The 2025 CMA Awards nominations just dropped, and the list proves country music’s circle is as wide open as ever.
At the very top, Entertainer of the Year is once again a heavyweight showdown. Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson are going head-to-head, which means this will not just be about who had the hits but also about who carried the genre on their back all year long. Each name has a case, but Lainey’s back-to-back dominance and Johnson’s barn-burning live shows make this one of the toughest races in years.
Single and Song of the Year show how diverse country has gotten without losing its backbone. Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU” sits beside Megan Moroney’s confessional “Am I Okay?,” Zach Top’s steel-soaked “I Never Lie,” Ella Langley and Riley Green’s firecracker “you look like you love me,” and Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma.” That is a mix of heartbreak, grit, and barroom sing-alongs that feels like the genre at full stretch.
Album of the Year is where the sparks fly. Megan Moroney’s Am I Okay? and Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music both carry the torch for pure country storytelling. Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind is the reigning queen’s latest storm. Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem continues his streak as a streaming juggernaut. And then there is Post Malone with F-1 Trillion, the crossover star who showed up in Nashville studios and managed to land a seat at the table. Love it or hate it, the fact that he is in this category tells you how big a tent the CMAs are trying to pitch this year.
The Female Vocalist lineup may be the fiercest of the night. Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Ella Langley are all surging, while Miranda Lambert and Kelsea Ballerini keep proving why they still belong. The men’s side has its own surprise with Zach Top breaking into Male Vocalist alongside Wallen, Combs, Stapleton, and Cody Johnson. That is a win for every fan who still craves fiddle, steel, and songs cut from the cloth of tradition.
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Group and Duo of the Year categories mix old blood with new sparks. Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, and Rascal Flatts all return, but The Red Clay Strays’ nomination feels like a shot of adrenaline. On the duo side, Brooks and Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan and Shay, Maddie and Tae, and The War and Treaty round out a stacked list, even if fans will argue that someone fresh should have broken through.
The Musical Event category is loaded with pairings that prove collaboration is still country’s secret weapon. Riley Green and Ella Langley’s “Don’t Mind If I Do” squares off against Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had To Be There,” Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll, and Post Malone with Blake Shelton. These songs show how much Nashville loves the power of two voices colliding.
And then there is the New Artist list. Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, and Stephen Wilson Jr. are all in the mix, and each of them represents a different corner of what country is becoming. Langley is the breakout firecracker. Shaboozey carries the outlaw-meets-hip-hop swagger. Zach Top is a throwback who feels brand new. Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr. round out a class that looks as unpredictable as it is exciting.
CMA Awards 2025 Full List of Nominees
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
“4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
Producer: Kristian Bush
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
“you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
For You
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
Producer: Kristian Bush
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
“4x4xU”
Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
“Am I Okay?”
Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney
“I Never Lie”
Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
“Texas”
Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock
“you look like you love me”
Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green (featuring Ella Langley)
Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll
Producer: Micah Nichols
“I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood)
Producer: Trent Willmon
“Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton)
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome
“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney (feat. Kenny Chesney)
Producer: Kristian Bush
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Rob McNelley – Guitar
Derek Wells – Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
Directors: Alexandra Gavillet, Megan Moroney
“I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood)
Director: Dustin Haney
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
Director: TK McKamy
“Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
Director: Running Bear
“you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ella Langley
Shaboozey
Zach Top
Tucker Wetmore
Stephen Wilson Jr.
On November 19, the Bridgestone Arena will light up with performances, surprises, and plenty of debate. Yet the nominations alone tell the story. Legends still own their crowns, and the next wave is knocking hard on the door. The circle is holding strong, but it is also getting louder, wider, and wilder.
