The 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards — held Nov. 19, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena — wasn’t just another night of glitz and applause. This year’s winners didn’t merely collect trophies; they cemented their names in country music history.
The CMA Awards have long been a stage for landmark achievements. Charley Pride was the first and remains the only Black artist to secure Entertainer of the Year (1971). Loretta Lynn broke barriers as the first woman to win the title in 1972. Over the decades, icons like Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and George Strait have all set records that still stand.
Here are the six standout artists who built new chapters in CMA Awards legacy this year.
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson claimed Entertainer of the Year for the second time in three years, becoming only the third woman to win the honor twice — joining Barbara Mandrell and Taylor Swift. Uniquely, Wilson also hosted this year’s ceremony, making her the first artist since Brad Paisley in 2010 to win Entertainer of the Year while hosting.
Wilson took home Album of the Year for Whirlwind, her second win in the category after Bell Bottom Country. She’s now one of just two women to achieve multiple wins here, alongside Miranda Lambert. Her dominance continued as she earned Female Vocalist of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, a streak matched in CMA history only by Reba McEntire and Lambert.
Brooks & Dunn
Extending their reign, Brooks & Dunn scored Vocal Duo of the Year for the 16th time — the most in CMA history. This win propelled their overall CMA tally to 20 awards, surpassing Chris Stapleton’s 19. Their career haul also includes Album of the Year (1994), Entertainer of the Year (1996), and a double win in Single and Music Video of the Year (2006) for “Believe.”
Ella Langley & Riley Green
The pair swept Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year with You Look Like You Love Me, the first collaboration between two solo artists to win Single of the Year since Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson in 1976. Langley made history as the first artist to win Music Video of the Year for a clip she co‑directed — alongside John Park and Wales Toney.
The Red Clay Strays
This Alabama country‑rock band broke Old Dominion’s seven‑year streak to win Vocal Group of the Year — just over a year after their Americana Music Honors & Awards win. Their momentum has been steadily rising, making them one of 2025’s breakout acts.
Post Malone
Post Malone earned Musical Event of the Year for Buy Me a Drink with Blake Shelton, joining a short list of non‑country artists to capture this category since Lil Nas X’s 2019 win.
Final Take:
The 2025 CMA Awards weren’t just a celebration of talent — they were proof that history is still being made in country music. From enduring legends to rising stars, these record‑breakers have elevated the genre’s story for years to come.
(Courtesy: Billboard)
