Entertainer of the Year is the highest honor an artist can receive at the CMA Awards recognizing their performances throughout the last year. This years nominees are: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson.

Wilson took home her third win of the night. Entertainer of the Year is a hard category to decide a winner. In Wilson’s speech she said, “it takes a village.” In her tour, she has started to defy gravity with the way she ‘flies’ during her song “Whirlwind.”

When I was watching the live taping, I could hear people chanting Morgan Wallen’s name. In my opinon, I believe that Wallen should have won this award. In his “I’m the Problem” tour, he sold out 57 stadiums, topped every chart, and broke many streaming records (Ticketmaster).

Single of the Year is awarded to the artist for a specific song. This years nominees are: “4x4xU” by Lainey Wilson, “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” by Luke Combs, “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney, “I Never Lie” by Zach Top, and “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley featuring Riley Green.

Single of the Year was the first award to be presented for the night. This win gave Ella and Riley their first CMA Award for the song, but the fourth total award. In the speech Ella said, “this is a song that keeps on giving.” In Riley’s part of the speech he said, “she’s really making country music really country.”

Album of the Year is another very prestigious award to win. This years nominees are: “Am I Okay” by Megan Moroney, “Cold Beer & Country Music” by Zach Top. “F-1 Trillion” by Post Malone, “I’m The Problem” by Morgan Wallen, and “Whirlwind” by Lainey Wilson.

Lainey Wilson took home her second album of the year win. She finished her American leg of the Whirlwind Tour on November 8th and she starts the European leg on February 6th (Wilson’s Website). In her speech she claimed, “I have the best fans in the world.” Wilson also stated, “I wrote this album in a time where my life was constantly changing.” Releasing this album in August of 2024 and a Deluxe version in August of 2025, Lainey has truly earned the album of the year award.

Song of the Year is given to the songwriter for their artistic achievement. This year’s nominees are: “4x4xU” written by Jon Decious, Aaron Raitere, and Lainey Wilson, “Am I Okay?” written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, and Megan Moroney, “I Never Lie” written by Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, and Zach Top, “Texas” written by Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, and Kyle Sturrock, and “You Look Like You Love Me” written by Ella Langley, Riley Green, and Aaron Raitere.

Ella and Riley took home their 2nd win of the night. When Ella performs this song live she always talks about the man she met at a bar and did exactly as the song said. In the speech Riley said, “how cool is it that a song with talking verses wins song of the year!” For Langley and Green this really is just the song that keeps on giving.

Female artist of the Year is given to the best female country music artist for that year. This years nominees are: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson.

Lainey Wilson took home the win for female vocalist of the year. She commented on all the other female artist who shaped her into who she is.

This is another tough category to decide a winner. All of these artists are unique in their own way. Lainey with her lyrics, Ella with her vocal tones, Kelsea with her true to life lyrics, Megan with her upbeat songs, and Miranda with her experience. It would be hard to choose a true winner in my mind, but it would be close between Wilson, Langley, and Ballerini.

Male artist of the Year is given to the best male country music artist for that year. This years nominees are: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Morgan Wallen.

Cody Johnson took home his first male vocalist win. In his speech he said, “when I was little I had a microphone hung up next to my bed and I would imitate other singers singing different songs.” Johnson has a very energetic show and each show is different. He recently released his cover of “Travelin’ Solider,” a song he has been singing at shows for a while. Although Johnson wasn’t predicted to win, I do believe he truly is the best male vocalist of the year.

Vocal Group of the Year is given to the best country vocal group for that year. This years nominees are: Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, and The Red Clay Strays.

The Red Clay Strays took home their first win. Their speech was very funny with many unique facts. They stated, “when we first moved here, we slept on Cody Pains floor.” They are the most popular from their 2022 hit “Wondering Why.”

Vocal Duo of the Year is given to the best  country duo for that year. This years nominees are: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae, and The War and Treaty.

Brooks & Dunn took home the win for the 16th time. Ronnie Dunn said, “I am very emotional with this win.” This group was founded in 1988, they took a small break from 2010 to 2015, and they were later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (Hall of Fame).

The Musical event of the Year is given to artists who collaborate on a song. This years nominees are: “Don’t Mind If I Do” by Riley Green featuring Ella Langley, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake featuring Jelly Roll, “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson featuring Carrie Underwood, “Pour Me A Drink” by Post Malone featuring Blake Shelton, and “You Had To Be There” by Megan Moroney featuring Kenny Chesney.

Post Malone and Blake Shelton won this award in the morning of the CMA awards, as one of two awards announced the morning of. Post Malone is a recent country artist with his new album “F-1 Trillion.” This album was released in August of 2024 giving it time for Malone to open his own bar in Nashville called “Posty’s.”

Musician of the Year recognizes the most prestigious instrumentalist in country music. This year’s nominees are: Jenee Fleenor on the Fiddle, Paul Franklin on the Steel Guitar, Brent Mason on the Guitar, Rob McNelleey on the Guitar, and Derek Wells on the Guitar.

Paul Franklin took home the win, this is his first win after having over 30 nominations. He is currently touring with Chris Stapleton, but he has toured with many different artists and played on more than 500 albums. Franklin was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019 (SavingCountryMusic.com).

Music Video of the Year recognizes the storytelling and chemistry between the artists during the video. This year’s nominees are: “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney, “I’m Gonna Love You” by Cody Johnson featuring Carrie Underwood, “Somewhere Over Laredo” by Lainey Wilson, “Think I’m In Love With You” by Chris Stapleton, and “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley featuring Riley Green.

Langley and Green won this award in the morning of the CMA awards, as the second award announced the morning of. Ella co-directed the music video alongside John Park and Wales Toney. In an interview with a CMA host Ella said, “I wanted something that fans could really feel like it’s a story in a movie.”

New Artist of the Year is given to the artist who has achieved a high status in the last year. This year’s nominees are: Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, and Stephan Wilson Jr.

Zach Top took home his first ever CMA win. In his speech he thanked his parents for telling him to not become a professional athlete. He also commemorated his siblings for being in the family band with him. Top started as a bluegrass singer before transitioning to a country music artist. He moved to Nashville in 2021 and released his debut album in 2024 called “Cold Beer & Country Music.” (Top’s website).

The next major event is the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in the spring of 2026. Up next is the CMA fest, a four-day country music festival held in downtown Nashville.

Mini events such as CMA Christmas Special will be broadcasted live December 8th on ABC. But you can always catch your favorite artist in concert or on the radio. Another way to listen is to hear them perform through the WSM app. WSM is the radio station connected to The Grand Ole Opry.