The 59th Annual CMA Awards delivered one of the most memorable nights in country music history. Held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025, the ceremony saw Lainey Wilson seal her superstar status with three major victories while making history as the first woman to host solo in over three decades. But beyond Wilson’s dominance, the evening was for breakthrough artists, emotional tributes, and several shocking upsets that ended years-long winning streaks.
For the first time, three female artists tied for the most nominations, signalling a decisive shift in country music’s landscape. Meanwhile, the absence of defending Entertainer of the Year champion Morgan Wallen sparked heated debate across social media.
Here’s everything you need to know about who took home trophies at country music’s biggest night.
Every Winner From the 2025 CMA Awards
The 2025 ceremony recognised excellence across 13 competitive categories, with several surprising results that shook up expectations:
Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
Female Vocalist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year: Cody Johnson
New Artist of the Year: Zach Top
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn
Vocal Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays
Single of the Year: “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green
Album of the Year: “Whirlwind” by Lainey Wilson
Song of the Year: “You Look Like You Love Me” (Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere)
Musical Event of the Year: “Pour Me A Drink” by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton
Music Video of the Year: “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley & Riley Green
Musician of the Year: Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award: Vince Gill
Lainey Wilson’s Record-Breaking Evening
Wilson didn’t just win big at the 2025 CMAs. She made history. Her second Entertainer of the Year trophy places her in an incredibly exclusive club with only Taylor Swift and Barbara Mandrell as the sole women to claim that honour twice. That’s not just impressive, it’s legendary.
The Louisiana native also secured her fourth consecutive Female Vocalist win and took home Album of the Year for “Whirlwind.” This made her only the second female artist in CMA history to win Album of the Year twice, matching Miranda Lambert’s achievement. Talk about a career-defining night.
“I was just so tickled to be hosting this thing tonight. I forgot I was hosting this thing,” Wilson joked while accepting the evening’s most significant honour. Her hosting performance proved equally memorable as she opened with a five-minute medley of country classics, walking through the audience and even jamming with Keith Urban.
But Wilson’s most viral moment came during her Female Vocalist acceptance speech when she addressed online negativity head-on. “For the folks sitting at home in your momma’s basement, eating your Cheetos and trying to pit women against each other, you’ll need to find something better to do,” she said. The comment instantly resonated with fans tired of seeing female artists pitted against one another.
Major Upsets That Ended Winning Streaks
Several longtime dominators saw their championship runs end stunningly. Cody Johnson claimed his first Male Vocalist trophy, breaking Chris Stapleton’s four-year stranglehold on the category. Johnson graciously acknowledged his competition, calling Stapleton “one of the greatest vocalists of all time in any genre.”
The night’s biggest shock? The Red Clay Strays won the Vocal Group of the Year on their very first nomination. The Alabama-based Americana rock band ended Old Dominion’s seven-year winning streak in the category. Drummer John Hall delivered an emotional acceptance speech, dedicating the win to his late brother Jacob, who died by suicide in 2020.
Paul Franklin’s Musician of the Year win provided another feel-good moment. The steel guitar legend finally claimed the trophy after an incredible 33 nominations dating back to 1989. “I’m speechless,” Franklin said, adding he’d “spend the rest of my life trying to earn this.”
Clean Sweep For Langley and Green
Ella Langley and Riley Green achieved something rare at the CMAs by sweeping three categories with their duet “You Look Like You Love Me.” The song claimed Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year honours.
Green celebrated the traditional country sound of the track, noting how “cool it is that a song with talking verses won song of the year.” Langley, who tied for most nominations with six, called the song “the gift that keeps on giving.” The duo’s success highlighted country music’s continued appreciation for authentic, traditional sounds amid evolving trends.
Vince Gill Receives Lifetime Achievement Honour
One of the ceremony’s most touching moments came when George Strait made a surprise appearance to present Vince Gill with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Strait’s rare Nashville appearance drew an immediate standing ovation before he praised Gill’s “amazing” guitar playing, songwriting, and singing.
Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless performed a stunning tribute to Gill’s 1989 hit “When I Call Your Name,” with newly crowned Musician of the Year Paul Franklin on pedal steel guitar. Gill, clearly moved, accepted with humour, joking that “we had to have girls come out here and sing for me tonight. None of the boys can get up that high.”
With 22 Grammy Awards, 18 previous CMA Awards, and over 30 million records sold, Gill becomes only the 10th recipient of this prestigious honour. He joins legends like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn in this exclusive club.
The Morgan Wallen Question
The evening’s most considerable controversy happened offstage. Morgan Wallen, last year’s Entertainer of the Year winner, skipped the ceremony for the second consecutive year despite nominations in three major categories. His absence sparked fierce debate online, with fans divided between supporting his choice and viewing it as disrespectful.
Wallen’s friend Ernest defended him, noting Wallen’s commercial success and suggesting that he doesn’t need validation from awards. Still, the no-show raised questions about the relationship between country music’s biggest stars and its most important institution.
