On November 19, 2025 the 59th Annual CMA Awards were broadcast live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Hosted by Lainey Wilson for the second year in a row, the primetime awards show is now streaming on Hulu for any viewers who were unable to tune in live. Wilson not only hosted, she also dominated the awards, taking home trophies for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and the evening’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year. The Louisianan country sensation has now won 12 CMA Awards out of 25 nominations in just four years of eligibility – including two Entertainer of the Year wins.
The other stand out award recipient of the night was “you look like you love me,” a viral hit for mainstream country stars Ella Langley & Riley Green. The track garnered trophies for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. Meanwhile Post Malone, who has now been nominated for CMA Awards five times over the past two years, landed his very first CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year for his song, “Pour Me A Drink,” featuring Blake Shelton. Bluegrass-steeped country phenomenon Zach Top also received his first CMA Award – for New Artist of the Year – after two huge, breakout years for everyone’s new favorite neo-traditionalist.
The broadcast included live performances and exciting collaborations from artists like Wilson, Top, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr., the Red Clay Strays, Tucker Wetmore, and many more. Legendary country, bluegrass, and Americana multi-hyphenate Vince Gill was honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award – the presentation featuring a surprise appearance by last year’s awardee, George Strait. Gill’s longtime pal and collaborator, pedal steel guitarist extraordinaire Paul Franklin, took home the award for Musician of the Year.
Chesney, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year and recently released a best-selling book, Heart Life Music, performed a medley of two of his own hits, “American Kids” and “When the Sun Goes Down,” to mark his induction into the hall and celebrate his fellow, newly-minted Hall of Fame members June Carter Cash and Tony Brown, too. Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless joined together to honor Gill’s lifetime achievement honor with a rousing performance of “When I Call Your Name,” a No. 2 Billboard hit for Gill that shone and sparkled on the CMA stage with rich, reedy harmonies by Carlile and Loveless.
Fans can stream the CMA Awards Show now on Hulu. Find the full list of nominees and winners (in bold) for the 59th Annual CMA Awards below:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
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
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
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”
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
“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
“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.
Photo Credit: Lainey Wilson by CeCe Dawson
