back to quotation mark \u201ccountry.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\nThe future of country might be one with Taylor Swift back in the picture. But the present is all album Ella Langley and \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas,\u201d which is poised to break the all-time longest-running #1 on top of the Billboard Hot 100 next week. \u201cBuI I\u2019vE nEvEr HeaRd tHe SOng!\u201d That\u2019s because you\u2019re old. It\u2019s an all-timer, and more traditional country than it is anything else. <\/p>\n
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 \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d and comes in with seven. Stephen Wilson Jr. also with four nominations feels like a notable achievement. <\/p>\n
More observations about the 2026 CMA Nominations below. <\/p>\n
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
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\u2019s there to recognize a massive year in country. Taylor Swift won it when she was still on the ascent. It\u2019s likely Ella will win it as well.
\u2013 Luke Combs
\u2013 Cody Johnson
\u2013 Ella Langley
\u2013 Chris Stapleton
\u2013 Lainey Wilson<\/p>\n
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)<\/p>\n
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\u2019s momentum here. Swift will probably perform anyway, and perhaps broadcast her intentions to be more involved in \u201ccountry\u201d moving forward. But whatever you think about \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d the song, \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d the single is a beast. <\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cBe Her\u201d \u2013 Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
\u2013 \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d \u2013 Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
\u2013 \u201cI Knew It, I Knew You\u201d \u2013 Taylor Swift
Producers: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift\\
Mix Engineer: Laura Sisk
\u2013 \u201cSomewhere Over Laredo\u201d \u2013 Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
\u2013 \u201cThe Fall\u201d \u2013 Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke<\/p>\n
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)<\/p>\n
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\u2019t for \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d being so stuck in the #1 spot, \u201cBe Her\u201d would have been a #1 too. But again, it\u2019s \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d that will win. <\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cBe Her\u201d
Songwriters: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt
\u2013 \u201cBeautiful Things\u201d
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington, Megan Moroney
\u2013 \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
\u2013 \u201cDry Spell\u201d
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
\u2013 \u201cGary\u201d
Songwriter: Stephen Wilson Jr.<\/p>\n
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
Of course Ella Langley wins this. <\/p>\n
\u2013 Miranda Lambert
\u2013 Ella Langley
\u2013 Megan Moroney
\u2013 Kacey Musgraves
\u2013 Lainey Wilson<\/p>\n
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t 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\u2019s probably not an unfair assessment, with Morgan Wallen also in the mix, even if they don\u2019t even nominate him anymore because he won\u2019t win. Big Loud instead is betting on Stephen Wilson Jr. But this is probably Cody Johnson\u2019s to lose. Maybe Luke Combs could sneak in, but he\u2019s still coming back from his time off. Never count Stapleton out, but it is an off year for him with no new album. <\/p>\n
\u2013 Luke Combs
\u2013 Cody Johnson
\u2013 Chris Stapleton
\u2013 Zach Top
\u2013 Stephen Wilson Jr.<\/p>\n
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019t In It For My Health really didn\u2019t take off like expected (though it did win a Grammy). <\/p>\n
\u2013 Ain\u2019t In It For My Health \u2013 Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
\u2013 Dandelion \u2013 Ella Langley
Producers: Devin Dawson, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss
\u2013 Middle of Nowhere \u2013 Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
Mix Engineers: Serban Ghenea, Konrad Snyder
\u2013 Parker McCollum \u2013 Parker McCollum
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
Mix Engineer: Eric Masse
\u2013 The Way I Am \u2013 Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews<\/p>\n
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u2013 Lady A
\u2013 Little Big Town
\u2013 Midland
\u2013 Old Dominion
\u2013 The Red Clay Strays<\/p>\n
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
Brooks & Dunn are the presumed winners by default, but good to see some fresh blood here with Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James. <\/p>\n
\u2013 Brooks & Dunn
\u2013 Brothers Osborne
\u2013 Dan + Shay
\u2013 Muscadine Bloodline
\u2013 Thelma & James<\/p>\n
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)<\/p>\n
Though you want to rubber stamp Ella and Morgan\u2019s \u201cI Can\u2019t Love You Anymore\u201d since it\u2019s been right up there on the Hot 100 with \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d and \u201cBe Her,\u201d \u201cHorses & Divorces\u201d has a lot of critical-acclaim power behind it, and frankly is the superior song. \u201cMcArthur\u201d could also accrue a lot of votes with all the star power on that track across labels and age demographics. <\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cA Song To Sing\u201d \u2013 Miranda Lambert (with Chris Stapleton)
Producer: Dave Cobb
\u2013 \u201cHorses and Divorces\u201d \u2013 Kacey Musgraves (feat. Miranda Lambert)
Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
\u2013 \u201cI Can\u2019t Love You Anymore\u201d \u2013 Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen
Producers: Austin Goodloe, Ella Langley, Ben West
\u2013 \u201cIf I Don\u2019t Leave I\u2019m Gonna Stay\u201d \u2013 Carly Pearce & Riley Green
Producers: Carly Pearce, Ben West
\u2013 \u201cMcArthur\u201d \u2013 HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
Producer: Jay Joyce<\/p>\n
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
\u2013 Tom Bukovac \u2013 Guitar
\u2013 Jenee Fleenor \u2013 Fiddle
\u2013 Paul Franklin \u2013 Steel Guitar
\u2013 Rob McNelley \u2013 Guitar
\u2013 Charlie Worsham \u2013 Guitar<\/p>\n
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)<\/p>\n
Yep, Ella Langley, with Kaitlin Butts starring in the video as well. <\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas\u201d \u2013 Ella Langley
Directors: Ella Langley, Caylee Robillard, Wales Toney
\u2013 \u201cDry Spell\u201d \u2013 Kacey Musgraves
Directors: Hannah Lux Davis, Kacey Musgraves
\u2013 \u201cGary\u201d \u2013 Stephen Wilson Jr.
Directors: Tim Cofield, Stephen Wilson Jr.
\u2013 \u201cThe Fall\u201d \u2013 Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney
\u2013 \u201cWhite Horse\u201d \u2013 Chris Stapleton
Director: Running Bear<\/p>\n
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n
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.\u2019s to lose. Or the votes all get split, and the Temu version of Morgan Wallen, Tucker Wetmore walks away with it.
\u2013 Avery Anna
\u2013 Carter Faith
\u2013 Emily Ann Roberts
\u2013 Tucker Wetmore
\u2013 Stephen Wilson Jr.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/p>\n
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