Thanks in great part thanks to her mega-hit ‘Choosin’ Texas,’ Ella Langley was the most nominated artist with nine nods at the 60th annual CMA Awards. Cementing her status as one of country music’s fastest-moving power players the 27-year old, has had a landmark year due to her multi-week run with the #1 Billboard Hot 100 single.
Following Langley, is Miranda Lambert seven nominations, alongside Kacey Musgraves, Ben West, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each of whom land five.
2026 is a heavyweight battle for Entertainer of the Year, with Langley facing off against Luke Combs, Johnson, Stapleton and reigning champion Lainey Wilson, (who’s also hosting the ceremony and defending her crown after a career-defining year.)
Marking her first nomination in the category since 2013 with her feature on Tim McGraw’s ‘Highway Don’t Care.’ Taylor Swift returns to the CMA Single of the Year competition with ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ from Toy Story 5. Only the superstar singer/songwriter’s second CMA nomination of the decade, Taylor’s last appearance was in 2022, when she was recognized for Video of the Year for ‘I Bet You Think About Me’ with Chris Stapleton.
Welcoming a new wave of first-time nominees, this year’s CMAs shining a spotlight on the genre’s next generation of Country musicians, including Smith Ahnquist, Avery Anna, Jack Antonoff, Tim Cofield, Carter Faith, Austin Goodloe, Muscadine Bloodline, Emily Ann Roberts, Caylee Robillard, Laura Sisk, Joybeth Taylor, Thelma and James, and Ben West all of whom score their debut nominations.
Broadcasting live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 18, the 2026 CMAs nominees include:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Ella Langley
Chris Stapleton
Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to artist, producers and mix engineers
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
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to artist, producers and mix engineers
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
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to songwriters
Be Her
Beautiful Things
Choosin’ Texas
Dry Spell
Gary
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 and Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan and Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma and James
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to artists and producers
A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton
Horses and Divorces – Kacey Musgraves featuring Miranda Lambert
I Can’t Love You Anymore – Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen
If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay – Carly Pearce and Riley Green
McArthur – HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen and Tim McGraw
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac – Guitar
Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Paul Franklin – Steel guitar
Rob McNelley – Guitar
Charlie Worsham – Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to artists and directors
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Dry Spell – Kacey Musgraves
Gary – Stephen Wilson Jr.
The Fall – Cody Johnson
White Horse – Chris Stapleton
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avery Anna
Carter Faith
Emily Ann Roberts
Tucker Wetmore
Stephen Wilson Jr.
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: BrDen