The 2026 CMA Awards could be a historic night for several country music stars, with Tim McGraw, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson among the artists with opportunities to reach major milestones.
The nominees were announced on September 10, with Ella Langley leading all nominees with nine nominations, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven.
Langley has multiple chances to make CMA history. If she wins six awards in one night, she would break the current record for most CMA Awards won in a single evening, while five wins would tie the record.
She could also become only the 12th artist ever to win Entertainer of the Year in their first year nominated for the award.
Langley has additional history within reach. If “Choosin’ Texas” or “Be Her” wins Single of the Year, she would become just the second artist to win the category in consecutive years after winning in 2025 with “you look like you love me.”
She could potentially achieve the same back-to-back milestone in Song of the Year, a category awarded to songwriters.
With nine nominations, Langley enters the 2026 CMA Awards with several opportunities to make her mark in country music history.
