Bobby Bones Reveals Which Artists He Wants To Win At The 60th CMA Awards

Bobby Bones and Eddie Garcia revealed which artists they want to see win at the CMA Awards in a new episode of The BobbyCast.

The Country Music Association’s milestone 60th show is set for November 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Lainey Wilson, who won Entertainer of the Year in 2025, is returning to host the show for her third consecutive year (and second year in a row hosting solo). Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Ben West, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. received the most nominations, the Association announced earlier this month. A press release stated that “nominees are determined by CMA's 7,083 voting-eligible Professional members, spanning every corner of the Country Music landscape.” Notably, Taylor Swift, who is expected to attend the show, received her first nomination in four years. Iconic duo Brooks & Dunn will receive the 2026 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a new episode of The BobbyCast, “Bobby and Eddie go through this year’s CMA categories and make their picks for who they want to see win, while also breaking down the difference between the CMAs and ACMs [Academy of Country Music Awards],” the episode’s description reads. “Bobby shares stories from his own award show experiences, including showing his CMA and ACM awards. The guys debate Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Female and Male Vocalist, Duo, Group, New Artist, and Musical Event of the Year, plus a few classic Bobby and Eddie side tangents along the way.”

The 60th CMA Awards will air on Wednesday, November 18 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+, and the following day on Hulu.

Listen to the full BobbyCast episode on iHeartRadio and watch on Netflix. Scroll below to see the full list of nominees, including which artists Bobby and Eddie picked.

Entertainer of the Year

• Luke Combs  — Bobbie's pick
• Cody Johnson  
• Ella Langley  — Eddie's pick
• Chris Stapleton  
• Lainey Wilson 

Album of the Year

• Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top 
  • Producer: Carson Chamberlain 
  • Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey 
• Dandelion – Ella Langley 
  • Producers: Devin Dawson, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West 
  • Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss 
• Middle of Nowhere – Kacey Musgraves —Bobby's pick
  • Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian 
  • Mix Engineers: Serban Ghenea, Konrad Snyder 
• Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum — Eddie's pick
  • Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse 
  • Mix Engineer: Eric Masse 
• The Way I Am – Luke Combs 
  • Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton 
  • Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews 

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Miranda Lambert
• Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney — Bobby's pick, Eddie's pick
• Kacey Musgraves
• Lainey Wilson

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Luke Combs — Eddie's pick
• Cody Johnson 
• Chris Stapleton — Bobby's pick
• Zach Top  
• Stephen Wilson Jr. 

New Artist of the Year

• Avery Anna — Bobby's pick
• Carter Faith 
• Emily Ann Roberts 
• Tucker Wetmore 
• Stephen Wilson Jr. — Eddie's pick

Single of the Year

• “Be Her” – Ella Langley  
  • Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West 
  • Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss 
• “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley — Bobby's pick, Eddie's pick
  • Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West 
  • Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss 
• “I Knew It, I Knew You” – Taylor Swift 
  • Producers: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift 
  • Mix Engineer: Laura Sisk 
• “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson 
  • Producer: Jay Joyce 
  • Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 
• “The Fall” – Cody Johnson 
  • Producer: Trent Willmon 
  • Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke 

Song of the Year

• “Be Her”  
  • Songwriters: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt 
• “Beautiful Things” — Bobby's pick
  • Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington, Megan Moroney 
• “Choosin’ Texas”  
  • Songwriters: Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor 
• “Dry Spell” 
  • Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne 
• “Gary” — Eddie's pick
  • Songwriter: Stephen Wilson Jr.  

Vocal Group of the Year

• Lady A 
• Little Big Town — Bobby's pick, Eddie's pick
• Midland 
• Old Dominion 
• The Red Clay Strays 

Vocal Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn — Bobby's pick, Eddie's pick
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Muscadine Bloodline
• Thelma & James

Musical Event of the Year

• “A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert (with Chris Stapleton) 
  • Producer: Dave Cobb 
• “Horses and Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves (feat. Miranda Lambert) — Bobby's pick
  • Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian 
• “I Can’t Love You Anymore” – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen — Eddie's pick
  • Producers: Austin Goodloe, Ella Langley, Ben West 
• “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” – Carly Pearce & Riley Green 
  • Producers: Carly Pearce, Ben West 
• “McArthur” – HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw 
  • Producer: Jay Joyce 

Music Video of the Year

• “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley 
  • Directors: Ella Langley, Caylee Robillard, Wales Toney  
• “Dry Spell” – Kacey Musgraves 
  • Directors: Hannah Lux Davis, Kacey Musgraves 
• “Gary” – Stephen Wilson Jr.  
  • Directors: Tim Cofield, Stephen Wilson Jr. 
• “The Fall” – Cody Johnson 
  • Director: Dustin Haney 
• “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton 
  • Director: Running Bear 

Musician of the Year

• Tom Bukovac – Guitar  
• Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle 
• Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar 
• Rob McNelley – Guitar 
• Charlie Worsham – Guitar