The Country Music Association Announces Nominees For “The 59th Annual CMA Awards”

THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR “THE 59TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS”

Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson Share Top Honors with Six Nominations Each

Other Top Nominees Include Zach Top with Five Nominations; Riley Green and Cody Johnson with Four Nominations; and Kristian Bush, Carson Chamberlain, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen with Three Nominations Each Finalists for CMA Broadcast Awards Announced

Country Music’s Biggest Night™ Airs Live Wednesday, Nov. 19 on ABC and Next Day on Hulu

Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson Share Top Honors with Six Nominations Each

Rewatch the Nominee Announcement Livestream HERE

The Country Music Association has announced nominees for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards.” Today’s announcement officially kicks off CMA Awards season, spotlighting the industry professionals, recording artists, songwriters, producers, musicians, and more whose achievements have shaped the genre over the past year. “The 59^th Annual CMA Awards” are voted on by the 7,132 voting-eligible CMA Professional members, which represent every corner of the Country Music landscape, including industry professionals, recording artists, songwriters, producers, musicians and more.

“Each year, the CMA Awards shine a light on the creativity, passion and dedication of our community,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The nominees announced today represent some of the most impactful work happening across Country Music, and we are deeply appreciative of our voting members for lending their time and expertise to this process. Their commitment helps ensure the CMA Awards remain a true reflection of the genre’s excellence. On behalf of CMA, congratulations to all of this year’s nominees.”

Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson top the list with six nominations each, while other top nominees include Zach Top with five nominations, and Riley Green and Cody Johnson with four nominations each. Kristian Bush, Carson Chamberlain, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen each secure three nominations. Vying for the night’s highest honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year, is Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson. “The 59th Annual CMA Awards,” broadcasts live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC and next day on Hulu.

First-time CMA Awards nominees include Johnny Clawson, Jon Decious, Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Dorr, Alexandra Gavillet, Lalo Guzman, Jimmy Harnen, Brandon Lake, Micah Nichols, John Park, Aaron Raitiere, Matt Rovey, Kyle Sturrock, Wales Toney, Tucker Wetmore, and Stephen Wilson Jr.

Nominees for this year’s CMA Awards and CMA Broadcast Awards were revealed by CMA Professional members during the official nominee announcement livestream on CMA’s YouTube and Facebook. Rewatch the livestream HERE. 

ELLA LANGLEY – SIX NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“you look like you love me”), Song of the Year (“you look like you love me”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do”), Music Video of the Year (“you look like you love me”), New Artist of the Year

Ella Langley ties for the most nominations this year with six, earning recognition across Single, Song, Female Vocalist, Musical Event, Music Video and New Artist of the Year. Her single “you look like you love me” with Riley Green lands nominations for both Single and Song of the Year, produced by Will Bundy and mixed by Jim Cooley. Langley shares songwriting credit with Green and Aaron Raitiere. The track’s accompanying video, directed by Langley, John Park and Wales Toney, is also nominated for Music Video of the Year. The reigning Musical Event of the Year winner, she is again recognized in that category for her feature on Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” produced by Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen and Dann Huff. Langley now has a career total of seven CMA nominations. 

MEGAN MORONEY – SIX NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Album of the Year (Am I Okay?), Song of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“You Had To Be There”), Music Video of the Year (“Am I Okay?”)

Megan Moroney ties for the most nominations this year with six, adding to her growing list of accolades as the reigning New Artist of the Year. She earns nods in Single, Album, Song, and Music Video of the Year for her standout project Am I Okay? and its title track. The single, produced by Kristian Bush and mixed by Justin Niebank, also lands recognition in both Single and Song of the Year, with songwriting credits shared by Moroney, Jessie Jo Dillon and Luke Laird. Its accompanying video, directed by Moroney and Alexandra Gavillet, is nominated for Music Video of the Year. Moroney secures her first Album of the Year nomination for Am I Okay? as well as a Musical Event nomination for “You Had To Be There,” featuring Kenny Chesney and produced by Bush. With her Female Vocalist of the Year nod, Moroney now boasts 11 career CMA nominations. 

