The 2025 CMA Awards LIVE Blog (+Winners)
Congratulations, you have navigated your way to the notorious Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog. As the presentation unfolds, snark, keen observations, earned praise, and a few swear words and errant typos will be presented in real time. Yes, there will be some fun at other people’s expense, so bring a thick skin. But credit will also be given where credit is due. Everything is unscripted, and composed in real time.
YOUR feedback and observations are welcome as well, so get your refresh fingers ready, and feel free to pipe up in the comments section below.
To see all the 2025 CMA Awards nominees, CLICK HERE .
WARNING: Language
All Times Central Time.
WINNERS:
Entertainer of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year – Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind
Female Vocalist of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year- Cody Johnson
New Artist of the Year- Zach Top
Vocal Group of the Year – The Red Clay Strays
Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks and Dunn
Single of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me” – Riley Green and Ella Langley
Song of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me” – Riley Green and Ella Langley
Music Video of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley and Riley Green
Musical Event of the Year – Post Malone and Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”
Musician of the Year – Paul Franklin
10:15 – Lainey Wilson might have been the big winner. But the real story of the 2025 CMA Awards feels like the oddball roots musicians crashing the party, and making a big impression on a massive scale. They only won Vocal Group of the Year, but The Red Clay Strays did what no other group could in seven years, which was take down Old Dominion. They also had a stellar, memorable performance, and undoubtedly drove some serious search engine traffic.
Stephen Wilson Jr. also stole the show, even if he didn’t win anything. He had one of the best performances with “Stand By Me,” and bested Shaboozey during Shaboozey’s own set. Hats off to Zach Top too. He could have had a bigger night if he’d won Album of the Year. Once again, CMA voters went with the safe, predictable pick in Lainey Wilson. But Zach’s the 2025 CMA New Artist of the Year, and will be forevermore, while also turning in one of the evening’s better performances.
Ella Langley also feels like a big winner, taking home three awards with Riley Green for “Look Like You Love Me,” but also overcoming her social anxiety from previous award shows to look present and grateful, and sang a great rendition of “Choosin’ Texas.” The big loser feels like BigXthaPlug, who just didn’t work whatsoever, and really never has in country. The network censor bleeps broke up and already bad performance, and you have to wonder what the point of that was for anyone.
It’s not that Lainey Wilson is bad by any stretch. But all the awards show success does feel forced. She’s not the biggest artist in country music at the moment, and Whirlwind is not the best album. Trying to will that into existence by giving her all the awards at some point won’t just be useless. It could be counter-productive.
More on Saving Country Music dot com in the coming hours and days.
10:00 – THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by! Including the woman who yelled at me for my Keith Urban joke! I appreciate everyone following along and chiming in. I will compose some final thoughts here, recap the winners, and then get back to trying to solve the death of Todd Snider.
9:57 – In a $7.99 Dicks Sporting Goods camouflage emergency rain poncho, Lainey Wilson accepts the biggest award in country music.
Anti-climactic is the best way to describe it. Hard to work up any venom for Lainey. But it felt like this could, and should have been Cody Johnson’s moment.
9:56 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA for Entertainer of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson
9:52 – It’s really been a pretty good night for good music at the CMA Awards so far, but you really hate to see old records in country music fall. Thanks to BigXthaPlug, Dolly Parton no longer has the biggest tits in country music history.
9:51 – With Lainey Wilson winning Album of the Year, this was pretty much a shoo-in. At this point, Lainey Wilson losing something would be the surprise.
Lainey does give a good speech about women in country music propping each other up, as opposed to being pitted against each other.
9:50 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson.
9:49 – ABC might have needed to censor part of that song, but they won’t censor me. Fuck that BigXthaPlug performance.
9:48 – And when we say BigXthaPlug is “overshadowing” other more worthy Black artists in country music who actually play country, we mean that quite literally. The dude and his Michelin tire belly is a walking lunar eclipse.
9:47 – Is Kelsea Ballerini wearing a burqa?
9:46 – Thanks to this Luke Combs and BigXthaPlug performance, GLP-1 drugs are getting a free infomercial right here in the middle of the CMA Awards.
9:45 – Glad to see George Strait show up for Vince Gill. But we couldn’t have him SING something when he’s in the building?
9:40 – “Willie, if you’re out there, you’re still inspiring us at 92 years old,” Gill says accepting the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
9:39 – Vince: “I hosted this show for 12 years. It might have been the dumbest thing they ever did.”
9:38 – Vince Gill: “It’s not lost on me that they had to have girls come out and sing for me tonight. None of the boys can get up that high … I’m pretty confident I’m the only one who has won this award who’s never smoked any weed.”
9:36 – You can tell Gill is choking up. What an honor to have King George bestow this Lifetime Achievement honor. “He’s just an immense talent. Oh yeah, and he plays with The Eagles.”
9:35 – Oh shit! George Strait! Oh, sorry for cussing in front of you, sir. I’m just excited.
9:33 – Patty Loveless? Yeah, I still would.
CMA Award WINNER Paul Franklin on steel guitar, ladies and gentlemen.
They’re all KILLING “When I Call Your Name.”
9:32 – Oh, and add Patty Loveless to the mix, we’re here for it!
9:31 – Wow, didn’t have “Brandi Carlile tributes Vince Gill” on my CMA Awards bingo card, but I’m here for it.
Brandi should make a straight country record at some point.
9:28 – Why is everyone who’s yelling at me about how much The Red Clay Strays suck on social media have a man bun?
9:26 – Vince Gill tribute coming up!
9:24 – Who is this singing? Tucker Wetmore? Did they book this TEMU Morgan Wallen because Morgan told them to kick rocks?
9:23 – BIG win for traditionalist Cody Johnson. If he ends up winning Entertainer of the Year, this could be his night as well.
9:21 – “When I was a little kid, I taped a little microphone to the side of my bunk bed … God bless country music,” Cody Johnson says.
9:20 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Cody Johnson.
9:18 – The two-steppers and Ella Langley’s pants are good touches too. If Langley leans into these country roots, she could really go somewhere. Take note Jon Pardi as you’re sitting at home watching.
9:16 – Ella Langley can sing. Not an excellent singer. But she can actually sing. “Choosin’ Texas” is also a great song. It’s currently sitting at #3 on the Saving Country Music Top 25 playlist. Listen to that steel guitar!
9:15 – Wasn’t Halloween last month?
9:12 – The Internet: “tHe REd CLAy sTRaYs ARen’T cOUnTrY!”
No shit. They’re not country. Yet somehow, they’re still more country than Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, and Rascal Flatts. They’re also the best band in the lot. That’s why they won.
9:08 – I just wonder how much Riley Green’s popularity is due to talent, and how much it’s due to him being a walking thirst trap.
9:05 – The problem with the death of Hollywood is nobody knows who these celebrity cameo people are.
