Riley Green & Ella Langley tie Wilson with three wins each
The 59th Annual CMA Awards lit up Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tonight (Wed, Nov 19th), delivering show-stopping performances, bold collaborations and tributes, and defining moments that celebrated excellence across the genre. With country superstar Lainey Wilson at the helm, the evening showcased the very best of country music, honoring both today’s hitmakers and the legends who paved the way.
Wilson earned the night’s top honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year, while Zach Top took home his first CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. Riley Green, Ella Langley, and Wilson also emerged as the night’s leading winners, each taking home three awards. Additionally, Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for the most CMA Award wins of all time, with 20.
The show opened with an unforgettable choreographed musical monologue from Wilson, who brought audiences to their feet with a high-energy medley honoring country favorites past and present. Wilson surprised several artists in the crowd with tributes to their hits — including Chris Stapleton, Brooks & Dunn, Langley, Gretchen Wilson, Lady A, Miranda Lambert, and Shaboozey — before joining Little Big Town and Keith Urban for special duets.
The night brought a mix of full-scale, high-energy productions and stripped-down, heartfelt moments, with solo performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Langley, Megan Moroney, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, Stapleton, Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr. Collaborations delivered the kind of memorable, unexpected moments only seen on the CMA Awards stage, including BigXthaPlug with Combs, Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr., and Lambert with Stapleton.
Kenny Chesney performed a two-song medley of his hits “American Kids” and “When the Sun Goes Down” in celebration of his 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame induction, following a brief recognition of fellow inductees Tony Brown and June Carter Cash.
A standout moment of the evening came with an emotional tribute to country icon Vince Gill, who hosted the CMA Awards for a record-tying 12 years and is this year’s CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless delivered stirring performances that brought the audience to their feet as the award’s 2024 recipient, George Strait, stepped onstage in a surprise appearance to personally present Gill with the honor.
Throughout the night, presenters and special guests, spanning artists, actors, comedians, and media personalities, announced winners across 12 categories, each determined by the 7,000-plus voting members of the Country Music Association. Representing every corner of the country music industry—from artists, songwriters and producers to touring professionals and industry executives—CMA’s membership upholds the Nashville-based trade association’s long-standing mission to celebrate excellence across the genre.
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 Me”
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
