Wilson reclaims Entertainer of the Year; Langley & Green’s breakout duet sweeps major categories; Zach Top wins Best New Artist; Paul Franklin finally ends decades-long drought.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. | The 59th Annual CMA Awards delivered a night of seismic shifts in country music’s power structure on Wednesday (Last Week), with Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, and Riley Green emerging as the evening’s top winners, each securing three trophies. Wilson closed out the show by reclaiming the Entertainer of the Year title while also hosting the ceremony solo. This double milestone defined a night steeped in both tradition and transformation.
But it was the surprises that electrified the crowd inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Cody Johnson toppled long-standing category favorite Chris Stapleton to win Male Vocalist of the Year, while The Red Clay Strays, in their first-ever nomination, dethroned Old Dominion’s multi-year hold on Vocal Group of the Year. Rising talent Zach Top capped his breakout year with a coveted Best New Artist win.
Wilson’s Reign Continues
Wilson, who also won Album of the Year for Whirlwind and Female Vocalist of the Year, proved once again to be the genre’s leading force. Her charm and candor powered the broadcast as she navigated the dual responsibilities of performer and host — occasionally forgetting which hat she was wearing.
“I forgot I was hosting this thing,” Wilson laughed during her Entertainer of the Year speech. “Thank you for letting me run my mouth on this legendary stage and celebrate the best genre in the world: country dang music.”
In emotional remarks earlier in the night, Wilson reflected on writing Whirlwind during a period of intense personal change. “I remember being that 11-year-old girl pouring my heart into my guitar… that’s how I communicated then, and that’s how I do it now.”
Langley & Green’s Duet Becomes the Night’s Biggest Force
Ella Langley and Riley Green’s collaboration “You Look Like You Love Me” swept three major award categories — Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year — cementing the duet as one of the year’s most defining country moments.
“This song is the gift that keeps on giving,” Langley said. Green added, “How cool is it that a song with talking verses won Song of the Year? That’s country music.”
The wins positioned both artists as next-wave heavyweights in a genre undergoing generational change.
Breakout Wins & Genre Shake-ups
Zach Top’s Best New Artist win showcased the CMA’s growing appetite for fresh voices, edging out Langley to prevent her from sweeping all of her eligible categories.
One of the night’s biggest standing ovations came hours earlier, however, when long-nominated steel guitar virtuoso Paul Franklin finally ended a historic 33-nomination streak with his first win for Musician of the Year — instantly ending his reputation as the “Susan Lucci of steel players.”
A Show Rooted in History and Performance
Wilson opened the night with a high-energy, genre-spanning medley of modern country classics, interacting with the original artists seated in the audience — from Gretchen Wilson to Brooks & Dunn to Lady A. A surprise cameo from Little Big Town, who launched into “Girl Crush,” drew gasps, while Keith Urban joined Wilson onstage for a guitar-powered moment during “Where the Blacktop Ends.”
- Luke Combs and Megan Moroney offered the telecast’s first full performances
- Stephen Wilson Jr. brought the arena to its feet with a stripped acoustic cover of “Stand by Me”
- Kenny Chesney energized the crowd with a two-song medley of “American Kids” and “When the Sun Goes Down”
- Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless honored Vince Gill with a devastating rendition of “When I Call Your Name,” accented by Paul Franklin’s now-award-winning pedal steel
A New Era for Country Music
As the night closed, the 2025 CMA Awards felt less like a recap of the past year and more like a pivot point. Rising stars surged. Old dynasties tumbled. Veterans finally got their due. And Lainey Wilson, once the genre’s underdog, stood atop the industry again — this time not just as its entertainer, but as its host, leader, and cultural anchor.
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-- By Lakisha Brown
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