Ella Langley Confirmed to Perform at 2026 CMA Awards

It's official: Ella Langley will perform at the 2026 CMA Awards. The Country Music Association named her to the first group of performers on November 5, which means the night's most-nominated artist is booked for the Bridgestone Arena stage on Wednesday, November 18. She lands in a first wave that also includes Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw and Kacey Musgraves, with more names still to come.

That ends the biggest open question we had going into the show. Two weeks ago the CMA's own performers page still read "to be announced," and we warned fans not to trust any site claiming a performance was locked. Now it is. Here's the full lineup so far, what we think she might sing, and why this is one of the biggest nights of her year.

Who's performing at the 2026 CMA Awards

The first wave of performers the CMA announced on November 5:

• Cody Johnson
• Miranda Lambert
• Ella Langley
• Kacey Musgraves
• Red Clay Strays
• Tim McGraw
• Zach Top
• Tucker Wetmore

This is a first batch, not the full bill. The CMA typically adds performers, presenters and collaboration pairings right up to show week, so expect more announcements over the next two weeks. The association also said several of these artists will take part in a Dolly Parton tribute during the broadcast, though it hasn't said which ones. Ella already sang "Jolene" on the network's Dolly Parton tribute special in October, so if the show builds a tribute moment into the night, she's an obvious fit.

Brooks & Dunn will also be honored with the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the telecast.

What will Ella Langley perform?

The CMA hasn't announced song choices for anyone yet, so this part is still open. But her catalog makes the shortlist easy to guess. "Choosin' Texas", her Miranda Lambert co-write, is the obvious headline: it went back to No. 1 on the Hot 100 this month and has now spent a record 26 weeks on top of that chart. It's up for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year, so a performance would double as a victory lap.

The other strong candidate is "Be Her", her other Single of the Year and Song of the Year nominee, or the title track from Dandelion, the album she's nominated for. With Miranda Lambert also on the performer list, a live version of their duet "Butterfly Season" is at least possible, though that's our guess, not a confirmed plan. Until the CMA releases a running order, treat any specific setlist you see online as speculation.

Why this performance matters for her

Ella walks into the 60th CMA Awards leading everyone with nine nominations, the most a woman has ever received in a single CMA year. That includes her first Entertainer of the Year nod, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Dandelion. Getting a performance slot on top of that puts her front and center on country's biggest night, not just in the nominee seats. For a full category-by-category read on her chances, see our breakdown of Ella Langley's odds in all nine CMA categories and the case for whether she can win Entertainer of the Year.

The timing is loud, too. The 2027 Grammy nominations come out November 16, two days before the CMAs, with Best New Artist in play for her. Between the Grammy news, a CMA performance and nine nominations, this is shaping up to be the defining week of her career so far.

How and when to watch

The 60th Annual CMA Awards air live Wednesday, November 18 at 8/7c on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Lainey Wilson hosting solo. They stream the same night on Disney+, and land on Hulu the next day. For the full rundown of what Ella is nominated for and every way to tune in, read our 2026 CMA Awards how-to-watch guide.

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