Ella Langley Poised to Have a Massive CMA Awards
Just give them all to Ella Langley now, because you know she’s going to win them. Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, they’re all shoo-ins for Ella, and she’s likely to win Album of the Year for Dandelion, and very well might win Entertainer of the Year as well. If she qualified for Male Vocalist or Duo or Group, she would probably win those too.
The CMA’s 2026 nominations were announced this week, and in many respects, they’ve never felt more perfunctory. About the only point of intrigue was that Taylor Swift was nominated for Single of the Year via her lackluster “I Knew It, I Knew You,” and many wondered initially if she’d actually show up. But she’s already eliminated that mystery by confirming that she most definitely will, saying, “Looks like I haven’t yee’d my last haw. Thank you CMA! See you there Nov 18.”
This is yet another piece of evidence that Taylor Swift’s next move very well might be back to quotation mark “country.”
The future of country might be one with Taylor Swift back in the picture. But the present is all album Ella Langley and “Choosin’ Texas,” which is poised to break the all-time longest-running #1 on top of the Billboard Hot 100 next week. “BuI I’vE nEvEr HeaRd tHe SOng!” That’s because you’re old. It’s an all-timer, and more traditional country than it is anything else.
And even though Ella Langley is officially the leading nominee for the 2026 CMA Awards with nine, Miranda Lambert is also the big winner since she co-wrote and produced “Choosin’ Texas” and comes in with seven. Stephen Wilson Jr. also with four nominations feels like a notable achievement.
More observations about the 2026 CMA Nominations below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
The ONLY artist that might keep Ella Langley from this award would be Cody Johnson, who won the ACM equivalent to this at the ACMs in May. Stapleton and Langley are out of their album cycles, and Luke Combs is just re-emerging. Though often this is considered a touring award just as much as anything, it’s there to recognize a massive year in country. Taylor Swift won it when she was still on the ascent. It’s likely Ella will win it as well.
– Luke Combs
– Cody Johnson
– Ella Langley
– Chris Stapleton
– Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Not even the allure of handing Taylor Swift an award at the CMAs again and the ratings spike that might create will be able to best Ella Langley’s momentum here. Swift will probably perform anyway, and perhaps broadcast her intentions to be more involved in “country” moving forward. But whatever you think about “Choosin’ Texas” the song, “Choosin’ Texas” the single is a beast.
– “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
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
The fact that Ella Langley is nominated for two songs in both Single of the Year and Song of the Year speaks to the breadth of her success. This is not just a one-off thing for her, and if it wasn’t for “Choosin’ Texas” being so stuck in the #1 spot, “Be Her” would have been a #1 too. But again, it’s “Choosin’ Texas” that will win.
– “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
Of course Ella Langley wins this.
– Miranda Lambert
– Ella Langley
– Megan Moroney
– Kacey Musgraves
– Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Don’t get too excited for Zach Top or Stephen Wilson Jr. since neither is likely to win, even if it is cool to see them contending as Top 5 males in all of country music, and that’s probably not an unfair assessment, with Morgan Wallen also in the mix, even if they don’t even nominate him anymore because he won’t win. Big Loud instead is betting on Stephen Wilson Jr. But this is probably Cody Johnson’s to lose. Maybe Luke Combs could sneak in, but he’s still coming back from his time off. Never count Stapleton out, but it is an off year for him with no new album.
– Luke Combs
– Cody Johnson
– Chris Stapleton
– Zach Top
– Stephen Wilson Jr.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
This is a pretty wide open field here with a lot of critical-acclaim going up against each other. It still feels like Ella Langley’s momentum makes her a front runner. But this is a field voters love to vote for. Any one of these could win, with Zach Top perhaps the weakest nominee (unfortunately) since Ain’t In It For My Health really didn’t take off like expected (though it did win a Grammy).
– 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
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Red Clay Strays have to be the presumptive winner here after winning the ACM equivalent in May. Little Big Town and Midland did release new albums though, so there will be some push for them.
– Lady A
– Little Big Town
– Midland
– Old Dominion
– The Red Clay Strays
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn are the presumed winners by default, but good to see some fresh blood here with Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James.
– Brooks & Dunn
– Brothers Osborne
– Dan + Shay
– Muscadine Bloodline
– Thelma & James
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
Though you want to rubber stamp Ella and Morgan’s “I Can’t Love You Anymore” since it’s been right up there on the Hot 100 with “Choosin’ Texas” and “Be Her,” “Horses & Divorces” has a lot of critical-acclaim power behind it, and frankly is the superior song. “McArthur” could also accrue a lot of votes with all the star power on that track across labels and age demographics.
