • CBS • CBS Studios; Louis Cato, music director

The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Michael Bearden, music director

Saturday Night Live • “Host: Jack Black” • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video; Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, Eli Brueggemann and Maddie Rice, music directors

Wicked: One Wonderful Night • NBC • Fulwell Entertainment; Stephen Oremus, music director

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score)

High Horse: The Black Cowboy • “F*ck Westerns” • Peacock • Peacock Original, Universal Television Alternative Studio, Resurgent Pictures, Monkeypaw Productions; Raphael Saadiq, composer

WINNER: John Candy: I Like Me • Prime Video • Amazon MGM Studios, El Bear Productions; Tyler Strickland, composer

Kingdom • “Episode 2” • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production co-produced with BBC America; Segun Akinola, composer

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! • HBO Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Apatow Production; Jeff Morrow, composer

Ocean With David Attenborough • National Geographic • National Geographic Presents a Silverback Films & Open Planet Studios Production in association with Altitude, All3Media International and Minderoo Pictures, co-produced with Arksen & 10% For The Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Revive Our Ocean; Steven Price, composer

Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age • “The Big Freeze” • Apple TV • BBC Studios in association with Apple; Kara Talve, Anže Rozman and Hans Zimmer, composers

Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics

The Boys • “The Frenchman, The Female, and the Man Called Mother’s Milk” / Song Title: “Raise Him Up” • Prime Video • Amazon; MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Television with Kripke Enterprises, Original Film, and Point Grey Pictures; Christopher Lennertz, music & lyrics; Daveed Diggs, lyrics

Hacks • “EGOT” / Song Title: “Mis Figuritas” • HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment; Carlos Rafael Rivera and David Stal, music & lyrics

WINNER: The Pitt • “12:00 P.M.” / Song Title: “Need Someone” • HBO Max • HBO Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television; Gavin Brivik, Music; Andrew Bird, music & lyrics

South Park • “The Crap Out” / Song Title: “Christian Woman” • Comedy Central • Comedy Central; Trey Parker, music & lyrics

Spider-Noir • “A Mistake I’ll Never Make Again” / Song Title: “The Devil You Know” • MGM+/Prime Video • Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, Marvel Studios; Warren Oak Felder, Sebastian Kole, Daniel Pemberton, music & lyrics

Wednesday • “Woe Me the Money” / Song Title: “The Dead Dance” • Netflix • A Netflix Series / An MGM Television Production; Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter Russell, music & lyrics

Outstanding Music Supervision

The Boys • “Blood and Bone” • Prime Video • Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Television with Kripke Enterprises, Original Film, and Point Grey Pictures; Michelle Johnson and Yvette Metoyer, music supervisors

Hacks • “Finale” • HBO Max • Universal Television in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment; Matt Biffa, music supervisor

Nobody Wants This • “When Noah Met Joanne” • Netflix • 20th Television in association with Steven Levitan Productions for Netflix; Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe, Jonathan Leahy, music supervisors

Pluribus • “We Is Us” • Apple TV • Sony Pictures Television in association with Apple; Thomas Golubić, music supervisor

Stranger Things • “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up” • Netflix • Upside Down Pictures & 21 Laps Entertainment for Netflix; Nora Felder, music supervisor

WINNER: Widow’s Bay • “Beach Reads” • Apple TV • Apple Studios / Chum Films; Toko Nagata, music supervisor

Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms • “In the Name of the Mother” • HBO Max • HBO in association with GRRM and Friendly Wolf Pictures; Dan Romer, composer

Palm Royale • “Maxine Drinks Martinis Now” • Apple TV • Apple Studios; Jeff Toyne, composer

Pluribus • “We Is Us” • Apple TV • Sony Pictures Television in association with Apple; Dave Porter, composer

Slow Horses • “Missiles” • Apple TV • See-Saw Films in association with Apple; Daniel Pemberton and Toydrum, composers

Spider-Noir • “Step Into My Office” • MGM+/Prime Video • Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, Marvel Studios; Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons, composers

WINNER: Widow’s Bay • “Our History” • Apple TV • Apple Studios / Chum Films; David Fleming, composer

Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

All Her Fault • “Episode 7” • Peacock • Peacock Original, Universal International Studios, Carnival Films; Jeff Beal, composer

WINNER: The Beast in Me • “The Beast and Me” • Netflix • 20th Television for Netflix; Sean Callery and Sara Barone, composers

Black Rabbit • “Isle of Joy” • Netflix • Netflix / Aggregate Films / Riff Raff Entertainment / Youngblood Pictures / Automatik; Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, composers

In the Blink of an Eye • Hulu • Mighty Engine, Searchlight Pictures; Thomas Newman, composer

Washington Black • “If You See My Mama, Whisper Her This…” • Hulu • 20th Television; Cameron Moody, composer

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

All Her Fault • Peacock • Peacock Original, Universal International Studios, Carnival Films; Jeff Beal, composer

The Beast in Me • Netflix • 20th Television for Netflix; Sean Callery, composer

The ‘Burbs • Peacock • Peacock Original, UCP, Imagine Entertainment, Out of the Blue Productions, Fuzzy Door; Michael Abels, composer

Murderbot • Apple TV • Paramount Television Studios in association with Apple; Amanda Jones, composer

WINNER: Pluribus • Apple TV • Sony Pictures Television in association with Apple; Dave Porter, composer