BREAKING: Nominees Revealed For 59th Annual CMA Awards

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The Country Music Association has announced nominees for the 59th annual CMA Awards.

Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson lead the pack 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. Wilson, Combs, Johnson, Stapleton and Wallen garnered a nomination for the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year.

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.

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.

“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.”

Winners 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).

The CMA Broadcast Award finalists were also announced today. 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.

The 59th Annual CMA Awards Final Nominees:

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.

LB Cantrell
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