– “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)
Yep, Ella Langley, with Kaitlin Butts starring in the video as well.
– “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
You almost feel like the fix is in after Avery Anna won this award at the AM Awards, but Carter Faith and Emily Ann Roberts would both be strong picks. Ultimately though, with three other nominations, this might be Stephen Wilson Jr.’s to lose. Or the votes all get split, and the Temu version of Morgan Wallen, Tucker Wetmore walks away with it.
– Avery Anna
– Carter Faith
– Emily Ann Roberts
– Tucker Wetmore
– Stephen Wilson Jr.
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September 11, 2026 @ 12:06 pm
Not a big fan of award shows, but I am of Ella and I hope she wins entertainer of the year.
September 11, 2026 @ 12:22 pm
One of the first award shows in a while that’s done a decent job with nominees. The Group/Duo has been a week spot in country in recent years. I feel like Midland should have won a few by now. I don’t think they ever will. The only real cringe factor to me, Avery Anna. I heard her 1st on SiriusXM Hits 1 or one of those pop stations. Every Instagram is just her doing an Ozzy cover.
September 11, 2026 @ 12:49 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me if Ella sweeps. It also wouldn’t surprise me if she lost the Entertainer and Album categories. Either way, she going to have a big night and by extension, so is Miranda Lambert.
You know, it seems like only yesterday that think pieces about how women in country music were after thoughts and deliberately overlooked at awards times dominated country music media. Here we are today with Langley, Lambert, Musgraves, and Wilson dominating the men in terms of nominations. It’s been a long time coming, but the ladies are back.
September 11, 2026 @ 12:50 pm
My guess is Dandelion doesn’t get AotY, just because they can’t give her everything, and it’s kind of overshadowed by the single. Which will be a shame, because it’s a pretty great album all around.
Is it too late for Ella and Kaitlin to declare themselves a duo act? Just putting it out there!
September 11, 2026 @ 12:52 pm
The same artist–Ella Langley, here–having two nominations in both the Single and Song categories seems crazy. Theoretically, she could receive half the total vote–split two ways–and lose to an artist who received 30% of the vote (on just one entry).
Maybe show uses some kind of ranked-choice voting/built-in run-off to reduce the chances of that??
Or did the label issue a call/request to voters to vote for one specific song (presumably “Texas”)?
September 11, 2026 @ 12:58 pm
That is certainly a possibility, but I don’t think it will happen. “Choosin’ Texas” has been so dominant, that’s what everyone’s going to crawl over broken glass to vote for.
September 11, 2026 @ 12:53 pm
Forgot to say I am stunned Riley Green only got one nomination. I’m not disappointed, mind you. Just really surprised.
September 11, 2026 @ 12:59 pm
There continues to be a disconnect between Riley Green’s true popularity and the awards shows/mainstream press. That said, there’s still not a lot behind that mustache.
September 11, 2026 @ 1:49 pm
Eh, Riley Green still comes across decisively as a singles artist in my eyes.
He has yet to release a full project that retains a sustained buzz and intrigue in the broader sense like Combs, Stapleton, Johnson and Wilson Jr. have. He mostly endeared himself to mainstream audiences these past couple of years off of hit duets with Ella Langley, as well as sex appeal via “Worst Way”…………but he has fallen short of captivating listeners artistically in the form of a full project yet (I know he has released multiple studio albums: I’m saying he has yet to release an album that stands out on its own as an impactful work that people keep coming back to listen to like the aforementioned men I listed have)
And it’s for that reason why I don’t look at Green not being nominated as a snub.
September 11, 2026 @ 1:23 pm
I dont know. Just looks like a bunch of crap to me and very little of it is actually country or good country. Heck the best song of the, never really mine by kaitlinn butts isnt even on there. Def wont be watching this dumpster trash show.
September 11, 2026 @ 1:31 pm
Even though I agree that “Album Of The Year” is the category where Langley is the least of a shoo-in to win…………..I still predict she will win that too: given that it has been a steadily strong seller since its release back in April, and that I don’t see Musgraves having any decisive edge over her from a critical perspective nor Combs from a commercial one.
Aside from the categories Langley is nominated in……………I think Stephen Wilson Jr. wins New Artist Of The Year. Carter Faith is awesome and I’m rooting for her continued growth and maturity as an artist, but I still feel “Cherry Valley” has been hovering a bit under the radar and it is for that reason why I think Wilson Jr. wins fairly easily. I think Cody Johnson will come out on top in the “Male Vocalist Of The Year” race, however.