The 59th Annual CMA Awards lit up Music City last night, delivering a blockbuster celebration worthy of Country Music’s Biggest Night™. A star-studded roster of performers—including Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, and Kenny Chesney—took the stage for a lineup packed with standout moments. The presenters were just as stacked, with country icons, actors, and cultural figures sharing the spotlight in a show that reflected both the genre’s roots and its expanding reach.
The evening also delivered one of its most memorable milestones with a heartfelt tribute to Vince Gill, who received the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The segment honored Gill’s extraordinary legacy—20 albums, more than 30 million records sold, and a songbook that has shaped multiple generations of country fans. Against a backdrop of dazzling production and emotional performances, the tribute anchored the ceremony with a deep sense of reverence and celebration. Fans across the globe tuned in to witness the spectacle, marking another unforgettable chapter in CMA Awards history.
The evening kicked off with a raw and rocky performance of ‘Back in the Saddle' from Luke Combs that featured the stage decked out like a rodeo with fire raging in the background. Presenter Lainey Wilson then paid tribute to what the CMA awards mean to her before inviting Charlie Worsham up to the stage to play a few covers, singing to artists like Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert and Lady A. Little Big Town stood up and joined in with Lainey on ‘Girl Crush,' bringing a huge cheer from the crowd before Keith Urban strode out and launched into ‘Where the Blacktop Ends' with Lainey. It was a great start and a great way to involve some amazing artists who weren't necessarily having live moments of their own.
First award of the night was for ‘Single of the Year' which went to Ella Langley and Riley Green for ‘You Look Like You Love Me.' Then Leanne Morgan took the stage, dressed identically to Lainey to announce Zach Top playing ‘Guitar.' ‘Vocal Duo of the Year' went to the incomparable Brooks and Dunn, making a sum total of 16 wins for them in this category.
Last year's ‘New Artist of the Year,' Megan Moroney then took the stage for a very PINK ‘6 Months Later.' The stage decked out like a teenagers bedroom with girls dancing around in pyjamas. Next up was Chris Stapleton playing a stripped down stage and letting the music do the talking with a very funky ‘Bad as I Used to Be,' which included a soaring guitar solo. The third consecutive performance in a row came from Kelsea Ballerini with her new song ‘I Sit in Parks.' The stage was decked out like a park and Kelsea performed the song sitting on swing. It rained on her during the song's final moments, leaving Ballerinin soaked and emotional by the end!
The cast and crew of Nashville 9-1-1 (including LeAnn Rimes) then announced the award for ‘Best New Artist' which went to Zach Top – a well deserved winner in a tough category that included artists like Ella Langley, Stephen Wilson JR and Tucker Wetmore. Top brought a can of Coors onto the stage with him and then said “I don't know whether I was supposed to put my beer down first, but here it is!' which got a huge laugh from the crowd. Lainey and a very oddly dressed (headgear wise) Billy Bob Thornton then announced Paul Franklin as ‘Musician of the Year' and introduced The Red Clay Strays onto the stage for a rocking performance of ‘People Hatin' with it's very timely lyrics of people turning on their neighbours and people dying in the streets.
‘Song of the Year' was up next. Ella Langley and Riley Green making their way back up to the stage to pick up their second award of the night Following that came, perhaps the standout performance of the night – Stephen Wilson JR playing an incendiary and haunting version of the classic ‘Stand By Me.' Wilson's performance gave chills with just him and a guitar on the stage as he brought his unique charm and charisma to a old classic.
There aren't many artists that could have followed Wilson's performance but Kenny Chesney pulled it off with a spirited and jaunty ‘American Kids.' It always has a vibe of ‘The Lovecats' by The Cure to me and it was great to see Chesney's bossom-buddy Megan Moroney dancing and singing along in the crowd. Chesney was the first artist of the evening to get a second song as he then launched into ‘When the Sun Goes Down,' which finished with a touching shout out to songwriter Brett James, who died in a plane crash earlier this year.
Old Dominion then played a circular side stage which brought an intimate vibe as they ripped through a medley of songs like ‘Break Up With Him,' ‘Memory Lane,' ‘One Man Band,' ‘Hotel Key' and ‘Snapback.' After legendary actor Steve Martin came to the stage and played some virtuoso banjo before announcing the award for ‘Album of the Year' which went to Lainey Wilson, for the second time in three albums!
Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson JR then delivered a haunting version of their song from this year's smash hit film ‘The Long Walk' before The Red Clay Strays won ‘Vocal Group of the Year' breaking Old Dominion's seven year streak winning in this category! Lainey Wilson impressed on her song ‘Ring Finger' before Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert duetted on their smooth ballad ‘A Song to Sing' which was a disco-infused, smooth, slick tune.
A double header of solo performances from Ella Langley and Riley Green came next – with Green playing a sultry ‘Worst Way' with the stage bathed in red lights and Langley playing her Miranda Lambert co-written song, ‘Choosin' Texas' as a couple danced on a side stage next to her.
‘Male Vocalist of the Year' went to a well-deserving Cody Johnson, breaking Chris Stapleton's hold on the trophy. It was his first win in this category and he was visibly moved. Rising star Tucker Wetmore, all dressed in black, then performed his number one hit ‘Wind Up Missin' You' before Vince Gill was honoured with a lifetime achievement award with a stunning performance from Brandi Carlisle before the King of Country himself, George Strait, showed up for a surprise and rare appearance. People were visibly surprised in the crowd as Strait paid a spoken tribute to Vince Gill.
Luke Combs and BigXthaPlug then rocked the Bridgestone Arena with their genre blurring anthem ‘Pray Hard' before Lady A came onto the stage to present the award for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year.' In a tough category featuring Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney it went to Lainey for the fourth time. She called out people sitting at home eating Cheetos in their mother's basement trying to pit women against each other and urged them to find something better to do!
Keith Urban then announced the nominees for ‘Entertainer of the Year' – the big prize on Country Music's biggest night. The award went to Lainey Wilson who said she wouldn't have been able to win the award without her village. Husband-to-be Duck got a shout out, as did the fans, and she even managed to get a nod in to her bar in Nashville, Bell Bottom's Up! It was a fun night with a few surprise winners and some good, honest, authentic performances. The CMA didn't go hell for leather or over the top on the live sets and events this year and that stripped back tone meant the music and the songs got a chance to shine throughout the evening.
Check out videos and pictures of the night across our socials.
