The 2026 CMA Awards nominations are out, with Ella Langley leading the field with nine nods ahead of country music’s 60th annual ceremony in Nashville.
Langley’s total also puts her in the CMA record books. Her nine nominations tie the single-year record for a female artist previously reached by Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson, while leaving her one short of Alan Jackson’s overall record of 10 nominations in one year.
Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Stephen Wilson Jr. are also prominent across the ballot, while Taylor Swift has returned to a major CMA category.
Just revealed on @GoodMorningAmerica
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) September 10, 2026
The #CMAawards Single of the Year nominees are …
✨ "Be Her" by @EllaLangleyMsic
✨ "Choosin' Texas" by @EllaLangleyMsic
✨ "I Knew It, I Knew You" by @TaylorSwift13
✨ "Somewhere Over Laredo" by @LaineyWilson
✨ "The Fall" by… pic.twitter.com/cjvaCBWHYS
Ella Langley enters the Entertainer of the Year race
Langley has earned her first Entertainer of the Year nomination, putting her against Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and reigning winner Lainey Wilson for the night’s top artist honor.
The nomination continues Langley’s fast rise at the CMAs. She entered the 2025 ceremony with six nominations and now leads the 2026 field with nine. The 2025 CMA Awards winners included several artists who are back in major races this year, including Wilson and Langley.
“Choosin’ Texas” becomes a major part of the ballot
Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is nominated for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year. It is the only work on the 2026 ballot represented in all three categories.
She also has a second Single of the Year nomination for “Be Her.” Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You,” Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” and Cody Johnson’s “The Fall” complete the category.
The lineup marks another CMA first, with female artists accounting for four of the five Single of the Year nominees.
Miranda Lambert adds another career record
Lambert remains a major presence on the ballot through both her own work and her songwriting and production contributions to Langley’s releases.
She has also secured her 19th Female Vocalist of the Year nomination, moving past Reba McEntire’s previous record of 18 nominations in the category.
Taylor Swift returns to the CMA Single race
Taylor Swift is nominated for Single of the Year with “I Knew It, I Knew You,” marking her first nomination in that category since 2013.
Swift and Langley have also appeared elsewhere during the current music awards season, including the 2026 MTV VMAs nominations.
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Ella Langley
Chris Stapleton
Lainey Wilson
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
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
Song of the Year
“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 & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
Musical Event of the Year
“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 & Morgan Wallen
“If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” — Carly Pearce & Riley Green
“McArthur” — HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & 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
“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.
First-time nominees join the 2026 field
The ballot also includes several first-time CMA nominees, 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 & James and Ben West.
Antonoff receives his first CMA nomination through his work as a co-producer on Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You.” Stephen Wilson Jr. and Tucker Wetmore, meanwhile, return to the New Artist category after also appearing there last year.
Lainey Wilson’s College GameDay performance draws attention
Chris Stapleton’s 2026 tour dates and ticket details
60th CMA Awards set for November in Nashville
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Lainey Wilson returns as host while also competing for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.
According to the official CMA Awards website, the ceremony will air live on ABC at 8/7c. The show is also scheduled to stream live on Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu.
The winners are decided by eligible Country Music Association professional members rather than a public fan vote. Final voting is scheduled to run from October 1 through October 27 before the trophies are handed out in November.
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