“LAINEY WILSON JUST MADE CMA HISTORY — AND THE MOMENT WAS SO EXPLOSIVE, EVEN THE CAMERAS DIDN’T KNOW WHERE TO POINT. WHAT SHE DID NEXT HAS COUNTRY MUSIC FANS LOSING THEIR MINDS…”! Lainey Wilson didn’t just make history at the 59th CMA Awards — she detonated it. From the second she stepped onto that stage, the energy shifted. Whispers turned into gasps, cameras snapped like lightning, and fans swear they felt the entire arena shake as she delivered a moment so unexpected, so raw, it left even the biggest stars frozen in disbelief. Something happened in that opening — something the CMA producers never planned for — and it sparked the loudest backstage scramble of the night. Social media is in meltdown, country music fans are demanding answers, and whatever Lainey unleashed… it’s only getting stranger by the minute. <>SJ

The winner for the 2025 CMA Entertainer of the Year Award. (Photos by: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images, John Shearer/Getty Images, Christopher Polk/ Getty Images)

On Wednesday, November 19, The 59th Annual CMA Awards Took Place In Nashville, TN

Country music’s most famous singers and songwriters all came together at Bridgestone Arena to see who would take home an award during the evening.

The ceremony was hosted by Lainey Wilson, who was one of the most nominated artists of the night. It was her first time hosting the show solo after co-hosting the 2024 ceremony with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.

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Throughout the night, viewers saw a lot of other “firsts” as well.

For example, Cody Johnson earned his first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. Blake Shelton also received his first nomination for a CMA Award since 2019.

Miranda Lambert found herself tied with Reba McEntire for the most nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, with each superstar earning 18 nods. Additionally, Kenny Chesney set the record as the most-nominated artist in the Musical Event of the Year category.

The 2025 Entertainer Of The Year Nominees

Entertainer of the Year is the biggest award handed out at the CMA Awards. It’s saved for last, which keeps fans on the edge of their seats all night as they wait to see who takes home the prestigious title.

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This year, nominees for Entertainer of the Year were: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson.

 

Luke Combs has won Entertainer of the Year twice before, in 2021 and 2022. He was also nominated in 2020, 2023, and 2024. As previously mentioned, this is Cody Johnson’s first nomination in the category.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: CMA AWARDS EXPLODE INTO CHAOS: Lainey Wilson’s Fiery Opening Hijacked by a Secret Guest as Keith Urban EMERGES From Total Darkness for a Jaw-Dropping Surprise Duet — Then Drops a Heartbreaking, SHOCKING Message to Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman That Leaves Her CRYING

Lainey Wilson was the winner of the 2023 Entertainer of the Year award, and this is her third consecutive year as a nominee. Morgan Wallen has been nominated four times now and was named Entertainer of the Year at last year’s ceremony.

So, Who Won The Night’s Biggest Award?

When it came time to announce the winner for Entertainer of the Year, Keith Urban took the stage to present the award.

They revealed that the winner for Entertainer of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards was…

Lainey Wilson!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: CMA AWARDS EXPLODE INTO CHAOS: Lainey Wilson’s Fiery Opening Hijacked by a Secret Guest as Keith Urban EMERGES From Total Darkness for a Jaw-Dropping Surprise Duet — Then Drops a Heartbreaking, SHOCKING Message to Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman That Leaves Her CRYING