The 2025 CMA Awards are about to begin, and country music fans everywhere are buzzing. Tonight, November 18, 2025, at 8:00pm ET on ABC, the biggest night in country music kicks off live, celebrating the artists, albums, and songs that defined this crazy year.
From powerhouse performances to unforgettable collaborations, this is the moment where careers are cemented and viewers get to see which nominee takes home the shiny trophy. Get ready, because the energy is going to be electric, the surprises are real, and yep, the drama is already starting.
WARNING: This post will contain spoilers for the 2025 CMA Awards and is being updated LIVE as the event airs. So, keep refreshing the page to get all the details on who wins in each category.
Musical Event of the Year (Announced Pre-Show)
Collabs are some of the best moments in country music; celebrating every moment that made fans hit replay and say, “Wait, did they just do that?”
Nominees: “Don’t Mind If I Do” by Riley Green featuring Ella Langley, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll, “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood, “Pour Me a Drink” by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton, “You Had to Be There” by Megan Moroney featuring Kenny Chesney
Winner: “Pour Me a Drink” by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton
Music Video of the Year (Announced Pre-Show)
Music Video of the Year is where visuals meet vibes. These clips didn’t just complement the songs. They elevated them, gave us iconic moments, and had us talking all year.
Nominees: “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney (Director: Alexandra Gavillet); “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood (Director: Dustin Haney); “Somewhere Over Laredo” by Lainey Wilson (Director: TK McKamy); “Think I’m In Love With You” by Chris Stapleton (Director: Running Bear); “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green (Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Tone)
Winner: “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green (Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Tone)
The show opened with a Luke Combs performance of “Back in the Saddle.”
Then, Lainey Wilson totally crushed it with an epic speech about her love for country music and what this night means to her. This is her second year hosting (she co-hosted with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning in 2024). Fun fact: she’s only the third woman ever to host the CMA Awards solo, following legends Reba McEntire in 1991 and Dolly Parton way back in 1988.
She also performed a mash-up of a bunch of popular country songs, meeting up with some of the artists in the audience, including Little Big Town.
Keith Urban appeared onstage to perform “Where the Blacktop Ends,” as well.
Single of the Year
Single of the Year is for the track you couldn’t stop hearing. On TikTok, the radio, or during every road trip you took this year.
Nominees: “4x4xU” by Lainey Wilson, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” by Luke Combs, “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney, “I Never Lie” by Zach Top, “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green
Winner: “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green – This is their first win for Single of the Year!
Leanne Morgan came onstage (wearing almost the same outfit) to crack a few jokes with Lainey. Then, she announced a performance by Zach Top, who took the stage with his guitar in hand.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Duos aren’t just about singing together… it’s about magic, timing, and trust.
Nominees: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae, The War & Treaty
Winner: Brooks & Dunn – This is their 16th win for Vocal Duo of the Year!
Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan “texted” Lainey as she was introducing the next performance. Megan Moroney then gave us a very pink aesthetic with “6 Months Later.”
Lainey returned to announce Chris Stapleton performing “Bad As I Used To Be.”
After a commercial break Lainey crowned an adorable little girl from the audience as “Cowgirl of the Night” and the two introduced a Kelsea Ballerini performance of “I Sit In Parks.”
New Artist of the Year
New Artist of the Year goes to the breakthrough act that captured attention, sparked trends, and gave fans a reason to sit up and notice.
Nominees: Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr.
Winner: Zach Top – His first CMA Award ever!
Musician of the Year (Announced on Social Media)
Behind every killer track is a musician making magic happen and Musician of the Year honors just that.
Nominees: Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle), Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar), Brent Mason (Guitar), Rob McNelley (Guitar), Derek Wells (Guitar)
Winner: Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) – He’s been nominated 33 times never won… until now!
Lainey returns to the stage with Billy Bob Thornton and they mention Paul Franklin’s win. Then he introduces a Red Clay Strays performance of “People Hatin’.”
And the 2025 CMA Awards continue on…
Song of the Year
Song of the Year honors the writers. The masterminds behind lines that hit you right in the feels or get stuck in your head for days.
