Ella Langley Ties CMA Record with Nine Nominations as Women Dominate 2026 Awards

Ella Langley is leading the 60th annual CMA Awards with nine nominations, tying the record for the most nods by a female artist in a single year. Miranda Lambert set that mark in 2010 and matched it in 2014, and Lainey Wilson hit it in 2023. Langley now sits one nomination away from Alan Jackson’s all-time record of ten. Her song“Choosin’Texas”is the only release nominated for single, song and music video of the year, which says just about everything about the year she’s had.

Lambert isn’t far behind with seven nominations, including her 19th career female vocalist of the year nod, the most in the history of that category. Kacey Musgraves and Ben West earned five apiece, while Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each scored four. Little Big Town extended its own record to 21 consecutive years nominated for vocal group of the year.

The story that may end up defining this year’s show? Women account for four of the five single of the year nominees for the first time in CMA history. Lainey Wilson returns as host and is up for entertainer of the year, becoming the first woman to solo-host the show twice. The 60th CMA Awards air live November 18 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu. Who are you rooting for to take home the big one? Let us know in the comments.