Who will dominate the 2025 CMA Awards?
The 59th CMAs are lighting up Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and Lainey Wilson has the mic, the swagger, and six nominations to match. She is tied with Megan Moroney and Ella Langley at the front of the pack, which already signals where 2025 country lives. It lives in bold vocals, sharp pens, and songs that travel from barstools to stadiums without losing their bite. Early Wednesday winners hit like a starter pistol, with Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Ella Langley, and Riley Green among the first names revealed. That is a statement before the red carpet even cools.
Call it the year the new class and the road warriors met in the middle. Zach Top walked in with five nods. Riley Green and Cody Johnson brought four apiece. Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Carson Chamberlain, and Kristian Bush each landed three. If your playlist mixes steel and swagger, you are not alone. The stage is stacked the same way, from Wilson, Langley, Moroney, Green, Combs, Top, and Stapleton to BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Brandi Carlile, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, Keith Urban, and Little Big Town. That is a highway of sounds, and all of them are flooring it.
Vince Gill, receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, hits like a warm front. George Strait, Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, and Charley Pride wore that honor in years past, and Gill belongs right there. Expect a spotlight that turns into a singalong, because every picker in town knows those chords by heart.
As for unforgettable moments, pencil in Lainey’s host run, the collision of traditionalists and boundary benders on one bill, and the morning shockwave of those first winners. The CMAs still know how to freeze time for three hours and remind folks why this genre keeps growing. Winners are rolling out, and the big moments are already humming. Nashville came to play tonight.
From Entertainer of the Year to New Artist: The 2025 CMA Winners List
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson — WINNER
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
- “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 — WINNER // Producer: Will Bundy //Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- 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 — WINNER // Producer: Jay Joyce // Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “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” — WINNER // Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
For You
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson — WINNER
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson — WINNER
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays — WINNER
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn — WINNER
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Maddie & Tae
- The War and Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
- 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) — WINNER // 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 — WINNER
- Brent Mason – Guitar
- Rob McNelley – Guitar
- Derek Wells – Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- “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 — WINNER // Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Ella Langley
- Shaboozey
- Zach Top — WINNER
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
