Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley & Megan Moroney Lead 2025 CMA Awards Nominations With Six Each

It’s about that time.

Minutes ago, the Country Music Association announced its picks for the 2025 CMA Awards. After what seems like well over a decade of head-scratching nominations, snubs and wins (Keith Urban winning Entertainer of the Year in 2018, anyone?), many were wondering if they would finally diverge from the mainstream stranglehold that they’ve so clearly found themselves in despite the growth of the independent and alt. country scene over the past five years.

Well, the nominations are in, and it’s about exactly what you’d expect from the Association.

Despite not getting as much love as their male counterparts on country radio, three women are the top-nominated artists at this year’s CMA Awards with Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney and Ella Langley all receiving a staggering six nominations across the 12 major categories.

Notably, Langley continues her incredible hot streak with “you look like you love me” (featuring Riley Green), receiving three separate nominations for Single, Song and Music Video of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated for Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year.

Receiving similar love is none other than Zach Top. Riding the highs of his debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, last year, the “Use Me” singer received five nominations this afternoon: Male Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”), Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”) and Album of the Year (Cold Beer & Country Music).

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Morgan Wallen, is nominated for three awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year (I’m The Problem). He will compete with Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton in an attempt to become the first back-to-back EOTY winner since Combs himself did it back in 2021-22.

Other notable nominations include Stephen Wilson Jr. getting a nod for New Artist of the Year off the back of the phenomenal, Søn of Dad, The Red Clay Strays picking up their second-straight Group of the Year nominations and Blake Shelton’s “Texas” laughably getting a songwriting nomination for Song of the Year.

The 2025 CMA Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena on November 19 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

The full list of nominees are as follows:

Entertainer of the Year

• Morgan Wallen
• Luke Combs
• Lainey Wilson
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton

Album of the Year

• Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
  • Producer: Kristian Bush
  • Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
• Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
  • Producer: Carson Chamberlain
  • Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
• F-1 Trillon – Post Malone
  • Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
  • Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
• I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
  • Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
  • Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
• Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
  • Producer: Jay Joyce
  • Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Luke Combs
• Cody Johnson
• Zach Top

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Lainey Wilson
• Ella Langley
• Megan Moroney
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert

Vocal Group of the Year

• Old Dominion
• The Red Clay Strays
• Little Big Town
• Lady A
• Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn
• Dan + Shay
• Brothers Osborne
• The War and Treaty
• Maddie & Tae

Single of the Year

• “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
  • Producer: Jay Joyce
  • Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
• “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs
  • Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
  • Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
• “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
  • Producer: Kristian Bush
  • Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
• “I Never Lie” – Zach Top
  • Producer: Carson Chamberlain
  • Mix Engineer: Mat Rovey
• “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green
  • Producer: Will Bundy
  • Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley

Song of the Year

• “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
  • Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
• “Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
  • Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney
• “I Never Lie” – Zach Top
  • Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
• “Texas” – Blake Shelton
  • Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock
• “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green
  • Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere

New Artist of the Year

• Zach Top
• Ella Langley
• Stephen Wilson Jr.
• Tucker Wetmore
• Shaboozey

Musician of the Year

• Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle)
• Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
• Brett Mason (Guitar)
• Rob McNelley (Guitar)
• Derek Wells (Guitar)

Music Video of the Year

• “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
  • Directors: Alexander Gavillet, Megan Moroney
• “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
  • Director: Dustin Haney
• “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
  • Director: TK McKamy
• “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
  • Director: Running Bear
• “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
  • Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

Musical Event of the Year

• “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green ft. Ella Langley
  • Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff
• “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake w/ Jelly Roll
  • Producer: Micha Nichols
• “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/ Carrie Underwood
  • Producer: Trent Willmon
• “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton
  • Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome
• “You Had to Be There” – Megan Moroney ft. Kenny Chesney
  • Producer: Kristian Bush