9:03 – “A Song To Sing” by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton is such a stinker, and such a missed opportunity to match two stellar voices and personalities on a cool collaboration. It’s a song about writing a song. “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” it is not.
9:01 – Megan Maroney needs to spend less time doing Cain’s chicken commercials, and more time singing Do Re Me Fa So.
9:00 – So obviously the win by the Red Clay Strays for Vocal Group of the Year is MASSIVE. It breaks a seven year streak by Old Dominion, and comes on the heels of the band turning in one of the most memorable performances of the night so far. They’re already headlining Madison Square Garden and The Bridgestone (where these awards are) next year. They now might be able to book arenas in every market in America.
This is why these award shows can matter. BIG win for independent roots music.
8:57 – Did we just see Lil’ Wayne in the audience? It was Lil somebody.
Probably in town recording a “country” record. It’ll will a CMA next year. God let’s hope he’s not a surprise collaborator tonight, though I’d take him over Old Dominion.
8:55 – Veterans get a standing ovation as Ella Langley introduces them in the audience. The Chevy product placement makes the solemn and respectful moment a little awkward.
8:54 – Electric performance from Lainey though. She knows how to entertain.
8:52 – Just feel the need to point out during this Lainey Wilson performance that Chuck Mead released a song in 2009 called “She Got the Ring (I Got the Finger).”
8:50 – Boy, that Cody Johnson “finger” joke introducing Lainey Wilson went over like a fart in church.
8:49 – “Thanks you Jesus!” Coleman Jennings says. Then he thanks Jesus again.
Drummer John Hall says, “My brother took his own life and should be up here with us. This is for him.”
8:47 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA for Vocal Group of the Year goes to The Red Clay Strays!
8:45 – Stephen Wilson Jr. TOTALLY stealing the show here during Shaboozey’s set. Stephen can actually sing with emotion. Shaboozey can’t sing without Auto Tune.
And why is Shaboozey dressed like a Iron Curtain era Eastern European factory worker?
8:44 – They’re trying SO hard to make Shaboozey not be a one hit wonder. Not sure it’s working. Not sure if this song has anything.
8:42– If you take two shots and swallow a marble and try to pronounce Shaboozey, it sounds like Medusa.
8:41 – Bert Kreischer just made a digital penetration joke involving Nashville hot chicken.
8:39 – So it feels like Lainey Wilson has replaced Chris Stapleton as the default pick for awards now. It could be worse, but it definitely could be better. But overall, it just feels safe and anti-climactic.
This means that Zach Top will not have a big, blowout night. If Lainey Wilson wins Entertainer of the Year, the night could be hers. Obviously, the industry loves her.
8:36 – Lainey Wilson – “I just remember that 11-year-old girl that would come home from school, and pick up a guitar.”
8:35 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA form Album of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson for “Whirlwind.”
8:32 – Oh thank God. Allison Brown and Steve Martin, cleanse our palettes!
8:30 – I hate Old Dominion so much, it affects me physically.
They’re playing a medley of their “hits.” I write about damn country music for a living, and have never heard any of these songs in my life. The most forgettable band in country music history.
8:27 – Can someone slop up an AI video of Old Dominion snorting rails off a prepubescent butt with Jeffrey Epstein so we can cancel them for good?
8:26 – Bailey Zimmerman sucks.
8:24 – The Red Clay Strays, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Zach Top creating the most buzz in the first half of the 2025 CMA Awards. Just let that sink in for a second. Expose actual talent to a mainstream audience, and they go nuts.
More importantly, they start to ask, “What else is radio not playing for me?” That’s why these dumb shows can matter. All three will get HUGE bumps from tonight.
8:22 – Songwriter Brett James (RIP) gets a worthy shout out at the end of Chesney’s second song. Hopefully we get an in Memoriam segment this year. CMAs have been very inconsistent about this in the past.
8:20 – If Chesney gets THREE songs on this thing, we riot.
8:18 – This “toes in the sand” dude is in the damn Country Music Hall of Fame, and Dwight Yoakam isn’t.
8:15 – Lainey Wilson introduces the new Hall of Fame inductees, including June Carter, producer Tony Brown, and Kenny Chesney who comes out to sing an 11 year old song, “American Kids.”
8:12 – Going back a bit, “You Look Like You Love Me” was a monster track and it’s no surprise it’s winning all over the place. But it is frustrating how the CMAs and ACMs treat “Single of the Year” and “Song of the Year” as interchangeable. Single should be the “hit.” Song of the Year should say something, and try to change the world, hit or not. “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” “Murder on Music Row.”
8:11 – Stephen Wilson Jr. just turned in the performance of the night so far.
When you don’t have to pander to radio and play your latest single on the awards show, you can pick the song that makes people go, “Holy shit!” That’s what Stephen Wilson Jr. did.
8:09 – Incidentally, Wilson Jr. is married to Leigh Nash, who we saw him with earlier. She’s also known as the singer for Sixpence Noe The Richer.
8:08 – A lot of folks Googling “Stephen Wilson Jr.” in America right now.
8:06 – Stephen Wilson Jr. is a performer I go back and forth about. But he really kills this “Stand By Me” cover. He puts more emotion in it per square inch than any other song you’ll ever hear.
8:04 – Songwriter Aaron Raitiere getting a huge shout out on national TV. That’s got to be a huge deal for a worthy songwriter and performer.
8:03 – WINNER – The 2025 CMA for Song of the Year goes to “You Look Like You Love Me” – Riley Green and Ella Langley.
8:02 – Wait. That’s Kimberly Perry?
8:01 – “People Hatin'” as a song felt a little forced when it first came out. But Brandon Coleman and The Strays are REALLY selling it here. You hear that sound? That’s a million hearts Brandon is breaking right now.
8:00 – It’s just so gratifying to see the Red Clay Strays on the CMA stage. Sure, they’re not 100% country, but neither is much of the other shit we’ll see tonight.
7:57 – WINNER – PAUL FRANKLIN just won for Musician of the Year. This is monumental, even if it was treated like an afterthought. He had been nominated 33 TIMES and had never won before. HUGE!
7:56 – What the hell is Billy Bob Thornton wearing on his damn head?
7:54 – If Zach Top is going to have a big night, it needed to start with this award. It was pretty much his to lose, but it signals that CMA voters are willing to pull the lever for him. Now we’ll just have to see what happens come Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year time. He’s also up for Song of the Year for “I Never Lie.”
7:50 – Zach shows up to the podium holding a Coors. He takes a swig before saying,
“This is my first CMA win, so it’s a big deal for me.” Zach Top thanks his siblings who he was in a family band with, his co-writer and producer Carson Chamberlin, his band and others.
7:49 – WINNER – The CMA for New Artist of the Year goes to Zach Top!
7:47 – Kelsea Ballerini isn’t the only one who took a cold shower during that performance.
