The 60th CMA Awards nominations are led by Ella Langley, who earned nine nods for a breakthrough year that has placed her at the center of country music’s biggest conversations. Her nominations include Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for Dandelion and multiple honors tied to her chart-topping hit “Choosin’ Texas.”
Langley’s nine nominations make her the most nominated artist at the 2026 CMA Awards. She is also recognized for Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” Musical Event of the Year for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Morgan Wallen, and both Single and Song of the Year for “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas.”
The recognition follows a particularly strong 12-month period for Langley. “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert, has spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, putting the song within one week of the all-time record. It also finished as the No. 1 Song of the Summer, while Dandelion debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Miranda Lambert follows with seven CMA nominations, with her credits extending beyond her own work. The singer-songwriter and producer contributed to several of Langley’s nominated recordings while also earning recognition in Female Vocalist of the Year and two Musical Event of the Year categories for “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton and “Horses and Divorces” with Kacey Musgraves.
Kacey Musgraves has five nominations, matching producer Ben West, whose recognition is tied to several Langley recordings. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each collected four nominations, while Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson earned three apiece.
Taylor Swift is also among this year’s nominees, receiving a single nomination for Single of the Year with “I Knew It, I Knew You.” The nod marks Swift’s first CMA recognition in four years and follows a notable return to country radio after years focused primarily on pop.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, November 18, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Lainey Wilson will return as host for the third consecutive year and her second as solo host, while the ceremony will air live on ABC from 8–11 p.m. ET and stream simultaneously on Disney+ for the first time, with next-day availability on Hulu.
See the full list of nominations below.
Your daily dose of music news, trends, and fresh drops.
InMusic Newsletter
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Ella Langley
Chris Stapleton
Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Dandelion – Ella Langley
Middle of Nowhere – Kacey Musgraves
Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
The Way I Am – Luke Combs
Single of the Year
Be Her – Ella Langley
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
I Knew It, I Knew You – Taylor Swift
Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
The Fall – Cody Johnson
Song of the Year
Be Her – Ella Langley
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Beautiful Things – Megan Moroney
Dry Spell – Kacey Musgraves
Gary – Stephen Wilson Jr.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
The Red Clay Strays
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan+Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
New Artist of the Year
Emily Ann Roberts
Avery Anna
Carter Faith
Tucker Wetmore
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Musician of the Year
Tom Bukovac
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Charlie Worsham
Music of the Year
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Dry Spell – Kacey Musgraves
Gary – Stephen Wilson Jr.
The Fall – Cody Johnson
White Horse – Chris Stapleton
Musical Event of the Year
A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton
Horses and Divorces – Kacey Musgraves ft. Miranda Lambert
I Can’t Love You Anymore – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen
If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay – Carly Pearce & Riley Green
McArthur – Hardy, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
Leave a Reply