9 Snubs & Surprises From The 2026 CMA Award Nominations
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On September 10, the 2026 CMA Award nominations were revealed. Lee Ann Womack and American Idol winner Hannah Harper announced all the nominees on Good Morning early in the morning.
Once the full list was released, it was revealed that Ella Langley leads the pack with the most nominations this year!
Women dominated the nominations, with Ella leading the pack with nine total nominations, Miranda Lambert with seven, and Kacey Musgraves with five.
As to be expected, the list of CMA Award nominations contained its fair share of snubs and surprises. The shocking omissions and unexpected inclusions certainly have fans talking!
Breaking Down The Snubs & Surprises From The 2026 CMA Award Nominations
Snub – Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney is having one heck of a year. She released her third studio album, Cloud 9, on February 20, 2026 to incredible reviews.
She also embarked on a tour supporting her album that has gone viral on TikTok nearly every night.
Cloud 9 debuted at No. 1 the the Billboard 200 chart, marking the “biggest week for a country album by a woman in nearly two years.” For this reason, we believe she was snubbed by not receiving a nomination for Album of the Year.
She is still up for Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year, but fans believe she should also have a spot in the Entertainer of the Year nominees as well. Moroney also had a highly entertaining music video for her song “Wish I Didn’t,” so we could argue she was snubbed in that category as well.
All in all, just not enough love for a talent like Megan Moroney.
Surprise – Taylor Swift
It was a shock to most country fans to see Taylor Swift’s name back in the mix for a CMA Award. While she dominated the awards early in her career, and has even taken home Entertainer of the Year twice, she hasn’t won a CMA Award since 2017’s “Better Man,” which she only served as a songwriter. Little Big Town recorded it.
The hitmaker was nominated for Music Video of the Year in 2018 for Sugarland’s “Babe,” which she wrote and starred in, and for 2022’s “I Bet You Think About Me” featuring Chris Stapleton.
For the 2026 ceremony, Swift scored two nominations, both for her song “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which was an original song for the film Toy Story 5. She earns two nominations as the performer and the producer of the song.
While she is considered a pop singer now, “I Knew It, I Knew You” was issued in the country genre.
Snub – Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen is up for two CMA Awards, both for Musical Event of the Year. His duet “I Can’t Love You Anymore” with Ella Langley and “McArthur” with Eric Church, HARDY, and Tim McGraw.
Despite those nominations, fans believe he should have more.
They believe his stadium tour and everything else he’s done in the last year was enough to earn him a nomination for Entertainer of the Year.
Some fans have complained that his album I’m The Problem is not up for Album of the Year, but we would like to remind them that it was actually up for Album of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards.
Surprise – Chris Stapleton Nominated For “White Horse”
Chris Stapleton released “White Horse” on July 21, 2023, which is one of the few reasons this particular nomination made it on this list.
Additionally, the song won Stapleton Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2024, as well as Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
But at this year’s CMA Awards, “White Horse” is up for Music Video of the Year. If you’re wondering how, we were too! Stapleton didn’t release a music video for “White Horse” until November of 2025. The cinematic video starred award-winning actor Josh Brolin, Mae McKagan and Tommy Martinez.
Surprise – Stephen Wilson Jr.
Stephen Wilson Jr. had a breakout performance at 2025’s CMA Awards ceremony, performing “Stand By Me,” and dedicating it to his late father.
Since then, he’s been performing at the Ryman Auditorium, at Nashville’s Big Bash on New Year’s Eve, and so many more events. Due to his monster year, which included the release of his EP, Blankets, and his first single “Gary” charting on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart, peaking at No. 33.
He is tied for the most male nominations along with heavy hitters and CMA favorites Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson, each scoring four. Wilson is up for New Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Song of the Year. He scored another nod for being the director of his “Gary” music video.
Snub – Male Vocalist
Male Vocalist is filled with incredible male vocalists and their years, but there are two singers who also deserved a shot, and probably got really close to making the final ballot.
This year’s nominees for Male Vocalist of the Year are Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Stephen Wilson Jr.
Many believe that both Riley Green and Parker McCollum could have earned their way to a Male Vocalist nomination. McCollum is up for Album of the Year for his self-titled album.
Surprise – Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn are currently the most-winning CMA Awards act of all time with 20 wins. They have an opportunity to extend that lead this year, as they are nominated once again for Duo of the Year.
They have won this award the last two years and consecutively from 1992-1999 and 2001-2006.
Their legendary status nearly guarantees them a nomination in this category, but the fact that they haven’t released any new, original music since their 2007 album Cowboy Town, has fans puzzled, which is why they are included on this list!
In recent years, they have re-recorded their hits with artists such as Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and many more. Their most recent release was in November 2024, which is not in the window of eligibility of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
Regardless, they could extend their record this year, and we’d be okay with that!
Snub – Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson is tied for the most male CMA nominations with four. He is nominated in the categories Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Single of the Year.
Although these are incredible accomplishments, we believe his album Banks of the Trinity was overlooked in the Album of the Year category.
(A Well-Deserved) Surprise – Girl Power
Four woman are nominated for Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year, and all we can say is, it’s about dang time!
Additionally, two women are up for Entertainer of the Year, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson…and many think one of them will take it home!
Women have been overlooked countless times in award show history, and they are finally getting their flowers.
Watch the 2026 CMA Awards at 8 PM ET on Wednesday, November 18, to see who wins! The show will be hosted by Lainey Wilson and will air on ABC.