7:45 – Folks, I am APPALLED at the encroachment of these AI artists into country music. It is eroding the integrity and authenticity of this music, and we must to take a stand! And to see it welcomed onto the hallowed CMA Awards show stage …. wait, Kelsea Ballerini is actually a real human ?!?
7:42 – When Lainey Wilson opened the show having to sing 7-8 different songs while walking through the crowd, that was talent. Megan couldn’t even sing her own song good.
7:40 – Ooh! Red Clay Strays coming up. I might or might not be slicking back my hair with some Dapper Dan in preparation.
7:38 – Never though I would see a bass guitar solo or Ne-Yo on the CMA Awards, but here we are.
7:37 – Chris Stapleton’s got all the natural talent that performers like Megan Moroney don’t. But sometimes you feel like if you’ve heard one Chris Stapleton song, you’ve heard them all.
7:36 – Willie Nelson’s Mickey Raphael up there blowing harp with Chris Stapleton.
7:35 – Megan Moroney is a good songwriter and a compelling character in country music. But she just doesn’t bring anything to the table as a singer. I’d say the key is out of her sweet spot, but I’m not sure she has a sweet spot.
7:33 – Okay Megan Moroney, you’ve been pretty pitchy at these things in the past. Bring your A game.
7:29 – Of course the Brooks & Dunn win says just as much about their longevity as it does the continued weakness of this CMA category. How about getting a duo like Muscadine Bloodline in the mix? 16 wins though, that’s damn impressive.
7:27 – “Lee Ann Morgan said she was post-menopausal, and we are too!” — Ronnie Dunn
7:26 – WINNER – The CMA for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Brooks & Dunn
7:25 – What is a Ne-Yo?
7:23 – Not only does Zach Top come out singing an ACTUAL country song, he takes his own killer acoustic guitar solo. Hopefully he has a big, big night.
7:21 – Just give all these damn awards to Zach Top, and let’s go home. We’ve all got better “things to do.”
7:20 – Here are the lame jokes we knew we could count on from the CMA writers. Bring back Brad and Carrie, and jokes written by Wheeler Walker Jr.
7:18 – Am I supposed to know who Lee Ann Morgan (sp?) is? Would rather see Lee Ann Womack saunter out on stage and floor us.
7:13 – Ella Langley and Riley Green have already won twice tonight. Let’s see if “You Look Like You Love Me” wins Song of the Year too, or maybe Zach Top or Megan Moroney can slip in there.
7:12 – Bad suit choice Riley. What’s that material, ’80s carry on luggage tweed?
7:11 – WINNER – The CMA for Single of the Year goes to “You Look Like You Love Me” – Riley Gree and Ella Langley.
7:10 – Please don’t tell me Elizabeth Hurley is banging Billy Ray Cyrus.
7:09 – Keith Urban is the country artist most likely to show up in a photo in a conga line with Jeffrey Epstein.
7:08 – I don’t know if I like the Lainey Wilson hit montage opener better than bad jokes.
7:06 – Lainey Wilson and her butt the host of the 2025 CMA Awards, brought to you by Ozempic.
7:05 – Hey hey! Charlie Worsham with some some really quality network TV face time with Lainey! Give him a damn performance slot!
7:04 – Lainey Wilson, “Country music isn’t a genre, it’s a lifestyle.” Amen to that.
7:03 – What would really make this performance interesting is if Bailey Zimmerman jumped down from the fence and tried to ride Luke’s shoulders like a bucker.
7:01 – Luke Combs opens, looking like he’s ready to yank some big mouth out of a local stock pond per usual. Remember when this used to be a black tie affair?
7:00 – Here we go!
6:56 – Another thing to definitely look forward to is the Vince Gill Lifetime Achievement Award. We don’t know at this point if Gill will perform himself, or who is set to pay tribute to him.
6:50 – Early winners include:
Music Video of the Year – Ella Langley and Riley Green – “You Look Like You Love Me”
Musical Event of the Year – Post Malone and Blake Shelton – “Pour Me A Drink”
This means that Post Malone has a CMA Award, but Dwight Yoakam, Tom T. Hall, Johnny Paycheck, David Allan Coe, Rosanne Cash, Gene Watson, Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson, Sierra Ferrell, and a bunch more still don’t.
6:45 – We’ll have to see how everything shakes out, but this could be one of those CMA Awards that does not entirely suck. Performers include The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top, Brandi Carlile, Stephen Wilson Jr.,Patty Loveless, and Patty Loveless. This is a pretty big haul for the good guys. Allison Brown and Steve Martin, and Billy Bob Thornton will also be presenters. And with Zach Top potentially poised to have a big night, it could get very interesting.
That said, we’re also getting BigXthaPlug, Old Dominion, and some other wet noodles. So keep your expectations muted.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
Why are cowboy hats being worn backwards????
November 19, 2025 @ 6:12 pm
They aren’t. It’s the style of brim.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:15 pm
“Walk Out Backwards…and Ill Think You”re Walking In.”
November 19, 2025 @ 6:03 pm
Won’t be watching, but will be reading SCM blog. It’s the best part about this show.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:12 pm
I’m honestly surprised Billy Ray isn’t dead yet
November 19, 2025 @ 6:17 pm
Good point.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:13 pm
Whaddup all, I’m here for the Awards show SCM family reunion ❤️
November 19, 2025 @ 9:33 pm
Thanks for stopping by!
November 19, 2025 @ 6:14 pm
I will never understand why Elizabeth Hurley finds Billy Ray attractive.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:21 pm
Leanne Morgan is hilarious but these jokes aren’t it.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:29 pm
Yeah, bad material. Not even funny in a corny, Hee-Haw kind of way.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:22 pm
Quote by Lainey Wilson: ““Country music isn’t a genre, it’s a lifestyle.”
It used to be a form of music about a certain WAY of life, and not a mere lifestyle, Lainey.
November 20, 2025 @ 7:40 pm
That sentence is what manufactured stars say.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
The distance from my couch to the TV on the opposite side of the room, is the same as the distance between where we sitting in the US 99 studio and where Zach Top was on stage in the US99 studio. Thank you for that, US99, my local super sized mainstream country station which gets things right on enough occasions that matter. 🙂
November 19, 2025 @ 6:32 pm
I love Brooks and Dunn. But. It’s time for new duos to take over this category.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:32 pm
I’m out on the West Coast so I’m listening to Sirius live – no live show out here. : (
November 19, 2025 @ 6:35 pm
Megan Moroney does not sound good at all!
November 19, 2025 @ 6:38 pm
No amount of pink, overproduced choreography can hide it.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:43 pm
And this has been a very consistent problem that you would think she would have addressed if she could.
November 20, 2025 @ 3:34 am
The CMA didn’t even include Megan’s performance among the dozen or so it posted to YouTube. That’s highly unusual for a big-name artist. Intentional?
