CMA Awards 2025: How to Watch, Full Performer Lineup, Songs, Nominees & More
“Country Music’s Biggest Night” is here!
ABC’s “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” stars Lainey Wilson as host.; Photo by Disney/Robby Klein
“Country Music’s Biggest Night” is officially here! Tonight, country superstar Lainey Wilson returns as host of the 59th Annual CMA Awards, leading a must-watch celebration of the past year in country music.
How To Watch
The live broadcast airs from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
Host
Lainey Wilson is making history as only the third woman ever to host the CMA Awards solo, following country icons Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
Nominees
Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson lead with six nominations each. Zach Top follows with five, while Riley Green and Cody Johnson earned four each. Kristian Bush, Carson Chamberlain, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen all picked up three nominations.
See the complete list of 2025 CMA Awards nominees HERE.
CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill will receive the 2025 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, accompanied by a tribute performance during the broadcast.
Past recipients include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021), Alan Jackson (2022), and George Strait (2024).
Performers & Songs
Keith Urban – TBA
Little Big Town – TBA
Lainey Wilson – TBA
Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle”
Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
Megan Moroney – “6 Months Later”
Zach Top – “Guitar”
Tucker Wetmore – “Wind Up Missin’ You”
Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Stand By Me”
Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug – “Pray Hard”
Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Took A Walk”
Kelsea Ballerini – “I Sit In Parks”
Brandi Carlile – TBA
Kenny Chesney – Special performance (song TBA)
Riley Green – “Worst Way”
Patty Loveless – TBA
Old Dominion – Medley: “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “One Man Band,” “Hotel Key,” “Snapback”
The Red Clay Strays – “People Hatin’”
Chris Stapleton – “Bad As I Used To Be”
Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert – “A Song To Sing”
Presenters & Special Guests
Presenters and guests appearing during the show include Lady A; Alison Brown; Jessica Capshaw; Billy Ray Cyrus; Lauren Daigle; Jordan Davis; Elizabeth Hurley; Cody Johnson; Bert Kreischer; Brandon Lake; Ella Langley; Steve Martin; Leanne Morgan; NE-YO; Chris O’Donnell; Kimberly Perry; LeAnn Rimes; Alan Ritchson; Lara Spencer; Billy Bob Thornton; Grace Van Patten; Gretchen Wilson; and Bailey Zimmerman.
Backstage Live
Fans can also tune in to “CMA Awards Backstage Live,” a second-screen experience hosted by Lauren Alaina and HaleyyBaylee on CMA’s TikTok channel. The stream will go live throughout the night with red carpet moments, backstage interviews, live reactions from winners, and an exclusive look at everything happening behind the scenes at Country Music’s Biggest Night.
Red Carpet
Follow Country Now on Instagram and TikTok for live updates from the red carpet with our special guest correspondent, Katie Austin.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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