2026 CMA Awards nominees: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves lead the way

On Thursday, the Country Music Association announced the nominees for "The 60th Annual CMA Awards," airing Nov. 18 on ABC, Disney+ and next day on Hulu.

The association works to recognize the industry professionals who have defined Country Music over the past year, with nominees determined by a 7,083-person voting body.

With nine nominations, Ella Langley leads the way with the most nominations this year, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven and Kacey Musgraves and Ben West with five each. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. all earned four nominations each, with Dave Clauss, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson each earning three each.

The nominations could mark some notable wins.

Lambert's new nominations have earned her the most Female Vocalist of the Year nominations of all time with 19. She is also currently the most-winning female in CMA Awards history with 14 wins.

Stapleton could extend his Male Vocalist of the Year win count to nine. He currently holds the record in this category with eight wins.

Wilson could become the first female to win three Entertainer of the Year Awards. She also has the chance to follow in Lambert's footsteps to become the second female to win Female Vocalist of the Year five years in a row.

This year also recognizes 13 first-time 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 earned his first nomination for Single of the Year as a producer of Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You," from Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5." Swift has been nominated 28 times, including her nomination for the single. She's won 10. Her last win was in 2017 for Song of the Year with "Better Man."

Wilson will return to host "The 60th Annual CMA Awards," live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, marking her third consecutive year in the role and second consecutive year as solo host.

See below for the full nominees list.

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 (feat. 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.

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