CMA Awards: Music Video of the Year

The CMA Awards Music Video of the Year voting window runs from October 1 to 27, 2026. This decisive final-ballot period closes at 6:00 p.m. CT, with ballots distributed to eligible CMA professional members ^[1][2]. As of October 1, 2026, no specific, confirmed concert, television appearance, press rollout, video re-release, or award-season campaign for any nominee has been identified to sway CMA voters during this timeframe ^{[1][2][3][5][4][6]}. However, key potential sway events are expected to involve nominee-specific media moments that generate fresh attention to the complete videos, critical discussion, and behind-the-scenes storytelling. These types of engagements are particularly relevant given the judging criteria for Music Video of the Year, which evaluate audio and visual elements, artist performance, creativity, production, and overall impact or reach ^[1][3].

Ella Langley enters the ballot window with significant nomination momentum for "Choosin' Texas." Her song has garnered nine CMA nominations, and its video is prominently featured on the official CMA site, increasing its institutional visibility ^[3][4]. While market data showed “Choosin’ Texas” priced around 50% on Kalshi as of September 23, 2026, this does not serve as a forecast of the final vote outcome ^[1][6]. The most consequential plausible catalysts during October could include a visibility push for Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” capitalizing on her nomination sweep and official CMA prominence ^[1][3][4]. Other potential influential events involve a distinctive creative or visuality campaign or director coverage for Kacey Musgraves’ “Dry Spell”; a strong emotional or auteur-focused media narrative surrounding Stephen Wilson Jr.’s “Gary”; or performances or interviews by Cody Johnson or Chris Stapleton that highlight “The Fall” or “White Horse” ^[1][3][4]. Furthermore, any earned-media event demonstrating broad reach or cultural impact could sway voters, as these criteria are explicitly recognized by CMA rules ^[1][3][4].

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" video is a strong CMA frontrunner. The music video is currently positioned as a significant contender for the CMA Music Video of the Year award, holding a 50% implied probability in prediction markets as of September 23, 2026 ^[1]. Rolling Stone described the video as a “star-studded country drama” featuring a cinematic narrative filmed in Fort Worth and the Stagecoach Ballroom ^[5]. It includes notable appearances by Luke Grimes, Ava Phillippe, a Miranda Lambert cameo, and numerous Texas-country artists ^[5]. An industry report on September 10, 2026, indicated Langley secured nine nominations for the 60th CMA Awards, highlighting her rising influence in country music, though this report did not specifically confirm a Music Video of the Year nomination ^[2].

The song "Choosin' Texas" achieved significant commercial success and cultural impact. It became the first song by a woman to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot 100, Country Airplay, and Hot Country Songs charts ^[3]. The song maintained a 17-week run on the Hot 100 and 35 weeks atop Hot Country Songs, with Rolling Stone also reporting a record-setting 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 ^[6][7][4]. Rolling Stone further designated "Choosin' Texas" as the Song of Summer 2026, underscoring its significant cultural impact ^[4][8][9]. It is important to note, however, that these commercial achievements and accolades primarily reflect the song's performance and popularity, not direct critical reviews or rankings of the music video itself ^[4][8][9].

Research lacks detailed comparison of nominated music videos' narrative styles. Cody Johnson’s “The Fall” and Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” are both official nominees for Music Video of the Year at the 60th CMA Awards ^[1]. However, the available research does not provide a detailed, evidence-based comparison of their narrative styles or emotional impact. Specifically, the sources consulted do not describe the visual plots, tone, performances, or audience responses for either music video ^[3][1].

CMA professional members will determine the 2026 Music Video winner. The winner of the 2026 CMA Music Video of the Year will be selected by CMA professional voting members through a final ballot, with the awards ceremony scheduled for November 18, 2026 ^[1][2]. This specific category recognizes the contributions of both the artists, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton, and their respective directors, Dustin Haney for “The Fall” and Running Bear for “White Horse” ^[1][2].

Winning CMA Music Video of the Year requires specific visual and production qualities. Common attributes for these accolades include a robust visual representation of the song's narrative or its emotional core ^[6][5][7]. Additionally, high production value and creative direction are frequently observed in winning entries ^[6][5][7]. The CMA Music Video of the Year awards are bestowed upon both the performing artist(s) and the director(s) of the music video ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}.

Recent CMA Music Video of the Year winners span 2023 through 2025. In 2023, the award went to "wait in the truck" by HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson ^[1][2][3][4]. Lainey Wilson secured another win in 2024 with "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" ^[1][2][3][4]. Most recently, "you look like you love me" by Ella Langley & Riley Green was honored in 2025 ^[1][2][3][4].

Ella Langley shows exceptional breakout momentum with nine CMA nominations. Her nine nominations for the 60th CMA Awards, primarily driven by "Choosin' Texas," represent an exceptional achievement for an emerging artist and place her just one below a reported single-year record for total nominations ^[1][2]. With 16 career nominations, Langley is rapidly establishing herself as a substantial new force in the industry. Further indicating strong early favor, her "Choosin' Texas" video garnered 50% in the prediction market as of September 23, 2026 ^[3][4].

Musgraves and Stapleton compete from established positions in the CMA landscape. Kacey Musgraves holds five nominations for 2026 and 65 career nominations, while Chris Stapleton, with four 2026 nominations and 46 career nominations, stands as the most seasoned of the three artists by CMA nomination volume ^[1]. Despite their deep histories of recognition, CMA voting is a peer-based process that evaluates the specific video on the final ballot, with each eligible professional member casting one vote ^[1][2][3]. Historically, CMA voters have shown a tendency to reward breakthrough concentrated momentum, a pattern that could potentially benefit Langley in the current awards cycle ^[1][2].

"Choosin’ Texas" by Ella Langley enters as the base-case favorite for the 2026 CMA Music Video of the Year award ^[1][2][3][4]. Langley leads the 2026 CMA nominations with nine, and "Choosin’ Texas" is the sole work nominated across Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year categories ^[1][4]. This song also recorded a 21-week No. 1 run on the Billboard Hot 100 ^[4]. Market data shows dispersion; Polymarket results indicate "Choosin’ Texas" between 67%–73%, while PredictMarketCap/Parity snapshots around September 27–30 show approximately 49.5%–50% ^[2][5][6][3].

The decisive factor is a peer vote by eligible CMA professional members, not chart performance ^[1][4][7]. This dynamic introduces credible competing narratives from Chris Stapleton’s established stature with "White Horse," Kacey Musgraves’ artist/director profile for "Dry Spell," and Stephen Wilson Jr.’s "Gary" ^[1][2][4]. "Gary" functions as the principal alternative in some snapshots, trading around 28%–34.5%, with "White Horse" at approximately 11.5% ^[2][3]. The practical catalyst calendar centers on the October 1 final ballot release, the October 27 voting deadline at 6:00 p.m. CT, and the 60th CMA Awards airing live on November 18, 2026 ^[1][4][8][7].