I don’t know how snub a country artist who sells out stadium, puts up massive streaming numbers and continues to dominate on the charts…but 2026 CMA Awards just showed us how.
The 60th annual CMA Awards announced the 2026 nominees on Thursday, September 10th…and Morgan Wallen received a major snub CMA Awards this year by earning zero solo nominations. The man was completely shut out from major categories like Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Now he did secure two nominations…but they were both under Musical Event of the Year for some collaboration work. One was for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Ella Langley and the other one was “McArthur” alongside HARDY, Eric Church, and Tim McGraw.
I don’t mean to assume things here…but I don’t the Country Music Association likes Morgan.
The fine people at Brach’s ain’t messing around this year.
There’s exciting news for anyone who’s ever wanted to smell like the inside of a plastic, trick-or-treating jack-o-lantern…because Brach’s is releasing a candy corn perfume this fall.
It’s called “Ode to Candy Corn”, and it’ll be available for $22 at CandyCornSeason.com, while supplies last. There will be two “drop” dates too. The first batch will be released on September 22nd, and the second run will hit on October 1st. It’s unclear how many will be made available.
The bottles are pretty small, just 1.7 ounces, so the fragrance isn’t “cheap”.
So what does it smell like? They say it, “swirls together notes of creamy vanilla, spun sugar, and honey…to capture the coziness of fall in every spray.” Now I’m a fan of candy corn and will always eat it proudly…but I personally don’t want to smell like it.
He released a new song called “I Believe”. It’s an uplifting song, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Darius said, “the way the world is, where we are right now…I believe in us. That’s why I wanted to put this song out. It’s my love letter to America, and you can listen to it now.”
The CMAs announced their 2026 nominees on Thursday, September 10th…and it’s Ella’s award show.
Ella Langley leads with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven, and Kacey Musgraves and songwriter Ben West each with five. Ella is also now the eighth artist in CMA history to land two Single of the Year nominations in the same year.
Taylor Swift will also attend the awards for the first time in 10 years, since her song, “I Knew It, I Knew You” is nominated for Single of the Year. She said, “looks like I haven’t yee’d my last haw.”
The awards air live on Wednesday, November 18th on ABC and Disney+. Lainey Wilson will host.
It’s insane to think that a quarter of a century has now passed since that God awful day. There’s somedays it seems like it didn’t happen, but it unfortunately did. It was a morning that literally changed everything in so many people’s lives.
In 2001, at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., two hijacked planes were crashed into the World Trade Center. Two other suicide flights crashed at the Pentagon and in the woods of Pennsylvania.
A total of 2,792 people died in the World Trade Center attacks. 184 innocent people died in the Pentagon attack (including those on the plane), and 40 died in the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. It was like a scene being played out in a movie, but it was all very real.
It’s a day that’ll I’ll never forget and no one ever should. And God rest the souls of the victims that died that horrible day.
It looks like Florida Georgia Line will reunite at Stagecoach 2027. The festival posted a teaser video of the guysloading their equipment in the back of an old Chevy pickup truck with the caption, “LFG”.
In the clip, Brian Kelley asks Tyler Hubbard, “are we really doing this again?” and he replies, “looks like it, bro.”
Stagecoach 2027 is April 23rd through the 25th in Indio, California. Based on previous years, the full lineup is typically announced this month.
Welcome to Friday September 11, 2026 (never forget).
We have some new country music for your playlist. So, please do your part and visit your neighborhood liquor store to pair your whiskey with this new country music as well. Its country music is meant to be enjoyed.
PROJECTS: Smithfield – “Country With Heart, Part 2” Nicholas Jamerson– “Rabbit Holes (Vol 1)”
SINGLES: Treaty Oak Revival, Wade Forster – “Can of Worms” Luke Bryan – “I Liked Loving You” Eric Church – “On The Road” Darius Rucker – “I Believe” Sierra Ferrell – “Pair of Dice” Tyce Delk – “Up There Down Here” Kenny Whitmire – “Woman To Blame” Tyla Rodrigues, The Kruse Brothers – “What’s Left To Hold Onto” Erin Kirby – “Cross My Mind” Christian Parker – “Three Months Long” Olivia Wolf – “Drag It Back” Jay Tyndall – “Rock A Bye” Niklas Juritsch – “Could’ve Been Us” Corey Parsons – “Headed South” Thomason – “Something In The Whiskey” Trevor Snider – “Holy Hell”
The final nominees for the 60th annual CMA Awards have been revealed y’all.
This is no surprise considering the year this woman is having. Ella Langley leads the group of nominees with nine nods total, including her first for Entertainer of the Year. Other top nominees include Miranda Lambert who has seven nominations, Kacey Musgraves and Ben West with five nominations each, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. landed four nominations each…and Dave Clauss, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson earned three nominations each.
There are 13 first-time nominees too, which include 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.
Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer said, “for six decades, the CMA Awards have celebrated excellence in Country Music. 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.”
The CMA Awards will broadcasts live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC, Disney+ and next day on Hulu.
And the 2026 CMA Awards final nominees by ballot category order are:
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.
Dierks Bentley will headline an inaugural show called “Justice Jam” on October 27th in Nashville. He partnered with the Tennessee Innocence Project, which provides legal services to free the wrongfully convicted.
If you are to visit the official website of the Tennessee Innocence Project, the organization describes their mission as the following…
“The Tennessee Innocence Project frees innocent people through legal advocacy, strengthens the justice system through policy reform, supports re-entry, and educates the public to prevent wrongful convictions.”
There will also be a performance from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. An executive said, “this concert is about channeling the power of Nashville’s music community into real freedom for people who have run out of options.
“We are honored to bring this stage together with our partners at the Washington Innocence Project and to show what’s possible when artists lend their voice to justice.”
Tickets are set to go on sale on today, September 10th, and can be purchased from justicejam.com… once the website goes live (they are evidently still working on that).
Country music has to come from somewhere…and something usually causes it.
Megan Moroney’s music career was born out of heartbreak. She said when she was 16, she injured her knee in cheerleading, and had nothing else to do, but sit and learn guitar.
She also had her first heartbreak and said she wouldn’t stop crying so her dad took her to Guitar Center. Megan said, “I remember looking at my dad. And I was like, ‘I’ve had my heart broken once this week. I can handle it again…
If you don’t want to get it for me.’ And that’s how I ended up with my first Taylor.”
