Joseph Hudak
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Ella Langley was the top nominee when nominations for the 2026 CMA Awards were announced on Thursday. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic In a year that’s been defined by Ella Langley, it’s no surprise that the “Choosin’ Texas” singer is the top nominee at the 60th Annual CMA Awards.
Langley landed nine total nominations when the Country Music Association announced its nominees on Thursday morning. The Hope Hull, Alabama, native is up for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year, along with Album of the Year for her LP Dandelion. Of course, “Choosin’ Texas” is recognized throughout: for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. Langley will also compete for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Miranda Lambert is just behind Langley in the nominations tally, with seven. Lambert co-wrote “Choosin’ Texas” with Langley, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor, and also co-produced Langley’s Dandelion album.
Arguably the biggest surprise of the nominations is Stephen Wilson Jr. The grunge-country singer-songwriter-guitarist scored four nominations, including one for Male Vocalist of the Year and one for Song of the Year, for his solo composition “Gary,” a salute to the working class.
Also of note: the return of Taylor Swift. The global superstar landed her first CMA Awards nomination in four years. She’s up for Single of the Year for “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
The 2026 CMA Awards air Wednesday, Nov. 18, on ABC and Disney+, and stream the next day on Hulu. Lainey Wilson, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, will host.
The 60th annual CMA Awards nominees:
Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Cody Johnson Ella Langley Chris Stapleton Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year “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
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
Song of the Year “Be Here,” Ella Langley (Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt) “Beautiful Things,” Megan Moroney (Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington, Megan Moroney) “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley (Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor) “Dry Spell,” Kacey Musgraves (Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne) “Gary,” Stephen Wilson Jr. (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
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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 “A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert (with Chris Stapleton) “Horses and Divorces,” Kacey Musgraves (feat. Miranda Lambert) “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay,” Carly Pearce & Riley Green “McArthur,” Hardy, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
Musician of the Year Tom Bukovac – Guitar Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar Rob McNelley – Guitar Charlie Worsham – Guitar