Nominees: “4x4xU” written by Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson; “Am I Okay?” written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney; “I Never Lie” written by Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top; “Texas” written by Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock; “you look like you love me” written by Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
Winner: “you look like you love me” written by Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
Stephen Wilson Jr. is welcomed to the stage and he performs a moody rendition of “Stand By Me.”
Lainey comes back again to announce introduces the new Hall of Fame inductees, including June Carter Cash and producer Tony Brown. Then, Kenny Chesney performs his songs, “American Kids” and “When the Sun Goes Down.”
Coming back from break, Lainey is joined by Bailey Zimmerman. The two enthusiastically announce an Old Dominion performance, where the band performs a medley of hits including, “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “One Man Band,” “Hotel Key,” and “Snapback.”
Before announcing the Album of the Year winner, Steve Martin (yep, that Steve Martin) plays the banjo with Allison Brown. Why? To promote their newest album, “Safe, Sensible, and Sane,” of course.
Album of the Year
Album of the Year isn’t just a few radio hits slapped together… it’s a statement. Yep, these albums had vision, vibe, and songs you couldn’t stop replaying.
Nominees: “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney (Producer: Kristian Bush), “Cold Beer & Country Music” by Zach Top (Producer: Carson Chamberlain), “F-1 Trillion” by Post Malone (Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins), “I’m the Problem” by Morgan Wallen (Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Joe Reeves), “Whirlwind” by Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce)
Winner: “Whirlwind” by Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce) – Her 2nd win for Album of the Year!
After a commercial, Bert Kreischer appears to make a few jokes and announce a performance by Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr.. The two give us a beautiful live version of their song, “Took A Walk” from the 2025 film, “The Long Walk.”
Vocal Group of the Year
Harmony, synergy, and that unspoken chemistry; that’s what makes a group stand out.
Nominees: Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, The Red Clay Strays
Winner: The Red Clay Strays – Their first win for Vocal Group of the Year!
Cody Johnson comes on stage and says nice things about Lainey Wilson’s hosting, then introduces her performance of “Ring Finger.”
Following an amazing performance by tonight’s host, Ella Langley takes the stage to honor some of America’s veterans. This included amputee Nick Koulchar, who was gifted a wheelchair accessible truck by Chevy, one of the 2025 CMA Awards sponsors.
Lainey returns in a new outfit after the break to announce a performance by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton who sing their collab, “A Song To Sing.”
Then, in a funny moment, a “young man” in the audience (actually, Alan Ritchson from “Reacher”) gets crowned “Cowboy of the Night.” He helps Lainey introduce Riley Green singing “Worst Way.”
We keep moving with another performance following the commercial break. Ella Langley is up to sing her song, “Choosin’ Texas.”
Male Vocalist of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year celebrates male pure talent… tone, range, and songs that hit you in the feels.
Nominees: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Morgan Wallen
Winner: Cody Johnson – His first win for Male Vocalist of the Year!
And we’re back with Lainey introducing Tucker Wetmore to perform “Wind Up Missin’ You.”
The CMA Awards 2025 are wrapping up soon. But there’s so much more to see. Stay tuned, y’all!
The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
Vince Gill is taking home the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring decades of songwriting, performing, and shaping the very sound of country music.
In celebration, Brandi Carlile sings his song, “When I Call Your Name” and is joined by Patty Loveless. Then, George Strait is introduced to present the actual award to Vince Gill and he says a bunch of nice things about him, with a few jokes thrown in.
Lainey is on-stage again talking about BigXthaPlug wanting to make a country album. Luke Combs agreed to a collab and now the two are performing their song, “Pray Hard.”
Female Vocalist of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year is all about the ladies voices that stick with you: the belters, the storytellers, the ones who could make a quiet room feel like a stadium.
Nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson
Winner: Lainey Wilson – Her 4th win for Female Vocalist of the Year!
Entertainer of the Year
It seems like this is the category everyone wants to know all about before the show even starts. Entertainer of the Year isn’t just about chart-topping hits; it’s about who dominated the conversation, sold out arenas, and basically defined what country music looked like in 2025. Honestly, this feels like anyone’s game, and we get to see the drama unfold live.
Nominees: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Missed all the action? Don’t worry. The 2025 CMA Awards start streaming on Hulu tomorrow (November 20, 2025).
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