Langley leads CMA nominations as show honors Dolly Parton

Ella Langley ties the single-year record for most nominations by a female artist with nine nods for the 2026 CMA Awards. The Country Music Association and ABC announced the full performer lineup on Wednesday. The ceremony marks the 60th anniversary of the event.

Langley’s 2025 single “Choosin Texas” earned three nominations, including song of the year. The track spent 23 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. That run broke the record previously held by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Miranda Lambert also earned seven nominations this year. She received a nod for producer of the year for her work on Langley’s album Dandelion. Lambert co-wrote and produced the hit single that drove Langley’s record-breaking chart run.

Lainey Wilson will host the broadcast for the third time. The twelve-time winner expressed excitement about the milestone anniversary in a press release. “I’ve had so much fun hosting the last two years, and this one’s going to be extra special,” Wilson said.

The show will feature a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died in August at age 80. Her family described her passing as the result of a brief battle with cancer. The performance lineup includes Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Cody Johnson, The Red Clay Strays, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top.

The program airs on ABC and Disney+ from 8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Hulu will stream the broadcast the following day. Disney serves as the parent company for ABC News and Hulu.