Here are the winners from the 59th Annual CMA Awards, held Nov. 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, hosted by Lainey Wilson:
• Entertainer of the Year: Lainey Wilson
• Female Vocalist of the Year: Lainey Wilson
• Male Vocalist of the Year: Cody Johnson
• Vocal Group of the Year: The Red Clay Strays
• Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn
• New Artist of the Year: Zach Top
• Album of the Year: Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce)
• Single of the Year: “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Producer: Will Bundy; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
• Song of the Year: “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Songwriters: Ella Langley, Riley Green, Aaron Raitiere)
• Musical Event of the Year: “Pour Me a Drink” – Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton (Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome)
• Music Video of the Year: “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney)
• Musician of the Year: Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, and Riley Green were the night’s top winners, with multiple awards each (including big sweeps for the hit “you look like you love me”).
Notable upsets included Cody Johnson taking Male Vocalist (ending Chris Stapleton’s long streak) and The Red Clay Strays breaking Old Dominion’s dominance in Vocal Group. Vince Gill also received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
As the evening wrapped up, one thing was clear: the CMA Awards not only celebrate the past but also herald the future of country music, with new voices emerging and legends still shining brightly.
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her on her blog, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
