CMA Awards 2026 Nominations Announced

The CMA Awards are officially underway, with the nominees for the 60th annual celebration of country music announced today. This year’s list features plenty of Nashville favorites, rising stars and some major collaborations, with Ella Langley making a particularly strong showing across multiple categories.

The night’s biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year, features Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson. The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place November 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Here’s the complete list of nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Cody Johnson
• Ella Langley
• Chris Stapleton
• Lainey Wilson

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

Single of the Year

• “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

• 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

• “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.

Musical Event of the Year

• “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert w/Chris Stapleton
  Producer: Dave Cobb
• “Horses and Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves f/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

• “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.

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