Ella Langley is heading into the 60th Annual CMA Awards as the most-nominated artist this year. The 27-year-old country star from Hope Hull, Alabama, earned nine nominations when the Country Music Association announced the nominees on Thursday, September 10, 2026. That total puts her just one nomination away from the all-time single-year record of 10, set by Alan Jackson in 2002.
Langley’s nominations include her first-ever nod for Entertainer of the Year, a milestone that left her in complete shock when she watched the announcement live. A video she shared on Instagram shows her screaming, spilling her coffee, and collapsing on the floor after hearing her name called in the top category.
Where Ella Langley’s Nine Nominations Come From
Langley’s nine nominations span seven different categories, with double nods in both Single of the Year and Song of the Year. Here is the full breakdown of her nominations:
- Entertainer of the Year (first career nomination in this category)
- Single of the Year for both “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas”
- Album of the Year for Dandelion
- Song of the Year for both “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas”
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Musical Event of the Year for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Morgan Wallen
- Music Video of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas”
The double nomination in both Single and Song of the Year is a rare achievement. Langley becomes only the eighth artist in CMA history to earn two nominations in a single category in the same year. “Choosin’ Texas” is the only song this year recognized across all three categories: Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year.
The Record Ella Langley Is Chasing
The all-time record for most CMA Award nominations in a single year belongs to Alan Jackson, who received 10 nominations in 2002. That record broke a 32-year-old mark set by Merle Haggard, who earned nine nominations in 1970.
Langley’s nine nods also tie the record for the most nominations by a female artist in a single year. That record was previously set by Miranda Lambert in 2010 and matched by Lainey Wilson. Her achievement marks the first time in 16 years that any artist has come this close to the overall record.
Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Taylor Swift Among Other Top Nominees
Miranda Lambert follows Langley with seven nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas” , and Musical Event of the Year for “A Song to Sing” with Chris Stapleton. Lambert’s new nominations bring her total to 70 career CMA nominations, making her the most-nominated female artist of all time.
Kacey Musgraves and Ben West each earned five nominations. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Stephen Wilson Jr. scored four nominations apiece. Taylor Swift returned to the CMA conversation with her first nomination in four years, earning a Single of the Year nod for “I Knew It, I Knew You” from the Toy Story 5 soundtrack.
Lainey Wilson, the reigning Entertainer of the Year, will return as host for the third consecutive year. She scored three nominations this year and shared her excitement about the milestone anniversary:
“I’ve had so much fun hosting the last two years, and this one’s going to be extra special. Can’t wait to see y’all in November!”
Ella Langley’s Reaction to the Nominations
Langley kept her public reaction simple but emotional. On Instagram, she posted an image of her nine nominations with the caption: “What an honor @cma,” followed by teary-eyed and white heart emojis.
A longer video she shared captured the raw moment she learned about the Entertainer of the Year nomination. After collapsing on the floor, she told fans: “I know everyone has probably like seen what’s going on this year” , struggling to find the words for the historic moment. When her album Dandelion was announced in the Album of the Year category, she said: “Album of the Year, I care so much about that!”.
Related:
Voting, Tickets, and How to Watch the 2026 CMA Awards
CMA Award winners will be voted on by eligible CMA Professional members, a voting body of 7,083 people. Voting ends on October 27 at 6 p.m. CT.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. The show airs live from 8 to 11 p.m. EST on ABC and Disney+ , and streams the next day on Hulu. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 18.
Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, shared a statement about this year’s nominees:
“For six decades, the CMA Awards have celebrated excellence in country music. We’re grateful to CMA’s professional members, whose collective voice determines every nomination, bringing real expertise to the balloting process each year. Congratulations to all of this year’s deserving nominees. We cannot wait to celebrate our milestone anniversary together in November.”
Also Read: Internet Divided as Drake Previews His Verse on Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Remix
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on the 2026 CMA Awards and your favorite country music stars.
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