November 20, 2025 @ 7:45 am
Probably is, or might have been by request of Megan’s people.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:35 pm
BigXthaPlug not standing for Brooks & Dunn until he notices everyone else in the building is standing… 99% chance he has zero clue who they are.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:44 pm
He didn’t even know who George Strait was. Brooks & Dunn might as well be a shaving cream brand to him.
November 20, 2025 @ 6:30 am
Isn’t he from Texas? How can you be from Texas and not know who George Strait is? That would be like someone from Iowa not knowing who Caitlin Clark is, multiplied by 20.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:39 pm
Look I like Megan, even though she’s not the countriest artist out there, but her live performances have been shaky at best and idk what’s up
November 19, 2025 @ 6:43 pm
Thank God Stapleton was there to clear the stench from the room after that Moroney atrocity.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:43 pm
“Chris Stapleton’s got all the natural talent that performers like Megan Moroney don’t. But sometimes you feel like if you’ve heard one Chris Stapleton song, you’ve heard them all.”
Thank you, Trigger
November 19, 2025 @ 6:44 pm
I am a Brooks and Dunn fan for decades but not only question why they’re given awards but why they’re even submitted when they’ve released nothing for years?
November 19, 2025 @ 8:59 pm
Because the most successful full-time duo in country music right now is Dan + Shay, and there’s only so low the CMA will go. The category ought to be eliminated if 99 percent of the duets released are one-off collaborations.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:44 pm
Wonder if Guitar will be the next Zach Top single 🤔- I sure hope it is!!!
November 19, 2025 @ 6:56 pm
Good chance it will be if he performed it here.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:52 pm
Give me Mae Estes, Jenna Paulette, Amanda Kate Ferris, Lauren Watkins, or Emily Ann Roberts over Megan Moroney and Kelsea Ballerini.
November 19, 2025 @ 6:52 pm
ZACH fuckin’ TOP !!!
November 19, 2025 @ 6:54 pm
Congrats Zach Top!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:02 pm
I want some of whatever Strays drummer is on!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:06 pm
John Hall is a beast. Watching him is like its own show.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:14 pm
Dudes a riot!
November 20, 2025 @ 4:21 am
For me, there hasn’t been a drummer since Keith Moon who is so entertaining and at the same time brings so much power for his band as John Hall.
I mean, almost stealing the show from such a captivating, outstanding frontman as Brandon Coleman is truly an achievement.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:05 pm
Kimberly Perry needs to stay away from the plastic surgeon!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:06 pm
This song has really grown on me. Congrats Ella and Riley!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:08 pm
This cover by Stephen Wilson Jr! What! I am floored.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:08 pm
I love the strays and have been a fan for a long time. I get their message but I wished they would have played something else. Maybe disaster or I’m still fine. Still happy to see them on this stage but people hating is not their best work.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:17 pm
I could not understand the lyrics, which is never the best way to introduce yourself on a national stage.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:51 pm
#1 Congrats Paul Franklin! Finally! #2. Zack Top is everything! #3 My 71 year old dad referring to Stephen Wilson as “looks & sings like sociopath. ” lolz
November 19, 2025 @ 7:08 pm
I never realized how tough this is watching “live” with Trigs posts and everyone’s posts in the dark here in the JB-Chicago home theater and trying to post myself….and keep up in real time….while keeping my drink fresh…..LOL It ain’t easy!!!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:12 pm
Megan Moroney us why AI is gaining traction. If you don’t have the chops live, what’s it matter?
November 19, 2025 @ 7:19 pm
Where’s jelly roll?
November 19, 2025 @ 7:23 pm
Don’t jinx it, but I don’t believe he’s in the building.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:28 pm
Nature is healing!
November 19, 2025 @ 8:54 pm
So many of these winners have been thanking Jesus, he’s not needed. Nor is Jesus on a secular music award show, but I know that’s not a popular opinion here or in the country music world in general.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:00 pm
What a dumb comment.
November 20, 2025 @ 10:08 am
Jesus, is needed everywhere.
It is the insincere thank you, that is not needed.
November 20, 2025 @ 1:17 pm
Forever is a really really long time to be wrong about Jesus Christ.
Good luck with that tho.
November 20, 2025 @ 7:41 pm
It is not a popular opinion, carpetbagger.
November 21, 2025 @ 7:44 am
So I see, and so I expected. And I should have expected that my comments (made under the influence of a couple of gummies I occasionally take for the aches and pains of these old Yankee bones) about Jesus would poke a very large bear. I see these outward manifestations of faith, gratitude, etc. before an audience of millions who are there just to listen to music as more befitting the Pharisees than the central figure of their faith. Your mileage obviously varies, and I’m fine with that. OK?
I’ve lived and worked on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. I listen to classic and current country, mainstream and alternative, pure and hybrid. That probably makes me more double agent than carpetbagger, but that’s me, and I’m not going to apologize for any of it.
November 21, 2025 @ 5:47 am
Jerk!
November 19, 2025 @ 9:38 pm
Jelly has been touring internationally, dates in Australia and Mexico this month, the most recent just three days ago. Probably needs rest, vocally and generally.
November 20, 2025 @ 4:23 am
Who?🤭
November 19, 2025 @ 7:24 pm
Kenny Chesney is the godfather of bro-country with his catalog of “middle-aged bachelor trolling PCB during Spring Break” hits…
November 19, 2025 @ 7:26 pm
Trig, remember when I came back from watching Lainey perform in a tent in Kirkland, IL to 200 of us at the end of the pandemic and said …… “she’s going to be huge, she’s the female futur she”? and she’s that now even with average music and production…. she’s L A I N E Y and loveable. Her greatest album has yet to be written………………… she knows how to bridge the gap like Luke Combs does…. embrace her,
November 19, 2025 @ 9:37 pm
I don’t want to hate Lainey Wilson, and I don’t hate Lainey Wilson. But I fear the way the industry is pushing her is only going to lead to resentment that she’s already facing. And yes, she needs a great album.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:43 pm
Barring a great album from Lainey, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ella get Female Vocalist next year. That’s assuming her next album continues the progress she showed on Hungover. Entertainer is probably Lainey’s for another year, at least. She’s far more dynamic on stage than Ella, Chris, Luke or anyone else with the mainstream stardom to contend for the award.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:36 pm
I like Lainey, but Zach Top got robbed.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:37 pm
Is Morgan Wallen not invited to these or does he just not go?
