CMA Awards 2025: How to watch, nominees, performers, and host.

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

For country music aficionados, November delivers an annual feast far richer than Thanksgiving turkey—the CMA Awards, where the genre's soul is celebrated under the blinding lights of Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, as the 59th annual ceremony unfolds, promising a night where heartbreak anthems and honky-tonk hymns collide.This year's host, the formidable Lainey Wilson, takes the reins solo after last year's shared duties with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, a testament to her skyrocketing stature within the industry. Her presence alone is a narrative arc; not only will she command the stage as emcee, but she also enters the night as a heavyweight contender for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, facing off against titans like Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen.While Wilson stands as the sole woman in that top-tier category, a powerful counter-melody emerges with the nomination tally, where she, alongside Megan Moroney and Ella Langley, each scored six nods, signaling a resonant shift in the industry's harmony. The New Artist of the Year category pulses with fresh energy, featuring Langley, the genre-bending Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, and Stephen Wilson Jr., a lineup that reads like the next chapter of country's evolving story. The performance roster is a carefully curated playlist of legacy and new blood.Wilson, ever the multitasker, will transition from host to performer, while Kelsea Ballerini is set to debut her new song “I Sit in Parks” live for the very first time, a moment of raw vulnerability. Chris Stapleton, in a display of his profound range, will deliver two distinct performances: the cinematic “Bad As I Used to Be” from the *F1: The Movie* soundtrack and a soul-stirring duet, “A Song to Sing,” with the legendary Miranda Lambert.The evening will also serve as a triumphant hootenanny for Kenny Chesney, freshly inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, while bands like Old Dominion will offer a medley of their greatest hits, a nostalgic journey for longtime fans. The true emotional crescendo, however, may arrive with the presentation of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award to Vince Gill, a artist whose career is a masterclass in musical evolution—from his early days fronting the Pure Prairie League to his 1990s solo zenith and his poignant later role filling the void in the Eagles.For viewers, the broadcast is a multi-platform affair, airing live on ABC at 8 p. m.ET, accessible via cable, a trusty over-the-air antenna, or streaming services like Hulu+ Live TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, and, following a recently resolved carriage dispute, YouTube TV. And for those whose Wednesday night is already booked with life's other commitments, the entire spectacle will be waiting on Hulu the next day, ready to be replayed like a favorite song.

#CMA Awards

#country music

#live stream

#Lainey Wilson

#featured

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