LAINEY WILSON – SIX NOMINATIONS

Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“4x4xU”), Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”) 

Lainey Wilson ties for the most nominations this year with six, continuing her run as one of Country Music’s most celebrated artists. The reigning Female Vocalist and Music Video of the Year winner returns this year with nominations in Entertainer, Single, Song, Album, Female Vocalist and Music Video of the Year. Her hit “4x4xU” earns nods in both Single and Song of the Year, produced by Jay Joyce and mixed by Jason Hall and Joyce, with songwriting credits for Wilson alongside Jon Decious and Aaron Raitiere. She also secures an Album of the Year nomination for Whirlwind, produced by Joyce and mixed by Hall and Joyce, and a Music Video of the Year nomination for “Somewhere Over Laredo,” directed by TK McKamy. Wilson now has 25 career CMA nominations.

ZACH TOP – FIVE NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”), Album (Cold Beer & Country Music), Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”), Male Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year

Zach Top earns five nominations this year. His single “I Never Lie” secures nominations for both Single and Song of the Year, produced by Carson Chamberlain and mixed by Matt Rovey, with Top sharing songwriting credit alongside Chamberlain and Tim Nichols. The song also contributes to his first Album of the Year nomination for Cold Beer & Country Music, produced by Chamberlain and mixed by Rovey. He rounds out his nominations with recognition in Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year. Top now has six career CMA nominations.

RILEY GREEN – FOUR NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“you look like you love me”), Song of the Year (“you look like you love me”), Musical Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do”), Music Video of the Year (“you look like you love me”)

Riley Green earns four nominations this year. The reigning Musical Event of the Year winner is recognized again in that category for “Don’t Mind If I Do” featuring Ella Langley, produced by Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen and Dann Huff. “you look like you love me,” his collaboration with Langley, collects nominations for both Single and Song of the Year, produced by Will Bundy and mixed by Jim Cooley, with songwriting credit shared by Green, Langley and Aaron Raitiere. The track’s video, directed by Langley, John Park and Wales Toney, also earns a nomination for Music Video of the Year. Green now has five career CMA nominations.

CODY JOHNSON – FOUR NOMINATIONS

Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“I’m Gonna Love You”), Music Video of the Year (“I’m Gonna Love You”)

Cody Johnson earns four nominations this year, including his first for Entertainer of the Year. He is also recognized in the Male Vocalist category. His collaboration “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood is nominated for Musical Event of the Year, produced by Trent Willmon. The track also earns a Music Video of the Year nomination, directed by Dustin Haney. Johnson, the reigning Album of the Year winner, now has 15 career CMA nominations.

KRISTIAN BUSH – THREE NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Album of the Year (Am I Okay?), Musical Event of the Year (“You Had To Be There”) 

Kristian Bush earns three nominations this year. He is nominated in Single, Album and Musical Event of the Year for his role as producer on Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” and her album Am I Okay?, as well as her song “You Had To Be There,” featuring Kenny Chesney. Bush now has five career CMA nominations for his work as a producer, as well as 19 additional nominations as one half of the duo Sugarland.

CARSON CHAMBERLAIN – THREE NOMINATIONS

Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”), Album of the Year (Cold Beer & Country Music), Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”)

Carson Chamberlain earns three nominations this year. He is nominated for Single of the Year as producer of Zach Top’s “I Never Lie,” mixed by Matt Rovey. In the Song of the Year category, he shares songwriting credit on “I Never Lie” with Top and Tim Nichols. Chamberlain is also recognized in Album of the Year as producer of Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music, mixed by Rovey. He now has six career CMA nominations.

LUKE COMBS – THREE NOMINATIONS

Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma”), Male Vocalist of the Year

Luke Combs earns three nominations this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Single of the Year for “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma.” The single was produced by Combs, Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton, and mixed by Matthews. Combs now has 28 career CMA nominations.

CHARLIE HANDSOME – THREE NOMINATIONS

Album of the Year (F-1 Trillion), Album of the Year (I’m The Problem), Musical Event of the Year (“Pour Me A Drink”)

Charlie Handsome earns three nominations this year as a producer and mix engineer. He is recognized twice in Album of the Year for his work on Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion and Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem. He also secures a nomination for Musical Event of the Year for producing Post Malone’s “Pour Me A Drink,” which features Blake Shelton and was co-produced by Louis Bell. Handsome now has eight career CMA nominations.