November 19, 2025 @ 7:41 pm
He’s not banned. He just chooses not to show up. He won Entertainer of the Year last year. Never even acknowledged it.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:38 pm
Never cared for Old Dominion. And I also don’t care for fake distressed guitars.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:09 pm
“One Man Band” has a pretty melody, and “Hotel Key” is one of those catchy, bouncy earworm songs that I’ve always been a sucker for, and it’s kind of funny as well. Other than those, their songs have always been in one ear, out the other for me. But then, I’m a male 70-year-old, about as far from their soccer mom target demo as you can get.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:40 pm
Tired of Lainey like I was with Miranda some years ago.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:41 pm
Miranda is a way more talented songwriter
November 19, 2025 @ 7:47 pm
When will this Shaboozey stuff end? Was a bad career choice singing with Stephen Wilson Jr. Vocal talent is nowhere close and it is obvious
November 19, 2025 @ 7:51 pm
Mickey Mouse wants his ears back.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:52 pm
The freaking Red Clay Strays win!!! That’s amazing!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:52 pm
Why did we get an Old Dominion greatest hits from 10 years ago medley and not a CoJo performance considering he’s nominated for Entertainer?
November 19, 2025 @ 7:54 pm
Good point.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:56 pm
He’s still recovering from his burst ear drum
November 19, 2025 @ 11:47 pm
He said in an interview earlier this week that he’s fully healed from surgery but having to reschedule those 6 shows he cancelled would have felt disrespectful if he performed tonight.
November 19, 2025 @ 7:52 pm
Paul Franklin wins! It sort of feels like a charitable act given the circumstances, but I’m glad to hear a steel player winning.
November 20, 2025 @ 5:22 am
Paul Franklin is so deserving, he’s been passed over so many times. He has played on so many songs, albums, hits it would make your head spin.
Congrats Paul, You are the Best!
November 19, 2025 @ 7:57 pm
Is Lainey Wilson past the point of criticism? If that was anyone else that song would have been reamed. First verse is heavy autotuned, the horrible riyiyiyiyiyiyng parts. Not her best work at all.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:00 pm
What does Turnpike have to do get 30 seconds on this show?
November 19, 2025 @ 8:56 pm
I’ll bet it’s all about the old and long-standing bias Nashville has had specifically against Red Dirt/Texas musicians.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:06 pm
Every year the CMA’s doesn’t invite legends from the genre and previous vocalist/entertainer of the years etc but has enough room to give a seat to Lil Wayne. Interesting
November 19, 2025 @ 8:21 pm
E L L A !!! Great song, # 1 here
November 19, 2025 @ 8:26 pm
Your take on Moroney….so spot on.
I like her, seems like a good fun person. I like her songs and emo lyrics. But then, i saw her live this summer and man oh man…it was not a good concert at all. Fairly boring. She did her obligatory little cutesy moves and such but it just didn’t work and the crowd was also unmoved. Alot of potential maybe there? Hard to say. Or she’s hit her ceiling already.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:31 pm
The thing is, we’ve been saying she’s a weak singer for years. It might just be what it is. I hope she improves, or at least tries to.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:27 pm
It’s Morgan Wallen in cowboy hat. That dude was terrible!!!
November 19, 2025 @ 9:45 pm
Hudson Westbrook is far better, and I have a feeling Vincent Mason is going to have a breakout in 2026.
November 25, 2025 @ 11:26 am
Being better wouldn’t take much. Lol – I’ll pass on all three and listen to Will Jones and Will Banister.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:34 pm
I know this blog is snarky and whatever… but your line on Keith and Epstein is pretty fucking disgusting and a really really bad look for this site and you. Thought way much more of you than that. There is absolutely zero reason to associate that disgusting name to someone who has never done anything like that. You can dislike Keith all you’d like, that’s fair game… but an Esptein “joke” is not. Do better.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:28 pm
I got the joke and thought it was funny!
I think generally people are shocked that Keith Urban performed for President Trump at Mar-a-Lago a few days ago:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/11/19/keith-urban-chappell-roan-mar-a-lago-donald-trump/87352800007/
November 19, 2025 @ 10:19 pm
I appreciate the link, but it doesn’t help anything. There are jokes, and then there’s just lines not to be crossed. Using a pedophile’s name here at all for any reason, has no place. I don’t care how it’s packaged or dressed up, it’s just not right.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:38 pm
George Freaking Strait!!!
November 19, 2025 @ 8:38 pm
Was not expecting George Strait wow
November 19, 2025 @ 8:41 pm
My home Washington state represented by 3 artists tonight- Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, and Brandi Carlile. Not a state that you think of when you think of country music, but cool to see it represented.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:43 pm
V I N C E !!!
November 19, 2025 @ 8:43 pm
When you say they’re killing When I Call Your Name I hope you don’t mean in a good way. That sucked.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:55 pm
I thought it was great. But to each their own I guess.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:49 pm
So instead of listening to Country Music at the CMA’s, I’m listening to bad Hip Hop?
November 19, 2025 @ 8:49 pm
BigButtXPlug is fricking awful.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:58 pm
Being from Dallas, this is a non talent guy and is someone arrested for carrying a gun and on a known gang member list??? Not the example we want to make famous by advertising him on the CMAs. Not cool. And it’s not good music either. The plug rapper is awful. I’m embarrassed for country music.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:49 pm
Hahaha. I’d got out of my seat and left.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:50 pm
Oh God no, not BigX with Luke Combs! And are they really bleeping long stretches of a “country: song or was there an audio glitch? (Watching via YouTube TV here.)
Not getting positive vibes at all about Combs’ next project. First two singles have been extremely meh, Please Luke, don’t go over to the dark side.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:54 pm
I think it was getting bleeped because it was just so offensive on its face. They weren’t even using cuss words.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:56 pm
Yeah.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:12 pm
I think Luke Combs has gone over already. He is collaborating with all the pop srars and his music is all top 40 pop country now
November 21, 2025 @ 5:52 am
I wondered about that!
November 19, 2025 @ 8:52 pm
Had to happen I guess , Rap artist in the CMA’s. Why cant the CMA’s stay in their lane ?
November 19, 2025 @ 8:52 pm
What a surprise. Bell bottoms wins again.
November 19, 2025 @ 8:54 pm
Jon Pardi is watching from his gold plated seat in the 18th row
Please Trig, get your facts right.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:02 pm
Didn’t see him there. Maybe he was hiding behind Lil Wayne. But I’ll take your word for it.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:03 pm
Was joking. Is there even an 18th row?
November 19, 2025 @ 9:00 pm
Why is Tucker Wetmore wearing Kelsea’s burqa?
New couple alert ….. ?
November 19, 2025 @ 9:05 pm
I’m going to be honest, I don’t quite understand what qualifies Lainey Wilson for this award. She isn’t playing stadiums and doesn’t have a massive fanbase. I’ve seen her twice. One time at least 1/3rd of the festival left before she finished her set. Second time was in an arena just for her show and even then a noticeable amount of people left. That was the only time I’ve ever seen that happen at someone’s own personal show and I go to a ton of concerts. She’s got a really good voice and seems like a good person. But if you’re just going off of vocal talent CoJo’s voice is even better. No stand out memorable hit songs either. Everything is just blah to me
November 19, 2025 @ 9:45 pm
Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind” that just won Album of the Year is currently at #43 on the country album charts. For context, The Red Clay Stray’s latest record is at #42. Cody John’s “Leather” is at #16. I’m not saying popularity is everything. But Lainey Wilson isn’t even a Top 20 popular star in country. The industry is creating drama for itself by acting like she’s a superstar. Megan Moroney and Ella Langley are bigger.
