2026 CMA Awards Nominees Revealed: Ella Langley Leads a Star-Studded List
The nominees for the 60th Annual CMA Awards have officially been revealed, and Ella Langley is leading one of the biggest nights in country music with a major collection of nominations.
The 2026 CMA Awards will celebrate 60 years of country music when the ceremony takes place on November 18 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show will air live on ABC and Disney+, with streaming on Hulu the following day.
Lainey Wilson will return as host for the third consecutive year. She will also be a major contender during the ceremony, earning nominations in several of the night’s biggest categories.
Ella Langley Leads the 2026 CMA Nominations
Ella Langley has emerged as the leading nominee for this year’s CMA Awards.
The rising country star earned nine nominations, including recognition in some of the ceremony’s biggest categories.
Langley is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year, among other honors.
Her nominations come after an incredible year that has helped establish her as one of country music’s biggest rising stars.
The Biggest Entertainer of the Year Nominees
The race for Entertainer of the Year includes five major names:
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Ella Langley
- Chris Stapleton
- Lainey Wilson
This is one of the most closely watched categories every year, and Langley’s inclusion makes the race especially interesting.
She is competing against several established country superstars while also representing a newer generation of artists.
Female Vocalist of the Year
The Female Vocalist of the Year category features another impressive group of nominees:
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Kacey Musgraves
- Lainey Wilson
The category brings together some of the biggest women in country music today.
Miranda Lambert is also making history this year. Her nomination gives her 19 career nominations in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, moving her ahead of Reba McEntire for the most nominations in that category.
Male Vocalist of the Year
The nominees for Male Vocalist of the Year are:
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
The category features a mix of established stars and newer voices who have made a major impact on country music.
Album of the Year
Five albums will compete for 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
Langley’s Dandelion gives her another major opportunity to take home one of the night’s biggest prizes.
Single of the Year
The Single of the Year nominees include some of the year’s biggest country songs:
- “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
Taylor Swift’s inclusion is also notable, adding another major name to an already competitive category.
New Faces Join the CMA Race
The New Artist of the Year category introduces several artists who could become major names in country music.
The nominees are:
- Avery Anna
- Carter Faith
- Emily Ann Roberts
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
Their nominations show that the CMA Awards are continuing to recognize both established stars and the next generation of country artists.
When Are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The ceremony will be hosted by Lainey Wilson and broadcast live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
The final round of CMA voting is scheduled to run from October 1 through October 27, with winners determined by eligible CMA voting members.
With Ella Langley leading the nominations and stars such as Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Lainey Wilson competing across major categories, the 2026 CMA Awards could be one of the most memorable ceremonies in recent years.
And with the CMA celebrating its 60th anniversary, country music fans have plenty to look forward to.