CHRIS STAPLETON – THREE NOMINATIONS

Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Think I’m In Love With You”)

Chris Stapleton earns three nominations this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Music Video of the Year for “Think I’m In Love With You,” directed by Running Bear. Stapleton is the reigning Male Vocalist, Single and Song of the Year winner, and now has 42 career CMA nominations.

MORGAN WALLEN – THREE NOMINATIONS

Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (I’m The Problem), Male Vocalist of the Year

Reigning Entertainer of the Year, Morgan Wallen earns three nominations this year, including a return nod in that category. He is also nominated for Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for I’m The Problem, produced by Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, and Joey Moi, and mixed by Handsome and Moi. Wallen now has 18 career CMA nominations.

Winners of “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a Final Round of voting by eligible CMA Professional voting members. The third and Final Ballot will be emailed on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Voting for the CMA Awards Final Ballot ends Wednesday, Oct. 29 (6:00 PM/CT). CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be determined by a Final Round of judging this month. Entries are judged by a panel of distinguished broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions. The winners will be revealed in October and recipients will be celebrated at the CMA Awards. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

“The 59th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director and Jon Macks is the Head Writer.

For more information about “The 59th Annual CMA Awards,” visit CMAawards.com, subscribe to emails and follow CMA on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads and X. To be part of the conversation, use #CMAawards.

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“THE 59TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES (by ballot category order):

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• ·         Luke Combs
• ·         Cody Johnson
• ·         Chris Stapleton
• ·         Morgan Wallen
• ·         Lainey Wilson

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

·         “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson

·         Producer: Jay Joyce

·         Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

·         “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs

·         Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton

·         Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews

·         “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney

·         Producer: Kristian Bush

·         Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank

·         “I Never Lie” – Zach Top

·         Producer: Carson Chamberlain

·         Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey

·         “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green

·         Producer: Will Bundy

·         Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley

   

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

·         Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney

·         Producer: Kristian Bush

·         Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank

·         Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top

·         Producer: Carson Chamberlain

·         Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey

·         F-1 Trillion – Post Malone

·         Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins

·         Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore

·         I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen

·         Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi

·         Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi

·         Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson

·         Producer: Jay Joyce

·         Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce        

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)

·         “4x4xU”

·         Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson

·         “Am I Okay?”

·         Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney

·         “I Never Lie”

·         Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top

·         “Texas”

·         Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock

·         “you look like you love me”

·         Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 

• ·         Kelsea Ballerini
• ·         Miranda Lambert
• ·         Ella Langley
• ·         Megan Moroney
• ·         Lainey Wilson

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• ·         Luke Combs
• ·         Cody Johnson
• ·         Chris Stapleton
• ·         Zach Top
• ·         Morgan Wallen

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

• ·         Lady A
• ·         Little Big Town
• ·         Old Dominion
• ·         Rascal Flatts
• ·         The Red Clay Strays

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR  

·         Brooks & Dunn

·         Brothers Osborne

·         Dan + Shay

·         Maddie & Tae

·         The War And Treaty

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)  

·         “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green (featuring Ella Langley)

·         Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff

·         “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll

·         Producer: Micah Nichols

·         “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood)

·         Producer: Trent Willmon

·         “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton)

·         Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome

·         “You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney (feat. Kenny Chesney)

·         Producer: Kristian Bush

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

• ·         Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
• ·         Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
• ·         Brent Mason – Guitar
• ·         Rob McNelley – Guitar
• ·         Derek Wells – Guitar

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)

·         “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney

·         Directors: Alexandra Gavillet, Megan Moroney

·         “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson (with Carrie Underwood)

·         Director: Dustin Haney

·         “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson

·         Director: TK McKamy

·         “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton

·         Director: Running Bear

·         “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green

·         Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

·         Ella Langley

·         Shaboozey

·         Zach Top

·         Tucker Wetmore

·         Stephen Wilson Jr.