November 21, 2025 @ 5:29 am
We need another Sara Evans.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:11 pm
RAP IS NOT COUNTRY!!!! need i say more?
November 21, 2025 @ 5:55 am
Why can’t we just enjoy more than one style of music?
November 22, 2025 @ 8:02 pm
We can, and to his point, Rap is not Country.
November 19, 2025 @ 9:11 pm
The “industry plant” energy on Lainey Wilson is getting cartoonish. She’s talented and likable, but despite that and despite how aggressively they push her, she’s just not connecting at the EOTY level. Fellow female artists Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and possibly Kelsea Ballerini are irrefutably bigger deals in terms of impact at this point. None of them is complete enough on stage to warrant serious consideration for this award, but it just gives you perspective on how minimally impactful Lainey is. She’s not even the clear-cut most relevant female act in a male-dominated genre.
But I’m also not sure I see your take on Cody Johnson. Another supremely talented and likable artist, but another guy who’s “push” greatly outweighs his organic popularity. Outside of Til You Can’t, his songs have all felt like “paper number ones” — not real hits.
If you think of what this award is supposed to be, there’s just no reason why Morgan Wallen isn’t running away with it every year. Love him or hate him, his impact as an entertainer is generational; he’s the #2 artist, all-genre, in America right now. When has that ever been the case for a country star?
November 19, 2025 @ 11:17 pm
You should take your B.S. shtick elsewhere!
November 19, 2025 @ 11:42 pm
I agree about Lainey Wilson. I was able to get behind her first win, because the thought was she was on the dramatic rise, and that would put her over the top. Now it’s just exposing Wilson in many respects, though let’s not act like she isn’t successful. She’s just not “Entertainer of the Year” successful.
I understand what you’re saying about Cody Johnson, but as a touring entertainer, he’s become a beast, and that is what this award is supposed to highlight. I’m not saying he’s the best candidate. But of the nominees, he’s the one who would have gotten the most value out of a win.
Of course Morgan Wallen is multipliers bigger than all of them combined. But when he literally never acknowledged his win last year, I think voters had all the incentive not to vote for him. My guess is Lainey is winning because votes are getting split between the other nominees and they’re cannibalizing each other.
November 20, 2025 @ 2:36 am
Cody Johnson was playing basketball arenas years ago without touching radio. That is the definition of organic.
November 20, 2025 @ 9:20 am
Taylor Swift, for a minute before she went fully pop. Garth. Kenny Rogers. Johnny Cash. Eddy Armold. Gene Autry. As you say, it’s a once in a generation thing.
And you’re right, Morgan Wallen is that guy for this generation. But extenuating circumstances made him too hot to touch for years, and now that “they” seem to have relented and allowed him to be nominated he’s apparently decided to hold a grudge which probably doesn’t set well with voters.
November 21, 2025 @ 5:39 am
Wallen might be there in country, but can we really put him in that rarified air? Some or all of those artists got radio and/or video play on media outside of their genre. All of them were or are household names to multiple generations of people who would never listen to a country station. Those people probably have no awareness of anything Wallen has done sober.
November 21, 2025 @ 9:14 am
No, he doesn’t have the crossover appeal that those artists had; but that’s not my point.
The statement I was responding to was “…….he’s the #2 artist, all-genre, in America right now.” The fact that he’s there with virtually no support outside of the mainstream country audience is what would have him dominating the awards shows if not for the baggage.
November 20, 2025 @ 9:24 am
Lainey Wilson’s fame reminds me of the clip from Beavis and Butthead.
“Why is she famous?”
“Because she’s on TV!”
“But why is she on TV?”
“Because she’s famous!”
“Yeah but why is she famous?”
“Because she’s on TV!!”
November 19, 2025 @ 9:31 pm
So George Strait was in the house and we had to listen to BigXButtplug instead?
November 21, 2025 @ 5:52 am
A certain amount of genre crossover is fine. Kid Rock, Cheryl Crow musically are natural fits. Louis Armstrong dabbled in it; IIRC, he collaborated with Willie. But there are many carpetbaggers – Steven Tyler, Beyonce of course, King Autotune, Jewel.
Darius Rucker fully transitioned from frat-boy pop with H&TB into an absolutely credible country singer. Maybe Luke Bryan will make the same leap someday.
November 21, 2025 @ 5:56 am
While on the topic of “transitioning,” I haven’t bothered watching since Kelsea Ballerini’s drag show. I just cut out the middlenonbinary and watch PBS.
November 21, 2025 @ 7:57 am
The Kelsea Ballerini drag show was the CMT Awards, which at this point no longer exist. Not the CMAs.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:05 pm
CMA has went totally Flippin woke. You shit on Morgan Wallen . You, people in Nashville are Flippin bat shit crazy . Country music is no longer country music. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash., Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Tammy, George Jones, Patsy,Johnny Cash , Keith Whitley, God bless some of the soul and
so many more that made country music what it was before all you pieces of shit went to Nashville and fucked it up. Enjoy your blue ribbons just like your Jimmy ‘s and Johnny’s and Susie on the soccer fields get a blue ribbon for participating.
Country music as I have
known for 55 years has died.!
November 19, 2025 @ 10:08 pm
You’re using the word “you” here way out-of-context.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:16 pm
The word “woke,” too.
November 21, 2025 @ 5:57 am
And by “You people,” he does mean Mandalorians.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:11 pm
I don’t really care about awards, but as I was sitting in Teddy’s Tavern while it was going on I had a little more interest than I usually would.
Now I know Lainey ‘deserved’ something for hosting but does anyone think her album was anything other than a big disappointment?
November 19, 2025 @ 10:15 pm
So is Carrie non existent now? I mena you know she was pisse when Lainey won EOY before her. CMA and Carrrie performance go hand in hand.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:27 pm
Honestly can’t really complain about any of the winners not great show but not the complete SUCKAGE I was expecting
November 20, 2025 @ 9:22 am
Which is funny considering the fact that Faith Hill was pissed the first time Carrie Underwood won it.
