The Country Music Association has revealed the nominees for the 60th Annual CMA Awards, with Ella Langley leading all nominees with nine nominations.
The annual awards recognize artists, songwriters, producers, mix engineers, musicians and music video directors whose work has helped shape Country Music over the past year. Nominees were selected by the CMA’s 7,083 voting-eligible Professional members.
“For six decades, the CMA Awards have celebrated excellence in Country Music,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We’re grateful to CMA’s Professional members, whose collective voice determines every nomination, bringing real expertise to the balloting process each year. Congratulations to all of this year’s deserving nominees. We cannot wait to celebrate our milestone anniversary together in November.”
Ella Langley Earns Nine CMA Awards Nominations
Langley sits at the top of this year’s nominations with nine nods across several major categories. She is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year for both “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas,” Album of the Year for Dandelion, Song of the Year for both “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas,” Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year for “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” and Music Video of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas.”
“Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” were produced by Langley, Miranda Lambert and Ben West and mixed by Dave Clauss. Langley is also recognized for “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” her collaboration with Morgan Wallen, which was produced by Langley, Austin Goodloe and West.
Her “Choosin’ Texas” music video was directed by Langley, Caylee Robillard and Wales Toney.
With this year’s nominations, Langley has now earned 16 career CMA Awards nominations.
Miranda Lambert Collects Seven Nominations
Miranda Lambert follows with seven nominations, including recognition for her work as both an artist and producer.
Lambert is nominated for Single of the Year as a producer on “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas,” Album of the Year for Dandelion, Song of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for both “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton and “Horses and Divorces” with Kacey Musgraves.
“Choosin’ Texas” earned Lambert a Song of the Year nomination alongside Luke Dick, Ella Langley and Joybeth Taylor. Her work on “A Song To Sing” with Stapleton was produced by Dave Cobb, while “Horses and Divorces” was produced by Musgraves and Daniel Tashian.
Lambert receives her 19th Female Vocalist of the Year nomination this year. She also holds the record for the most CMA Awards nominations by a female artist, with 70 career nominations.
Kacey Musgraves and Ben West Receive Five Nominations Each
Kacey Musgraves and Ben West are each nominated five times.
Musgraves earns nominations for Album of the Year for Middle of Nowhere, Song of the Year for “Dry Spell,” Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year for “Horses and Divorces,” and Music Video of the Year for “Dry Spell.”
“Dry Spell” was written by Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Musgraves co-directed its accompanying video with Hannah Lux Davis.
She also receives recognition for Middle of Nowhere, produced by Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk and Laird and mixed by Serban Ghenea and Konrad Snyder. Musgraves now has 27 career CMA Awards nominations.
West’s five nominations are his first CMA Awards nominations. He is recognized for his production work on “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas,” as well as Album of the Year for Dandelion.
He also earns two Musical Event of the Year nominations, one for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” by Langley and Morgan Wallen and another for “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” by Carly Pearce and Riley Green.
Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. Earn Four Nominations
Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each receive four nominations.
Johnson is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year for “The Fall,” and Music Video of the Year for “The Fall.” The single was produced by Trent Willmon and mixed by Jack Clarke, while the video was directed by Dustin Haney.
Johnson now has 19 career CMA Awards nominations.
Stapleton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year for “A Song To Sing,” and Music Video of the Year for “White Horse.”
“A Song To Sing” with Lambert was produced by Dave Cobb, while the “White Horse” video was directed by Running Bear. Stapleton now has 46 career CMA Awards nominations.
Wilson Jr. receives nominations for Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Gary,” along with Male Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year. He was the sole songwriter on “Gary” and co-directed its music video with Tim Cofield.
The nominations bring Wilson Jr.’s career CMA Awards total to five.
Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson Earn Three Nominations
Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson each receive three nominations.
Combs is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for The Way I Am. The album was produced by Combs, Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton and mixed by Matthews.
Combs now has 31 career CMA Awards nominations.
Wilson earns nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for “Somewhere Over Laredo.” The song was produced by Jay Joyce and mixed by Joyce and Jason Hall.
Wilson has received 28 total CMA Awards nominations throughout her career.
Entertainer of the Year Nominees
The five artists competing for the night’s highest honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year, are Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
13 First-Time CMA Awards Nominees
This year’s list also includes 13 first-time CMA Awards nominees: 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.
Full List of 2026 CMA Awards Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Ella Langley
- Chris Stapleton
- Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s).
- “Be Her” – Ella Langley
- Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
- Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
- Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
- “I Knew It, I Knew You” – Taylor Swift
- Producers: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift
- Mix Engineer: Laura Sisk
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
- Producer: Jay Joyce
- Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
- “The Fall” – Cody Johnson
- Producer: Trent Willmon
- Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
Album of the Year
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s).
- Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
- Producer: Carson Chamberlain
- Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
- Dandelion – Ella Langley
- Producers: Devin Dawson, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
- Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
- Middle of Nowhere – Kacey Musgraves
- Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
- Mix Engineers: Serban Ghenea, Konrad Snyder
- Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
- Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
- Mix Engineer: Eric Masse
- The Way I Am – Luke Combs
- Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
- Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
Song of the Year
Award goes to Songwriter(s).
- “Be Her”
- Songwriters: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt
- “Beautiful Things”
- Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington, Megan Moroney
- “Choosin’ Texas”
- Songwriters: Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
- “Dry Spell”
- Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
- “Gary”
- Songwriter: 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
Musical Event of the Year
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s).
- “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton
- Producer: Dave Cobb
- “Horses and Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves featuring Miranda Lambert
- Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
- “I Can’t Love You Anymore” – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen
- Producers: Austin Goodloe, Ella Langley, Ben West
- “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” – Carly Pearce & Riley Green
- Producers: Carly Pearce, Ben West
- “McArthur” – HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
- Producer: Jay Joyce
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 Artist(s) and Director(s).
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- Directors: Ella Langley, Caylee Robillard, Wales Toney
- “Dry Spell” – Kacey Musgraves
- Directors: Hannah Lux Davis, Kacey Musgraves
- “Gary” – Stephen Wilson Jr.
- Directors: Tim Cofield, Stephen Wilson Jr.
- “The Fall” – Cody Johnson
- Director: Dustin Haney
- “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
- Director: Running Bear
New Artist of the Year
- Avery Anna
- Carter Faith
- Emily Ann Roberts
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
When Are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. EST on ABC and Disney+, with the broadcast available the following day on Hulu.
Winners will be determined during the final round of voting by voting-eligible CMA Professional members. The third and final ballot will be emailed Thursday, Oct. 1, with voting ending Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m. CT. Deloitte will tabulate all balloting.
Tickets for the 60th Annual CMA Awards go on sale Friday, Sept. 18.
