Lainey Wilson To Host 59th Annual CMA Awards
“I grew up watching the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl, so to be hosting for a second year is a true honor…”
Lainey Wilson; Photo by Disney/Robby Klein
Lainey Wilson will take center stage as the sole host of the 59th Annual CMA Awards, the Country Music Association and ABC revealed early Tuesday morning.
This will be Wilson’s second time hosting the show. In 2024, she shared hosting duties with Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan. Manning and Bryan previously co-hosted in both 2022 and 2023, while Bryan helmed the show solo in 2021.
The CMA Awards stage has seen several iconic pairings over the years. In 2020, Reba McEntire co-hosted alongside Darius Rucker, and in 2019, Carrie Underwood shared the spotlight with McEntire and Dolly Parton. Before that, Underwood enjoyed a decade-long run as co-host with Brad Paisley from 2008 through 2018.
“I grew up watching the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl, so to be hosting for a second year is a true honor,” Wilson shared. “I’m humbled that CMA has trusted me with this role, and I can’t wait to love on this genre that has given me so much.”
In addition to her hosting duties, Wilson is a top CMA Awards nominee this year alongside Ella Langley and Megan Moroney. She is vying for six trophies during the show, including Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“4x4xU”), Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”), Female Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”). The Louisiana native is the reigning Female Vocalist and Music Video of the Year winner and has a career total of 25 CMA nominations.
The CMA Awards are decided by more than 7,000 professional voting members of the Country Music Association, representing all areas of the industry. As a peer-voted honor, the recognition carries special meaning, highlighting the talent and hard work of those who continue to shape country music and inspire fans worldwide.
“Country Music’s Biggest Night” airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM EST) on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
Tickets for The 59th Annual CMA Awards are on sale now.
Additional show information, including performers and presenters, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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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