Lainey Wilson is one of three artists tied for the most CMA Awards nominations. Wilson, along with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney, has six nominations each, heading into the 2025 CMA Awards. They are trailed by Zach Top, who has five nominations, and Riley Green and Cody Johnson, who have four each.
“To be nominated alongside Ella and Megan, us having the most nominations this year, it’s huge,” Wilson tells the Country Music Association. “I think it says a lot. I think it says a lot about the things that are happening in the country music community, and the country fanbases. They’re gravitating towards female music, and that’s a very exciting thing.”
Wilson recalls watching Miranda Lambert win a CMA Award several years ago, and how different country music was from then to now.
“I remember several years back, watching Miranda accept the Female Artist of the Year, and I know that she said there’s not enough of them…and I think she would be somebody who would be really proud,” Wilson says. “She is proud. She’s proud that there are three women leading the charge right now with the nominations, and it’s a big deal. I’m just so proud of them, and I think what they both do is incredible, and they’re whooping butt, and we ain’t slowing down anytime soon.”
Lambert and Wilson are both nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. Wilson’s other nominations are for Album of the Year, for Whirlwind, plus Single of the Year and Song of the Year, for “4X4XU,” Music Video of the Year for “Somewhere Over Laredo,” and the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.
View this post on Instagram
Lainey Wilson Makes History by Hosting the 2025 CMA Awards
In addition to her multiple nominations and performing, Wilson will also make history at this year’s CMA Awards. Wilson is hosting the show by herself, marking the first time a woman has hosted the show solo since Reba McEntire did in 1991. Last year, Wilson co-hosted the show alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
“I am on cloud nine to be hosting the CMA Awards,” the Louisiana native says. “I love to run my mouth, and I love country music. It’s a nice time to just celebrate everybody. It’s gonna be a party, if I have anything to do with it.”
Wilson admits that hosting a show solo is much different than sharing the duties, but she insists she is up for the challenge.
“When you’re hosting by yourself, there ain’t nothing to hide behind,” Wilson says. “I don’t have Peyton or Luke next to me this year, so it’s just me, flying solo, but I feel like they prepared me. They showed me the ropes, and also just taught me that I don’t have to take myself too serious. Just get up there and have a good time, and speak from the heart. I don’t think we can go wrong if we do that.”
Wilson also understands the gravity of the moment, vowing to honor the artists who helped pave the way for her place in country music today.
“Whenever I found out that I was hosting the show, I knew that I just wanted to go into it and just have the time of my life,” Wilson says. “I just wanted to not be stressed out. I wanted to just soak up every single moment. This is a celebration, at least for me and my team, to be able to step into the shoes of a lot of women who have done this, Dolly [Parton], and then Reba. They’re the only two that have done it solo.
“It was important for me to make sure that I stepped into certain parts of my personality that maybe people don’t get to see all the time,” she adds. “I’m gonna show a little bit of that sass, a little bit of that fire, and it’s fun. I’m trying not to take myself too serious, and just enjoy the night.”
The 2025 CMA Awards will air live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 19, at 8:00 PM ET. The show will stream the next day on Hulu.
Find out everything to know about the CMA Awards here.
Photo Credit: CMA