November 19, 2025 @ 10:59 pm
Conversation sitting around the TV in the after country music after life/heaven/next realm/whatever you want to call it –
Hey Loretta, who are these people at the CMA’s tonight? — Conway Twitty
Well I don’t know. I don’t recognize anyone. Oh, well, there’s sweet Vince Gill though” – Loretta
I really don’t think this is country music. Is it? No one wears my suits. – Porter Wagoner
Yeah, Loretta, turn the channel. Isn’t Hee Haw on? – Kitty Wells
Now just a minute, I’m waiting to see my baby sister sing tonight. Isn’t she up next? – Loretta
Nah, she’s not going to be on, What is a shaboozey? – Eddy Arnold
Shaboozey? Isn’t that like a Jelly Roll? – Faron Young
I’ve seen your jelly roll, Faron! – Patsy Cline
Ohhhhh Patsy! – Dottie West
Lainey Wilson? Has more entertainer awards that you, Loretta? And Dolly. – Buck Owens
Somebody send Dolly a message to go win another one for us! – Loretta Lynn
Can we watch the Louisiana Hayride instead of this crap? – Ray Price
Ray, don’t you want to see what replaced all of us? – Charley Pride
NOOOOO. But I’m guessing next year’s entertainer may be someone named Donut Shop – Ray Price
Hey everyone, I’m getting a seance alert that Willie is making contact and wants to say hi to all of us, and he’s not at the CMA’s. Turn that crap off and say hi to Willie down there! – Waylon Jennings
November 21, 2025 @ 10:45 pm
I so appreciated this ❤️ Notable that Luke & The Possum couldn’t even be in the room 😂 Who am I kidding, they’re at the bar drinking off their disgust with it all 😉
November 19, 2025 @ 10:59 pm
Let’s take a moment to appreciate who didn’t perform or even present at this year’s CMA’s: Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, even though both have fairly popular radio singles this past year. With Red Clay and Zach Top and Ella Langley, we have a far more interesting generation emerging. Moroney and that rapper dude with Luke were the only truly horrendous moments of the night. Speaking of Luke Combs, he’s got to dial back the rock sound and aggressive vocals — it’s so over-the-top as to be boring.
November 19, 2025 @ 11:26 pm
I used to like Luke Combs. Not his new music. Tired of him
November 20, 2025 @ 7:06 am
What Combs is doing is nothing new, go back and listen to Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan’s early stuff, they were solid until they started releasing the same party songs over and over again.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:05 am
I’m an unapologetic conservative, so my ilk was making a big deal about “Try That In a Small Town” a year or two back. I told everyone it musically sounded the same as every other single he’s released in at least half a years. Hank Jr., it is not. “The Thunder Rolls,” it is not. It’s basically his “Goodbye Earl.”
November 21, 2025 @ 5:59 am
Never dial back the rock or aggressiveness.
November 19, 2025 @ 11:20 pm
Trigger, I just wanna give you your just do man! Your sight is awesome, been following you for quite sometime now and I really loved your blog! Thanks brother!
November 19, 2025 @ 11:34 pm
Thanks for reading Gregory.
November 19, 2025 @ 11:22 pm
Where was the memorial tribute? Kenney Chesney must have had a Head’s Up and to at least acknowledge the band member shown during his performance.
CMA’s trying to be like the AMA’s…first time I remember having anything bleeped out!
I would have thought when the cast of 911 Nashville showed up to present an award they would have at least invited Kimberly Paisley along and maybe convince Brad to perform and actually entertain the viewers!
Vince deserved better than a one song tribute and flashing photos during George Strait’s repetetive amazing accolades!
All in all, The Lainey Wilson Show was pretty disappointing. Many great country stars were MIA and others who were there, didn’t perform while watching some less deserving go twice!
November 19, 2025 @ 11:37 pm
No In Memoriam segment. At this point, I’m not sure we’ll ever get one again.
I hate to, but I agree that George Strait’s speech for Vince Gill was kind of a nothing burger. I think Strait or the CMAs felt his presence was enough. No. Compose a speech. It doesn’t have to be long, but it does have to have meaning. I saw George Strait tribute Jim Lauderdale at the Americana Music Awards. It was leagues better.
November 20, 2025 @ 12:05 am
Cool! Red Clay Strays have won the “Old Dominion Award”!
November 20, 2025 @ 12:29 am
Post Malone winning something is for me a surprise. I just do not rate hm at all. I might have had different winners in mind for some of the categories but I do not fall out with any. On the whole, the winners are deserving. I am especially pleased for Cody Johnson and the Red Clay Strays. On the whole, this was a very good night for Country Music.
November 20, 2025 @ 8:26 am
The issue with me is less that Post Malone won (I feel like the “Event” award has just become “duets between any two country stars,” when it should be major crossover moments or very rare, generational collaborations), but that it went to the Blake Shelton song.
That was a literal non-event in the context of the album; it was nowhere near as big as the Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen duets, and nowhere near as good musically as the stuff on Disc 2 of his album.
November 20, 2025 @ 9:23 am
Eh. It was pretty big. And the top streamer of all the other nominees. Also stayed in top 10 recurrent charts. It was a big hit. Go read Trigs review of Post’s album.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:11 am
You might disagree with me on this, but the duet that Urban and Underwood did about a dozen years back fit that bill for me. He was probably just past his peak, and she was nearing or at her apex.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:31 am
Johnny Cash was rapping 60 years ago.
November 20, 2025 @ 3:30 am
Don’t get me wrong, but I’ll always be triggered by the fact that Miranda Lambert has never won an Entertainer of the Year award. It’s terrifying that one of the greatest female artists in the genre never has.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:14 am
And there was a time when Miranda consistently delivered the best performance at any awards show she went to.
November 20, 2025 @ 6:38 am
I thought Lainey Wilson did a great job and kept the show moving. I would add Cody Johnson to the big winners list. He finally broke through to Male Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year is definitely in his future. I would say the performances were 85 percent great. Overall, a good show. It seems likes country artists are the only performers in all of entertainment who can read a teleprompter.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:15 am
Literacy
November 20, 2025 @ 6:40 am
I think a lot of us forget how bad these were even 5 years ago. No Luke Bryan, no Jason Aldean, no FGL, and a lot of good female acts represented. Sure, there’s plenty of room for improvement, but things have been so much worse in the past.
To quote Michael Scott, “There is a God, and He has a plan for us after all!”
November 20, 2025 @ 6:43 am
Trigger, I’m glad that you (frequently) call out Moroney for her bad voice but you should spread that criticism around a little because she isn’t the only one. Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson are the next generation, the replacements for Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. The problem is the vocal talent has taken a dive right off the cliff. While I appreciate the neo-trad trend, I want the vocals to thrill me. Langley is better than Moroney but not by much. She was flat for way too much of her song, punctuated by a few vocal cracks that were unpleasant. And Wilson? Again, better than the other two but that’s a low bar. She can have a harsh tone so her voice lacks a certain musicality. And, like the others, she’s too often flat for a singer of her renown.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:17 am
In fairness, lack of vocal range was a criticism thrown at Taylor Swift in her early years.
November 24, 2025 @ 8:10 am
It’s not really the lack of a wide vocal range, though having more than a 3 note range would be nice, it’s that this new gen can’t consistently sing in tune.
