Lainey Wilson has officially been announced as the host for the 2025 Country Music Association Awards, set to air on ABC. This year, she will take on the hosting duties solo, unlike the previous year where she shared the spotlight as one of three co-hosts.
The decision to appoint Wilson as the sole host highlights her rapid rise in the country music scene and her prominence as a leading ambassador for the genre. Interestingly, this hosting role coincides with her status as a top contender in the nominations, where she is tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the most nods—six each—heading into the upcoming ceremony. This year’s nominations are a testament to her impact and popularity.
It’s worth noting that this marks only the second time in over two decades that the CMAs will feature a solo host, the last being Luke Bryan in 2021. Before that, the show had Vince Gill at the helm for an impressive decade-long run from 1994 to 2003.
In 2024, Wilson joined the hosting team alongside Bryan and sports icon Peyton Manning, who had previously teamed up for the previous two award shows.
“Growing up, I watched the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl,” Wilson shared in a statement. “To be given the opportunity to host for a second year is such an honor. I am grateful for CMA’s confidence in me, and I can’t wait to celebrate this genre that means so much to me.”
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 19 at 8 p.m. ET, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
Should Wilson continue in this hosting role, she may very well follow in the footsteps of past hosts who have had long tenures. Vince Gill’s 10-year hosting stint is quite notable, but Carrie Underwood holds the record, having served as host for an impressive twelve years from 2008 to 2019, often alongside Brad Paisley for the majority of that time. In her 13th year, Underwood co-hosted with legends Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
Among the six nominations Wilson is vying for this year is the prestigious entertainer of the year award—an accolade she snagged in a surprising twist during 2023’s ceremony, marking her first win. This year, many industry insiders consider her a frontrunner to reclaim the title, especially following the success of her inaugural headlining arena tour. Last year, she was nominated for the same award but lost out to Morgan Wallen, who notably did not attend to accept his award.
In addition to entertainer of the year, Wilson is nominated in several other categories, including female vocalist of the year; single of the year and song of the year for her hit “4x4xU”; album of the year for “Whirlwind”; and music video of the year for “Somewhere Over Laredo,” a track featured on the deluxe version of her album.
“Whirlwind” is just Wilson’s third major-label project, following her breakthrough in 2021 with “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’.” Additionally, her recent appearance in a small recurring role on the popular television series “Yellowstone” significantly boosted her visibility in the industry. Over the past five years, she has achieved eight top-five hits on the country airplay charts, comprising five as a solo artist and three as a featured collaborator.
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