The final nominees for the 60th annual CMA Awards were revealed Thursday morning (Sept. 10). To no one’s surprise, Ella Langley led all nominees with nine nods, including her first entertainer of the year nominations.
She’s the only newbie in the entertainer of the year category, joining reigning champ Lainey Wilson, past winner Luke Combs and past nominees Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson.
Miranda Lambert followed Langley with seven nominations, four of them coming from her work with Langley including co-writing “Choosin’ Texas,” which has spent a record-setting 21 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100. Lambert also earns her 19th nomination for female vocalist of the year. That sets a new record, surpassing Reba McEntire’s 18 nominations.
Other nominees reached major milestones, including Little Big Town, which received its 21st consecutive nomination for vocal group of the year, the most for any group.
The eligibility period is July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Additionally, for single of the year, the track must have reached the top 10 ofBillboard’s Country Airplay or Hot Country Songs charts or theCountry Aircheckchart.
The 60th CMA Awards will air on ABC and, for the first time, stream live on Disney + on Nov. 18 as part of a new six-year extension the CMA signed with Disney in May. It will stream starting Nov. 19 on Hulu.
While Langley’s nominations were expected, there were several surprises, both in those who received nods and several who did not. Below, we look at some of the largest snubs and surprises from Thursday’s nominations.
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Snub: Morgan Wallen
Wallen was a no-show when he won entertainer of the year in 2024 and maybe voters haven’t forgiven him because the only two nominations he landed were in the musical event of the year category for his work with others: with leading nominee Langley for their No. 1 duet, “I Can’t Love You Anymore” and “McArthur” with HARDY, Eric Church and Tim McGraw.
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Surprise: Stephen Wilson Jr.
Here’s what a great performance or two can get you. At last year’s awards show, Wilson mesmerized by performing “Stand By Me” solo and then “Took A Walk” with Shaboozey. Voters remembered, rewarding Wilson with four nominations this year included the expected new artist of the year (he was nominated in that category last year as well), but he also landed nods for song of the year and music video of the year for “Gary” and male vocalist of the year.
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Snub: Riley Green
Other than Langley and Moroney, it’s hard to imagine an artist who has had as staggering a rise over the past few years as Green and he felt like a sure bet for his first male vocalist of the year nod. His co-ed duets continue to be catnip to voters. His four nominations last year were for his work with Langley. This year, his sole nomination comes in the musical event of the year category for “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” with Carly Pearce.
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Surprise: Taylor Swift
It’s never a surprise that Swift is nominated for an award but file this one under pleasant surprise that Swift has come back home to country where she got her start 20 years ago. In June, she released “I Knew It, I Knew You” from Toy Story 5 and country fans (and CMA voters) instantly welcomed her back, rewarding her with a No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and with a single of the year nomination. It is her first CMA nomination since “I Bet You Think About Me” for video of the year in 2022 and her first single of the year nom since 2013 for “Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. (Her producer, Jack Antonoff, receives his first CMA nomination, as does engineer Laura Sisk).
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Snub: Megan Moroney
Moroney landed two nominations, including female vocalist and song of the year for “Beautiful Things,” but after the year she’s had, including landing an album at the top of both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums with Cloud 9 and headlining her own sold-out arena tour, it felt a little underwhelming. If seemed she had a real shot at entertainer of the year (though the category is extremely competitive this year) or a single of the year nod for “6 Months Later.”
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Snub: Stella Lefty
Lefty has been part of this year’s country revolution with her song “Boston” helping country music claim the top 5 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in August. Additionally, women enjoyed a record run on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, occupying all top five positions for weeks on end, also thanks to “Boston” (which reached No. 1). Lefty was perhaps a long shot given the strength of this year’s new artist of the year candidates, but she was definitely in the conversation, as was “Boston” for single of the year.
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Surprise: Emily Ann Roberts and Avery Anna
While both deserving, there were bigger and more successful names that many expected to take up slots in the new artist category. Roberts has been around since she was a contestant on Blake Shelton’s team on The Voice more than 10 years ago in 2015. But her career has really picked up momentum since signing with RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville last summer and opening for both Cody Johnson and Megan Moroney.
Similarly, Anna won over fans on her Girl of Constant Sorrow headlining tour. Neither has had substantial success as country radio yet, but it feels like only a matter of time. Both were nominated for new female artist of the year for the 2026 ACM Awards (with Anna winning). It marks the first time since 2021 that three women (they’re joined by Carter Faith) received nominations in this category.