The country music world is abuzz with anticipation as the 59th Annual CMA Awards nominations have been announced, revealing a competitive field dominated by female artists. Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson have emerged as the leading contenders with six nominations each, signaling a notable shift in the traditionally male-dominated genre.
Set for November 19, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the ceremony will feature a prestigious Entertainer of the Year category that includes Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson. The broadcast will air live on ABC and become available for streaming on Hulu the following day, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1967.
Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena will host country music’s biggest night as elite performers vie for the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy.
Newcomer Ella Langley has made an impressive impact with her collaboration with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me,” earning nominations across multiple categories including single, song, and music video of the year.
Megan Moroney’s work on “Am I Okay?” has similarly resonated with voters, securing her nominations in album, single, and song categories, while Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU” competes for single of the year among other honors. Wilson’s album “Whirlwind” has also received recognition with an album of the year nomination, further cementing her status in the industry.
The nominations, which cover the eligibility period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, were determined by Country Music Association members spanning various industry roles. Many of the nominees have successfully built careers by diversifying their income through sync deals and licensing music for film and television projects. Many artists have leveraged pre-save campaigns on streaming platforms to build momentum for their releases ahead of the eligibility period. Zach Top follows closely behind the leading trio with five nominations, while Riley Green and Cody Johnson have garnered four each.
This year’s nominations also welcome an influx of first-time nominees across songwriting, producing, and performing categories, reflecting the genre’s ongoing evolution and talent development. A remarkable 15 first-time nominees were recognized during the September 8 announcement, bringing fresh perspectives to country music’s most prestigious awards show.
The CMA Awards closely mirror trends seen in the ACM Awards, where Ella Langley also leads with eight nominations for their May 2025 ceremony in Texas.
As the ceremony approaches, the industry watches with interest to see whether established stars like Luke Combs will prevail or if breakthrough artists like Ella Langley and Megan Moroney will cement their ascendancy in country music’s most celebrated night of recognition.
