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.