The 59th Annual CMA Awards delivered one of the most memorable nights in recent country music history. Held on November 19, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the ceremony honored the year’s standout performers, songwriters, and creators. The live three-hour broadcast on ABC marked Lainey Wilson’s second consecutive year as host. Only Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have previously served as solo female hosts.
Lainey Wilson also dominated the winners’ list, securing three major awards including Entertainer of the Year, a title she reclaimed after Morgan Wallen’s 2024 victory. Her acclaimed album Whirlwind earned Album of the Year. Rising favorites Ella Langley and Riley Green matched her with three wins, highlighted by their Single of the Year triumph for “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Cody Johnson scored his first Male Vocalist of the Year award, ending Chris Stapleton’s long-running streak. Breakout band The Red Clay Strays delivered another surprise by dethroning Old Dominion, whose seven-year dominance in the Vocal Group category came to an end. Emerging artist Zach Top won New Artist of the Year.
A powerful emotional moment arrived when Vince Gill, an 18-time CMA winner and one of country music’s most respected figures, received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Here’s the list of winners for the 59th annual CMA Awards.
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Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson *WINNER*
Single of the Year
(Award to Artist(s), Producer(s), Mix Engineer(s))
- “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson; Prod: Jay Joyce; Mix: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
- “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” – Luke Combs; Prod: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix: Chip Matthews
- “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Prod: Kristian Bush; Mix: Justin Niebank
- “I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Prod: Carson Chamberlain; Mix: Matt Rovey
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green; Prod: Will Bundy; Mix: Jim Cooley *WINNER*
Album of the Year
(Award to Artist, Producer(s), Mix Engineer(s))
- Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney; Prod: Kristian Bush; Mix: Justin Niebank
- Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top; Prod: Carson Chamberlain; Mix: Matt Rovey
- F-1 Trillion – Post Malone; Prod: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Mix: Ryan Gore
- I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen; Prod: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi; Mix: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
- Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson; Prod: Jay Joyce; Mix: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce *WINNER*
Song of the Year
(Award to Songwriter(s))
- “4x4xU” – Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
- “Am I Okay?” – Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney
- “I Never Lie” – Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
- “Texas” – Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere *WINNER*
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson *WINNER*
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson *WINNER*
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Morgan Wallen
Vocal Group of the Year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays *WINNER*
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn *WINNER*
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Maddie & Tae
- The War And Treaty
Musical Event of the Year
(Award to Artists, Producer(s))
- “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green (feat. Ella Langley); Prod: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff
- “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll; Prod: Micah Nichols
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood); Prod: Trent Willmon
- “Pour Me a Drink” – Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton); Prod: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome *WINNER*
- “You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney (feat. Kenny Chesney); Prod: Kristian Bush
Musician of the Year
- Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
- Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar *WINNER*
- Brent Mason – Guitar
- Rob McNelley – Guitar
- Derek Wells – Guitar
Music Video of the Year
(Award to Artist(s), Director(s))
- “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Dir: Alexandra Gavillet, Megan Moroney
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood); Dir: Dustin Haney
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Dir: TK McKamy
- “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton; Dir: Running Bear
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green; Dir: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney *WINNER*
New Artist of the Year
- Ella Langley
- Shaboozey
- Zach Top *WINNER*
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
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