Last night in Nashville, the air buzzed with that electric mix of sequins, steel guitars, and Southern drawls as the 59th Country Music Association Awards lit up Bridgestone Arena. Stars like Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Megan Moroney traded red carpet poses for stage-side suspense, all under the solo hosting magic of Lainey Wilson—her first time flying solo since Reba McEntire back in ’91. It was a night of history-making moments, jaw-dropping performances, and yeah, a few tears over those lifetime nods. If you missed it (or just need a cheat sheet for the water cooler chat), here’s the full rundown of who snagged the hardware.
For a deeper dive into Lainey’s hosting highlights, check out this recap on Billboard, where she spills on channeling Reba’s spirit with a dash of her own wild energy.
Standout Honors and Surprises
Before we hit the category-by-category breakdown, a quick shoutout to the non-competitive crowns. Country icon Vince Gill pocketed the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, joining an elite crew that includes Dolly Parton and George Strait. It’s the kind of nod that feels like a warm hug from the genre itself—timeless and tear-jerking. (Pro tip: Stream Gill’s catalog on Spotify if you’re not already humming “Go Rest High on That Mountain” today CMA Awards 2025 winners .)
And let’s not sleep on the performances that had everyone buzzing. Ella Langley and Riley Green’s “you look like you love me” duet? Pure fire. Luke Combs brought the thunder with “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,” and Post Malone’s collab with Blake Shelton on “Pour Me A Drink” proved he’s more than just a genre tourist. For full setlist vibes, head over to Rolling Stone’s live blog.
Entertainer of the Year
This one’s always the big kahuna—the trophy that screams “you’re carrying country on your back right now.” Nominees included heavy hitters like Luke Combs, Cody Johnson,CMA Awards 2025 winners ,Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen. But in a twist that had me spilling my sweet tea, it went to…
Winner: Lainey Wilson
(She doubled up here after her hosting gig—talk about a power move. Read more on her whirlwind year via this NPR feature.)
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)
Winner: “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Producer: Will Bundy; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
(That harmony? Chef’s kiss. It’s already climbing charts—peek at the Billboard Hot Country Songs update.)
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)
Winner: “Whirlwind” – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
(Lainey’s on a roll. Fans are raving—catch the discourse on Reddit’s r/country.)
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)
Winner: “you look like you love me” (Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere)
(Pen game strong. Songwriters’ circle is lit—see ASCAP’s breakdown.)
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
Winner: Lainey Wilson
(Three-peat vibes? She’s unstoppable. For her vocal evolution, link up with this CMT interview.)
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Luke Combs
Winner: Cody Johnson - Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Morgan Wallen
(Cody’s gravelly truth-telling won out—deserved. Dive into his backstory on Texas Monthly.)
Vocal Group of the Year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
Winner: The Red Clay Strays
(Fresh blood shaking things up. Their rise is chronicled here on American Songwriter.)
Vocal Duo of the Year
Winner: Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Maddie & Tae
- The War And Treaty
(Legends never die. Relive their hits via this Spotify playlist.)
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)
Winner: “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)
(Crossover magic at its finest. Posty’s country pivot? Variety unpacks it.)
Musician of the Year
- Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Winner: Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar - Brent Mason – Guitar
- Rob McNelley – Guitar
- Derek Wells – Guitar
(The unsung heroes shine. Paul’s pedal steel wizardry? Legendary—Guitar World spotlights him.)
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)
Winner: “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney)
(Visual poetry. DIY directing for the CMA Awards 2025 winners win—AdWeek analyzes the aesthetic.)
New Artist of the Year
- Ella Langley
- Shaboozey
Winner: Zach Top - Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
(Zach’s got that old-soul swagger. His debut’s blowing up—stream on Apple Music.)
Whew, what a ride. Lainey’s dominance was the thread tying it all together, but the underdogs like Ella and Zach? They made it feel fresh. If you’re plotting your next playlist or road trip soundtrack, this list is gold. Drop your fave win in the comments—mine’s that Langley-Green sweep. For more country deep cuts, swing by our guide to rising Nashville talents or red carpet fashion breakdown. Until next year, keep the boots dusty.
