Ella Langley Dominates 2026 CMA Awards Nominations as Lainey Wilson Returns to Host
The nominees are in for the 60th Annual CMA Awards, and Ella Langley is officially playing in country music’s biggest league.
Langley earned her first Entertainer of the Year nomination alongside Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and returning CMA Awards host Lainey Wilson.
That alone would make this a landmark year for Langley. However, her name appears nine times across the newly announced ballot.
She landed two nominations for Single of the Year, two for Song of the Year and additional recognition in the Female Vocalist, Album, Musical Event and Music Video categories.
Her second album, Dandelion, is nominated for Album of the Year. Meanwhile, “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” compete against one another for Single of the Year.
Lainey Wilson Returns to Host the CMA Awards
Wilson will return to host the ceremony for the third consecutive year. This will be her second year handling the job solo.
The 12-time CMA Award winner is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
Wilson announced her return during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast from Louisiana State University. The Louisiana native said the ceremony’s 60th anniversary will make this year particularly special.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18, at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+. The ceremony will stream the following day on Hulu.
New Names Move Into Major Categories
Langley is not the only artist breaking into new territory.
Stephen Wilson Jr. earned nominations for Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year. His deeply personal song “Gary” is also nominated for Song and Music Video of the Year.
Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James join veteran acts Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne and Dan + Shay in the Vocal Duo category.
The Red Clay Strays return to the Vocal Group field alongside Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Old Dominion.
Taylor Swift also makes a notable return to the country ballot. Her Toy Story 5 song “I Knew It, I Knew You” is nominated for Single of the Year.
Here is the complete list of nominees announced for the 2026 CMA Awards.
Entertainer of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
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
Awarded to the artist, producer and mix engineer.
- “Be Her” by Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Ben West
Mix engineer: Dave Clauss - “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Ben West
Mix engineer: Dave Clauss - “I Knew It, I Knew You” by Taylor Swift
Producers: Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift
Mix engineer: Laura Sisk - “Somewhere Over Laredo” by Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix engineers: Jason Hall and Jay Joyce - “The Fall” by Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix engineer: Jack Clarke
Album of the Year
Awarded to the artist, producer and mix engineer.
- Ain’t In It for My Health by Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Mix engineer: Matt Rovey - Dandelion by Ella Langley
Producers: Devin Dawson, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert and Ben West
Mix engineer: Dave Clauss - Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves and Daniel Tashian
Mix engineers: Serban Ghenea and Konrad Snyder - Parker McCollum by Parker McCollum
Producers: Frank Liddell and Eric Masse
Mix engineer: Eric Masse - The Way I Am by Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton
Mix engineer: Chip Matthews
Song of the Year
Awarded to the songwriters.
- “Be Her”
Songwriters: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley and Jordan Schmidt - “Beautiful Things”
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington and Megan Moroney - “Choosin’ Texas”
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert and Joybeth Taylor - “Dry Spell”
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne - “Gary”
Songwriter: Stephen Wilson Jr.
Musical Event of the Year
- “A Song to Sing” by Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton
Producer: Dave Cobb - “Horses and Divorces” by Kacey Musgraves featuring Miranda Lambert
Producers: Kacey Musgraves and Daniel Tashian - “I Can’t Love You Anymore” by Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen
Producers: Austin Goodloe, Ella Langley and Ben West - “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” by Carly Pearce and Riley Green
Producers: Carly Pearce and Ben West - “McArthur” by HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen and 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
Awarded to the artist and director.
- “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley
Directors: Ella Langley, Caylee Robillard and Wales Toney - “Dry Spell” by Kacey Musgraves
Directors: Hannah Lux Davis and Kacey Musgraves - “Gary” by Stephen Wilson Jr.
Directors: Tim Cofield and Stephen Wilson Jr. - “The Fall” by Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney - “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton
Director: Running Bear
New Artist of the Year
- Avery Anna
- Carter Faith
- Emily Ann Roberts
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
When Are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 18.
Viewers can watch the ceremony at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+. It will also be available the next day on Hulu.
Lainey Wilson will host the milestone broadcast while competing for the night’s biggest award. Still, this year’s nominations make one thing especially clear: Ella Langley has moved from country music’s rising class directly into the Entertainer of the Year conversation.
