The 60th annual CMA Awards nominations have officially dropped, and country music star Ella Langley is leading the charge with a jaw-dropping nine nods. This massive achievement ties the all-time record for the most nominations in a single year by a female artist.
Historic Nominations and Record Breakers
Langley's record-tying feat puts her right alongside country icons Miranda Lambert—who first set the benchmark in 2010 and matched it in 2014—and Lainey Wilson, who achieved the tally in 2023. The total sits just one shy of Alan Jackson’s all-time record of 10 nominations set back in 2002.
Langley's smash hit "Choosin’ Texas"—which shattered records with 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100—is driving her momentum. It stands out as the only work nominated simultaneously for single, song, and music video of the year.
Women are dominating the major categories this year. For the first time in CMA history, female artists account for four out of the five nominees for single of the year. Langley secured double nods in the category for both "Choosin’ Texas" and "Be Her," making her only the eighth artist ever to achieve two single-of-the-year nominations in the same cycle.
Other Major Milestones
The 2026 ballot is packed with historical shifts across the board:
- Miranda Lambert: Lands her 19th nomination for female vocalist of the year, officially surpassing Reba McEntire’s long-standing record of 18 nods.
- Shane McAnally: Breaks a tie with Alan Jackson to claim the record for the most song of the year nominations, pulling in his 11th nod for co-writing Kacey Musgraves' "Dry Spell."
- Little Big Town: Extends their incredible streak to 21 consecutive years on the final ballot for vocal group of the year, dating back to 2006.
- Jack Antonoff: Secures his very first CMA nomination as a co-producer on Taylor Swift’s "I Knew It, I Knew You."
What's Next
The star-studded ceremony will be hosted solo by Lainey Wilson, who makes history as the first female artist to solo-host the show twice.
The 60th annual CMA Awards broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18, airing on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu. Final voting for CMA professional members runs through October 27, tabulated securely by Deloitte.
