The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the nominees for the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Thursday. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on November 18, with a live host lineup that includes Lainey Wilson returning for her third consecutive year at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Top nominees
Ella Langley tops the list with nine nominations, the most for any artist this year. Miranda Lambert follows with seven nods, while Kacey Musgraves and Ben West each receive five. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each earn four nominations. Dave Clauss, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson round out the group with three nominations each.
Historic milestones
Lambert’s latest nominations bring her total Female Vocalist of the Year nods to 19, the highest in CMA history. She also remains the most‑winning female artist in the awards’ history with 14 wins. Chris Stapleton could extend his record in the Male Vocalist of the Year category to nine wins, having already secured eight. Lainey Wilson has a chance to become the first female to win three Entertainer of the Year awards and could join Lambert as the second female to win Female Vocalist of the Year five consecutive years.
First‑time nominees
The 2026 slate includes 13 first‑time nominees, among them 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.
Notable categories
Entertainer of the Year: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson.
Single of the Year contenders include Ella Langley’s “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas,” Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” (produced by Jack Antonoff), Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo,” and Cody Johnson’s “The Fall.”
Album of the Year nominees feature Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It For My Health,” Ella Langley’s “Dandelion,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Middle of Nowhere,” Parker McCollum’s self‑titled album, and Luke Combs’ “The Way I Am.”
Song of the Year entries include “Be Her” (Langley, Ahnquist, Hardy, Schmidt), “Beautiful Things” (Alexander, Dillon, Harrington, Moroney), “Choosin’ Texas” (Dick, Langley, Lambert, Taylor), “Dry Spell” (Laird, McAnally, Musgraves, Osborne), and Stephen Wilson Jr.’s “Gary.”
Other categories
Miranda Lambert and Ella Langley lead the Female Vocalist of the Year ballot, while Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Stephen Wilson Jr. vie for Male Vocalist of the Year. Vocal Group of the Year nominees include Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion and The Red Clay Strays. The Vocal Duo of the Year field features Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James.
Musical Event of the Year showcases collaborations such as Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves featuring Lambert, Ella Langley with Morgan Wallen, Carly Pearce & Riley Green, and a star‑studded lineup of HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw.
Musician of the Year nominees highlight instrumental talent: Tom Bukovac (guitar), Jenee Fleenor (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Rob McNelley (guitar) and Charlie Worsham (guitar). Music Video of the Year contenders include Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Dry Spell,” Stephen Wilson Jr.’s “Gary,” Cody Johnson’s “The Fall” and Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse.”
New Artist of the Year nominees are Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr.
The CMA Awards, now in their sixth decade, continue to celebrate the artists, songwriters, producers and musicians who shape country music. Fans can watch the ceremony live on November 18 via ABC, Disney+ and Hulu, with a replay on Hulu the following day.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