November 20, 2025 @ 6:47 am
I was just scrolling though Facebook and saw a picture of rob Zombie at the CMA awards, why the heck was he there?
November 21, 2025 @ 6:20 am
I would possibly buy a Rob Zombie country album. Hell, I have “Hierophant.”
November 21, 2025 @ 8:18 am
I would argue that “Dragula” is every bit as country as “Leave the Night On.”
November 20, 2025 @ 7:27 am
I feel Ashley McBryde was on a good trajectory a few years ago and then the industry said, nah, we want Lainey Wilson to be the “it” girl. Nothing against Lainey, but like you said, her Whirlwind album overall wasn’t anything spectacular. I just feel she certainly had more money behind her to push her out front.
November 20, 2025 @ 10:52 am
It’s a real shame about Ashley, she has a wonderful voice and is incredibly talented. But, she didn’t have the looks or the bod and the tattoos are considered trashy. Country music likes its girl singers to be classically feminine and the prettier the better.
November 20, 2025 @ 7:44 pm
So do most normal people.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:24 am
And yet we had room for Wynonna Judd, and there was at least one other tatted lady on stage this year. I’m too young to remember Ma Carter, but how well did she pull off the bare midriff look?
November 20, 2025 @ 7:47 am
I had an 8 hour road trip last week and my bluetooth wouldn’t connect for some of it so we had the radio on. The women on country radio are pretty good. The men are mostly trash.
Yes, I fully believe a lot of Riley Greene’s appeal is not his music, but his looks. I remember when he first started touring, he played a SRO venue in Lexington and his tour was titled “Outlaws Like Me.” Dude, you’re a mainstream Nashville artist, nothing about you is outlaw. But he does stuff for Ducks Unlimited so I don’t hate him.
My Lainey Wilson conspiracy theory is that she wore a fake butt back in the day. Her butt shape entirely changed once she lost weight. As someone with a bubble butt, I can assure you the shape doesn’t change when you gain or lose weight, just the size.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:25 am
Thank you for sharing your butt journey with us.
November 21, 2025 @ 10:16 am
Just trying to provide context to further my butt conspiracy theory. Thanks for reading
November 20, 2025 @ 8:09 am
Three takeaways:
1. Old Dominion is awful, but not as awful as BigXthaPlug.
2. The Red Clay Strays win is huge.
3. Second on the Brandi Carlile country album.
November 20, 2025 @ 8:47 am
Lainey Wilson’s exaggerated swagger is like Liberace from the 1960’s.
November 21, 2025 @ 6:27 am
Yeah, but can she play a Batman villain? 🦇
November 20, 2025 @ 1:40 pm
Do we really need writhing dancers on the show?
Enjoyed Triggers comments as watched the show which had great moments mainly from newcomers like the Strays and Stephen Wilson Jr. Megan Moroney has become a cartoon-like figure and Kelsea Ballerini isn’t as good as several female artist left out. ABC started out with the flam3es and total all out extravaganza but were smart enough to pull back production when Wilso and the Strays performed. Some o the patters was, as usual, dumb and why was that Morgan woman give so much airtime. Would have been great to see Vince or Strait perform or a cameo clip of Willie congratulating Vince. Loved the time given to Chris Stapleton’s guitar work but the duet with Mirana never got off the ground. And whey ws there no mention of Morgan wallet pulling another no-show? Who decided on Lainey’s godawful opening outfit? My wife hit the mute after maybe 30 seconds of Old Dominion. Maybe Nashville writers like Bob Oermann should be given the job of writing intelligent segues and patter. Al least we didn’t have Luke Bryan and Bake Shelton talking about penis size. The RCStrays and Wilson and Gill moments lifted this above e the average show, but not my much. 3 hours is a long time for a show presenting so few awards. So great to see PaulFranklin finally win and then to hear him show why he’s one of the greatest players Nashville has ever produced.
November 20, 2025 @ 5:17 pm
Damn. Can you believe this is what country music left behind? What a shame. It has evolved in the worst possible way. What’s with the guys with the mustaches and rodeo hats? It’s weird no one has their own style. Good thing the greats left behind so much music I can spend the rest of my life listening and not hear it all.
November 21, 2025 @ 8:22 am
Yeah, good thing Marty Robbins never wore a mustache or a “rodeo hat.”
November 20, 2025 @ 7:45 pm
I didn’t watch for a reason.
Slightly better than previous years still isn’t acceptable.
November 21, 2025 @ 11:04 pm
100% agree (I had a little bit of hope with Lainey Wilson hosting solo, but my blood pressure still went through the roof 😡)
November 21, 2025 @ 11:02 pm
I love this blog, highlight of the CMAs for years as far as I’m concerned. While I can appreciate the Red Clay Strays were the lesser of the 5 evils, I had no clue who they were and could not understand them or why they were there (but that was 80% of those in attendance). Old Crow should be in that category. Stephen Wilson Jr, no, just no. I’m sure he’s better on his own songs, but that song is sacred. I saw Ben E King perform it in person a couple years before he passed. I don’t personally care for Gilley’s version, but he sounds like Elvis compared to this rendition. I thought it was atrocious. I appreciate Zach Top more than ever and wish we could have seen Sierra Ferrell. Belle Frantz would blow all the gals in the scene now out of the water too
November 22, 2025 @ 12:02 pm
I’ve seen Megan live three times over the past couple of years, and she has sounded great each time. It doesn’t come through on awards shows, I guess.
November 22, 2025 @ 2:49 pm
I don’t know a thing about Riley Green. I don’t listen to country radio or whatever may play “country music” so I went on YouTube and checked out his video for “worst way.”
Uhm. Did I just see every tired, usual “country” cliche in the book in this video? And isn’t he just an underwear model or something like that?
And he’s winning CMA Awards now? For real?
November 23, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
Sorry to be late to the commenting party here, but I couldn’t help but notice that if Zach Top’s electric guitar player had a slightly different shape of black hat, he’d fit right in with the guys in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, or Monsey, NY. (Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, if you don’t get the reference.) Black suit, white shirt, unkempt beard, no tie, black hat- check, check, check, check.
Also, Megan Moroney was atrocious, it’s absurd still to be giving awards to B&D, Leanne Morgan was not funny, and I too along with many other commentators couldn’t understand a single word of the Red Clay Strays singer.
I had never heard of Stephen Wilson before the show, but anybody who can hold an audience in the palm of his hand playing just one beat up old guitar has talent that Megan Moroney can’t even understand, and Bigx the whatever can’t even imagine.
November 23, 2025 @ 2:21 pm
It’s interesting that Zach Top had a guitar player at all. I believe this was a one off for the CMAs. Usually he plays his own leads, with Cheyenne Dalton playing acoustic. I was happy to see even though they added a lead guitar and Zach was playing acoustic, they let Cheyenne and the rest of Zach’s band be featured since they’ve been a big part of his story.