2025 CMA BROADCAST AWARDS – FINALISTS FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size):   

Weekly National

·         “Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton” (Lon Helton) – LH Productions

·         “The Country Top 40 with Fitz” (Cory “Fitz” Fitzner) – Hubbard Broadcasting

·         “The Original Country Gold” (Rowdy Yates) – Syndicated Media

·         “Today’s Country Radio” (Kelleigh Bannen) – Apple Music Radio

·         “Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton” (Kelly Sutton) – Compass Media Group

Daily National

·         “Big D & Bubba” (“Big D” Derek Haskins, “Bubba” Sean Powell, Carsen Humphreville, Jonathan Shaffer, and Garrett Freche) – Silverfish Media

·         “Highway Mornings with Cody Alan” (Cody Alan and Lauryn Snapp) – SiriusXM

·         “Ridin’ With Rowdy” (Rowdy Yates) – SuiteRadio / RFC Media

·         “The Rob and Holly Show” (Rob Stone and Holly Hutton) – Audacy

·         “Wilhite and Wall Show” (Darren Wilhite and Tim Wall) – Ebert Productions

Major Market

·         “Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Sam Sansevere, and “Dubs” Michael Wilczynski) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

·         “Hawkeye and Michelle” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk and Michelle Rodriguez) – KSCS, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

·         “The Lo Show” (Lauren “Lo” Barker) – KKBQ, Houston, Texas

·         “Rachel Ryan” (Rachel Ryan) – KSCS, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

·         “The Scotty Kay Show” (Scotty Kay) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.

Large Market

·         “Deb & Matt in the Morning” (Deborah Honeycutt and Matt Malone) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.

·         “The Q Morning Crew w/ Mike & Amanda” (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

·         “Scott and Shannen” (Scott Dolphin and “Shannen O” Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee, Wis.

·         “Tim & Chelsea” (Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor) – WIRK, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.

·         “Wayne D and Tay” (“Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.

 Medium Market

·         “The Doc Show with Chewy” (Ken “Doc” Medek and Sean “Chewy” Medek) – WGGY, Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pa.

·         “Ellis and Bradley Show” (Bill Ellis and Beth Bradley) – WSSL, Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.

·         “Joey & Nancy” (Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, and Karly Duggan) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.

·         “Mo & StyckMan” (Melissa “Mo” Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.

·         “Spencer Graves Show” (Spencer Graves, Megan Terry, and Blair Davis) – WDXB, Birmingham, Ala.

Small Market

·         “Ben & Arnie” (Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews) – WCOW, La Crosse, Wis.

·         “Brent Lane and The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Jordan Glass) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.

·         “Dan Austin Show” (Dan Austin) – WQHK, Fort Wayne, Ind.

·         “Hilley & Hart” (Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart) – KATI, Columbia, Mo.

·         “Liz & Scotty in the Morning” (Liz Del Grosso and Scotty Cox) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.

 

2025 CMA BROADCAST AWARDS – FINALISTS FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):

Major Market

• ·         KKBQ – Houston, Texas
• ·         KSCS – Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
• ·         KYGO – Denver-Boulder, Colo.
• ·         WUSN – Chicago, Ill.
• ·         WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.

Large Market

• ·         WCTK – Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I.
• ·         WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
• ·         WSIX – Nashville, Tenn.
• ·         WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
• ·         WWKA – Orlando, Fla.

Medium Market

• ·         KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
• ·         WHKO – Dayton, Ohio
• ·         WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.
• ·         WLFP – Memphis, Tenn.
• ·         WQMX – Akron, Ohio

Small Market

• ·         KATI – Columbia, Mo.
• ·         KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
• ·         WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.
• ·         WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.
• ·         WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

 About the CMA Awards

First held in 1967, the CMA Awards is the longest-running, annual music awards program on network television. Each year, the show honors outstanding achievement in Country Music—celebrating the artists, songwriters, musicians, and industry professionals whose work has shaped the genre. Winners and nominees are determined by CMA’s Professional voting membership, reflecting the voices of their peers across the industry. The CMA Awards airs live on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu, and is part of CMA’s television portfolio alongside “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”

All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of Deloitte’s legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.