Ella Langley & Kacey Musgraves Lead First CMA Performers

The Country Music Association and ABC have announced an initial round of eight performers for the 2027 CMA Awards.

Ella Langley leads this year’s nominations with nine.

Miranda Lambert comes into the telecast with seven nods.

Kacey Musgraves has five nominations.

Others in the performing lineup include Cody Johnson, who has four nominations.

Zach Top enters the night up for two awards.

The Red Clay Strays will be defending the title they picked up last year as vocal group of the year.

Tucker Wetmore is contending for new artist of the year.

Tim McGraw was also announced as a performer.

McGraw is celebrating his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

He has 40 career nominations for the CMAs.

His latest nomination is for Musical Event of the Year.

The CMA Awards air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Nov. 18 at 8-11 p.m.

ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

The show will be available for on-demand streaming the next day on Hulu.

Lainey Wilson returns as host for the third year.

Show veteran Robert Deaton returns as executive producer.

Alan Carter is back as director.

Jon Macks is the telecast’s head writer.

Other top nominees, some of whom are bound to show up in further performing slots, include Ben West with five nominations.

Ben West is Langley’s co-producer.

Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. each have four nominations.

Wilson, Luke Combs and Dave Clauss each have three nominations.

Dave Clauss is Langley’s mix engineer.

There will also be a special tribute performance for the late Dolly Parton.

Lainey Wilson, 34, said after the news was unveiled in September: “I couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the CMA Awards again this year, especially with it being the 60th anniversary.”

Wilson added: “I’ve had so much fun hosting the last two years, and this one’s going to be extra special.”

She said: “Can’t wait to see y’all in November!”

The nominations were announced a few days after the host news.

Langley takes the lead with nine nominations total.

Lambert trails closely behind with seven.

Musgraves and Ben West each have five.

On the same day nominations were unveiled, Taylor Swift revealed she would attend the awards show for the first time in 10 years.

Swift, 36, wrote on her Instagram Stories: “LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T YEE’D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!! See you there Nov. 18 🤠.”

Swift was nominated for Single of the Year for her hit “I Knew It, I Knew You.”

The 2026 CMAs will air live on ABC and Disney+.

They will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Cody Johnson is up for four CMA Awards this year.

Johnson is nominated for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single and Music Video of the Year.

Miranda Lambert earns seven nominations this year.

She is nominated for two for Single of the Year.

She is nominated for one for Album of the Year as a producer.

She is nominated for two for Musical Event of the Year.

She is nominated for Song of the Year as a songwriter.

She is nominated for her 19th nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year.

With 70 career nominations, Lambert holds the record for the most CMA Awards nominations by a female artist.

After taking home three CMA Awards last year, Ella Langley leads this year’s nominees with nine nods.

Langley is nominated for Entertainer, Album, Female Vocalist, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year.

She also has two nominations each for Single and Song of the Year.

Newly inducted Country Music Hall of Fame member Tim McGraw will celebrate the milestone with a performance.

McGraw is a Musical Event of the Year nominee this year.

He has 40 career CMA Awards nominations.

Kacey Musgraves earns five nominations this year.

She is nominated for Album, Song, Female Vocalist, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year.

Reigning Vocal Group of the Year The Red Clay Strays are nominated again this year in the category.