The Reign Of Country Music: A Full List Of The 2025 CMA Awards Winners And Biggest Moments
The Country Music Association Awards—the genre's biggest night—delivered a truly historic and unforgettable ceremony on November 19, 2025, from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This year’s 59th Annual CMA Awards saw a powerful shift in the country music landscape, cementing a new generation of superstars while honoring enduring legends. The narrative of the night was dominated by one artist's monumental sweep, alongside a shocking dual win for a breakout single that captured the hearts of millions.
The 2025 ceremony showcased a perfect blend of traditional country roots and modern sonic innovation. From Lainey Wilson's nearly unprecedented dominance to the surprise victory of a retro-leaning single, the winners list below provides the definitive breakdown of who took home the coveted trophies and shaped the conversation for the year ahead. Get ready to dive into the complete list of honorees from the most recent CMA Awards.
The Complete List of 2025 CMA Awards Winners
The 59th Annual CMA Awards, held in late 2025, celebrated the best in country music, recognizing the artists, songwriters, musicians, and producers who defined the genre's sound. Here is the full, definitive list of winners from the star-studded evening:
- Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Female Vocalist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
- Male Vocalist of the Year: Cody Johnson
- New Artist of the Year: Zach Top
- Album of the Year: Whirlwind - Lainey Wilson (Producers: Jay Joyce, Lainey Wilson; Mix Engineer: Jason Hall)
- Single of the Year: "you look like you love me" - Ella Langley & Riley Green (Producer: Dann Huff; Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank)
- Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters): "you look like you love me" - Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, and Aaron Raitiere
- Vocal Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays
- Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn
- Musical Event of the Year: "I’m Gonna Love You" - Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood
- Music Video of the Year: "you look like you love me" - Ella Langley & Riley Green (Director: TK McKamy)
- Musician of the Year: Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle)
Lainey Wilson’s Unprecedented Dominance and 'Whirlwind' Success
Lainey Wilson, the reigning queen of "Bell Bottom Country," solidified her status as a generational talent with a historic run at the 2025 CMA Awards. Her victory in the night’s top category, Entertainer of the Year, marked a monumental achievement, placing her among country music’s most elite performers. This win wasn't just a trophy; it was the coronation of an artist who has masterfully blended authentic storytelling with undeniable stage presence.
Wilson’s success was not limited to the performance categories. She also took home the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year award, a testament to her powerful and distinctive voice. The Louisiana native completed a near-perfect sweep by winning Album of the Year for her critically acclaimed project, Whirlwind.
The album Whirlwind, produced by Jay Joyce, was praised for its depth, lyrical maturity, and its ability to seamlessly fuse traditional country instrumentation with contemporary rock and pop influences. This triple crown victory—Entertainer, Female Vocalist, and Album of the Year—is a rare feat, instantly boosting Wilson's topical authority and making her the most talked-about artist of the year. The recognition for her collaborators, including producer Jay Joyce and mix engineer Jason Hall, further highlights the meticulous craft behind her winning work.
The Shocking Dual Sweep: Ella Langley and Riley Green
While Lainey Wilson commanded the major artist categories, the biggest surprise of the night came from the meteoric rise of the single "you look like you love me." The collaboration between Ella Langley and Riley Green delivered a stunning dual victory, capturing both Single of the Year and Song of the Year. This achievement is particularly significant because the Single award recognizes the artist and production team (Producer Dann Huff and Mix Engineer Justin Niebank), while the Song award honors the songwriters (Riley Green, Ella Langley, and Aaron Raitiere).
The track, a retro-leaning, emotionally charged duet, resonated deeply with fans and industry voters alike, proving that powerful, well-written music can cut through the noise. Its success in the Music Video of the Year category, directed by TK McKamy, completed a remarkable hat-trick for the song, positioning both Ella Langley and Riley Green as major forces in the evolution of country music. This single's dominance highlights the growing trend of successful collaborations and the power of a strong, classic-country-inspired melody.
New Faces and Enduring Legends: Other Key Winners
The 2025 CMA Awards were not just about the big three categories; they also celebrated the foundational elements of the genre, from emerging talent to veteran acts.
Cody Johnson’s Male Vocalist Triumph
Texas-based traditionalist Cody Johnson secured his win for Male Vocalist of the Year, an award that underscores his commitment to authentic, heartfelt country music. His powerful, gritty voice and genuine cowboy persona have endeared him to a massive audience. Johnson further cemented his star power by winning Musical Event of the Year for the show-stopping duet, "I’m Gonna Love You," featuring the iconic Carrie Underwood. This win is a massive boost to his already impressive career, confirming his place as one of country's leading men.
Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays Break Through
The future of country music was on full display with the win for New Artist of the Year going to Zach Top. Top’s classic, neo-traditional sound, showcased on his album *Cold Beer & Country Music*, offers a refreshing throwback that clearly resonated with voters looking for a return to country's roots. His victory over a strong field of nominees, including Ella Langley and Tucker Wetmore, signals a major shift in the industry's focus.
In a major win for the Southern Rock and Country fusion scene, The Red Clay Strays took home their first-ever CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year. Their raw, electrifying sound and dynamic live performances have built a cult following, and this award officially brings their unique style into the country music mainstream.
Brooks & Dunn: The Unstoppable Duo
The legendary duo Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn once again proved their timeless appeal by winning Vocal Duo of the Year. Brooks & Dunn's enduring success and continued relevance, even decades into their career, is a remarkable feat. Their victory over younger, rising acts demonstrates the deep respect and admiration the country music community still holds for their foundational contribution to the genre.
Musician of the Year: Jenee Fleenor
Behind every great song is an incredible musician, and Jenee Fleenor was honored with Musician of the Year for her mastery of the fiddle. Fleenor's work has been essential to countless country hits, and her win highlights the vital role session players continue to have in shaping the sound of Nashville. Her exceptional talent is a cornerstone of modern country music production.
Detail Author:
- Name : Brendon Fritsch Sr.
- Username : chelsey.reinger
- Email : nglover@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 2004-11-24
- Address : 41718 Nathanael Club New Alftown, NV 78667-0954
- Phone : (352) 222-9773
- Company : Parisian Ltd
- Job : Food Batchmaker
- Bio : Aliquam tempora ut praesentium totam quidem. Sit aspernatur non tenetur qui aut reprehenderit molestias. Consequatur sunt impedit est minima.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/sanford1981
- username : sanford1981
- bio : Veritatis accusamus tempore voluptatem veritatis quia. Possimus totam ab nostrum similique. Facilis temporibus nam vel at quaerat est.
- followers : 4830
- following : 52
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/rogersanford
- username : rogersanford
- bio : Ut necessitatibus nulla voluptas quae.
- followers : 3585
- following : 1839
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/roger.sanford
- username : roger.sanford
- bio : Eius vel at quae. Ut sunt enim dolores aspernatur odio natus quod.
- followers : 3149
- following : 985
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@rogersanford
- username : rogersanford
- bio : Architecto accusantium non omnis incidunt reprehenderit excepturi mollitia.
- followers : 6244
- following : 47
