CMA Awards 2025 winners list highlights historic Lainey Wilson victory and major category surprises

Lainey Wilson leads CMA Awards 2025 with multiple wins as Ella Langley, Riley Green and Zach Top

The 59th annual Country Music Association Awards brought the biggest names in country music to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 19, where a night of performances, historic milestones and close competition unfolded. The ceremony, hosted by Lainey Wilson, marked the first time since Reba McEntire in 1991 that a woman led the event solo—an opportunity Wilson said she embraced with humor and gratitude.

One of the evening’s highest honors, the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Vince Gill, joining previous recipients including Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson and Kenny Rogers. While many nominees arrived hopeful, only a select group left with trophies across the show's major categories.

Wilson, who entered the night as one of the most-nominated artists, claimed Entertainer of the Year, prevailing over Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen. She also secured Female Vocalist of the Year, affirming her continued dominance in the genre.

Ella Langley and Riley Green earned significant recognition, taking home both Single of the Year and Song of the Year for their collaboration “you look like you love me,” which was credited to producers Will Bundy and mix engineer Jim Cooley, as noted by E! News. The pair also won Music Video of the Year for the track’s visual, directed by Langley, John Park and Wales Toney.

Wilson added another major accolade when her project Whirlwind, produced by Jay Joyce, was awarded Album of the Year.

Additional winners included Cody Johnson for Male Vocalist of the Year, The Red Clay Strays for Vocal Group of the Year, and Brooks & Dunn for Vocal Duo of the Year. Post Malone and Blake Shelton’s “Pour Me A Drink” captured Musical Event of the Year, while Paul Franklin won Musician of the Year. Rising star Zach Top claimed New Artist of the Year, rounding out a night of standout achievements across the country music landscape.