The Country Music Association is choosin’ Ella Langley. The breakout singer, in the midst of a record-setting chart run with her No. 1 single “Choosin’ Texas,” led the field for the 2026 CMA Awards with nine nominations.
Langley is up for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year, as well as Single of the Year (“Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas”), Album of the Year (Dandelion), Song of the Year (“Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Morgan Wallen), and Music Video of the Year (“Choosin’ Texas”).
Other top nominees announced Thursday include Miranda Lambert, who notched seven nods; Kacey Musgrave and Ben West (aka Langley’s music producer), each with five nominations; Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Stephen Wilson Jr. with four apiece; and Dave Clauss, Luke Combs, and Lainey Wilson with three nominations each.
Aside from Langley, the Entertainer of the Year race features Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson.
Nominees were determined by CMA’s 7,083 voting-eligible members. The 60th Annual CMA Awards will be televised live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 18 on ABC and Disney+ and available to stream the following day on Hulu.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
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
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
- 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 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
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert (with Chris Stapleton)
- “Horses and Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves (feat. 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.
