The Bridgestone Arena in Nashville was absolutely lit up for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards,” delivering a spectacular night of unforgettable performances, powerful collaborations, and a celebration of excellence across the Country Music genre. With superstar Lainey Wilson pulling double-duty as host and headliner, the evening truly showcased the best of the past, present, and future of Country.
The Queen of Country Reigns Supreme
It was a dominant night for Lainey Wilson, who took home the night’s top honor: CMA Entertainer of the Year. She cemented her status as one of Country’s most dynamic forces, also snagging Album of the Year for her phenomenal record, Whirlwind, and Female Vocalist of the Year.
Wilson’s historic night was kicked off with an incredible, high-energy choreographed musical monologue, honoring classics and current hits from artists like Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, and Brooks & Dunn, before joining Little Big Town and Keith Urban for special duets. It was a true celebration of the genre she now leads!
Big Wins for Emerging and Established Stars
The future of Country is shining bright, with Zach Top taking home his first CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. Meanwhile, Riley Green and Ella Langley were the other big winners of the night, tying with Wilson for the most awards, each taking home three for their smash hit, “you look like you love me.”
And talk about a legendary milestone: Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for the most CMA Award wins of all time, with an astounding 20 total wins!
Memorable Moments and Emotional Tributes
Beyond the competitive categories, the night was full of the kind of special moments only the CMA Awards can deliver:
- Vince Gill Honored: An emotional, well-deserved tribute was paid to the icon Vince Gill, this year’s CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Performances by Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless brought the house down, culminating in a surprise appearance by George Strait to personally present the award.
- Legends in the Hall: Kenny Chesney celebrated his upcoming 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame induction with a two-song medley of his classics “American Kids” and “When the Sun Goes Down.”
- Powerful Performances: From stripped-down, heartfelt solos by Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. to high-energy productions from Kelsea Ballerini and The Red Clay Strays, the performances truly showcased the depth of talent in the genre today.
🏆 The Complete List of Winners at The 59th Annual CMA Awards
| Category | Winner |
| ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR | Lainey Wilson |
| SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artists, Producer and Mix Engineer) | “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Producer: Will Bundy; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley) |
| ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist, Producer and Mix Engineers) | Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce) |
| SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriters) | “you look like you love you” (Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere) |
| FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR | Lainey Wilson |
| MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR | Cody Johnson |
| VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR | The Red Clay Strays |
| VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR | Brooks & Dunn |
| MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artists and Producers) | “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton) (Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome) |
| MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR | Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar |
| MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artists and Directors) | “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney) |
| NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR | Zach Top |
Did you miss the show? You can watch all the unforgettable CMA Awards performances right now on YouTube and stream the full show on Hulu!
Which performance or win was your favorite of the night? Tell us in the comments!
Leave a Reply