Country Music Just Crashed the 2026 VMAs,And These Nominations Are HUGE
- All Country News
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Country music isn’t staying in its own lane at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
This year’s nominations are packed with familiar Nashville heavyweights, fast-rising newcomers and some of the genre’s biggest crossover success stories.
Morgan Wallen, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Tucker Wetmore, Shaboozey, Kacey Musgraves and Stella Lefty all landed nominations, and several country names are competing well beyond the Best Country category.
For a genre that continues to dominate streaming charts, festival stages and pop culture conversations, the VMAs ballot feels like another reminder that country’s reach is only getting bigger.
Morgan Wallen Is Up For Artist Of The Year
One of country music’s biggest stars is competing for one of the biggest trophies of the entire night.
Morgan Wallen earned an Artist of the Year nomination, putting him in an all-genre race alongside some of music’s biggest names.
Wallen’s inclusion is especially notable because there’s no genre qualifier attached. He isn’t simply being recognized as one of country music’s biggest acts, he’s being placed among the biggest artists in music, period.
Ella Langley’s Monster Year Keeps Getting Bigger
At this point, it seems like Ella Langley can’t stop collecting major career moments.
Her hit “Choosin’ Texas” earned a nomination for Song of the Year, giving the Alabama native a spot in one of the ceremony’s marquee categories.
Langley also appears in the Best Country race with the song, meaning she’ll head into the VMAs with multiple chances to walk away a winner.
It’s another major milestone in what has become a massive run for one of country music’s brightest stars.
Shaboozey Earns Recognition On Both Sides Of The Camera
Shaboozey is another country artist with more than one reason to celebrate.
His song “Cowgirl” is nominated for Best Country, while the accompanying visual earned recognition in Best Cinematography.
The pair of nominations continues Shaboozey’s impressive crossover streak and shows that his impact is extending beyond the songs themselves.
Stella Lefty Makes A Big First Impression
There’s also a new name making plenty of noise on this year’s ballot.
Stella Lefty earned a nomination for Best New Artist, immediately putting her among the emerging performers to watch heading into the show.
She also joins the Best Country lineup with “Boston,” giving the rising artist two major nominations during a breakout chapter of her career.
Here Are All The Best Country Nominees
The dedicated country category brings together superstars, hitmakers and some of Nashville’s fastest-rising talent.
Best Country nominees:
Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
Kacey Musgraves — “Dry Spell”
Lainey Wilson — “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Luke Combs — “Back in the Saddle”
Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”
Stella Lefty — “Boston”
Tucker Wetmore — “Brunette”
It’s a lineup that says plenty about country music in 2026.
Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and Kacey Musgraves bring proven star power, while Ella Langley, Tucker Wetmore, Shaboozey and Stella Lefty represent artists helping push the genre into its next era.
But perhaps the bigger story is what’s happening outside the country-specific category.
With Wallen chasing Artist of the Year, Langley competing for Song of the Year and Shaboozey and Lefty picking up additional nods, country music isn’t simply being invited to the VMAs.
It’s becoming part of the main event.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are set for Sunday, September 27, and country fans will have plenty of names to root for when the Moon Persons start getting handed out.
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