Key Points

• Lainey Wilson opened and solo-hosted the 2025 CMA Awards with musical performances.
• Wilson joined only Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire in hosting CMA Awards alone.
• The 59th CMA Awards is airing live from Nashville and will stream on Hulu.

Lainey Wilson welcomed the crowd of the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with a musical monologue that set the stage—literally. While Luke Combs opened the 59th CMA Awards with his performance of “Back in the Saddle,” the “Somewhere Over Laredo” singer’s monologue was made up of country memories and melodies.

After Combs’ performance, Wilson took the stage in white and gold bell-bottoms and a cowgirl hat. She sang country favorites like Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” and even cruised her way through the crowd to country music icons. She made her way over to stars like Miranda Lambert, Shaboozey, and Gretchen Wilson—to get them to sing their songs with her (like “Gunpowder & Lead,” “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and “Redneck Woman,” respectively) before Keith Urban took the stage alongside her to sing “Where the Blacktop Ends,” too.

This is the first time that Wilson has hosted the CMA Awards solo. During last year’s CMA Awards, Wilson hosted the show alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.

Wilson’s solo act makes her one of only three women to host the CMA Awards alone, joining Dolly Parton (in 1988) and Reba McEntire (in 1991) in making country music history. This means that McEntire was the last woman to single-handedly host the CMA Awards; it’s been more than three decades since then.

Wilson also made history tonight by garnering six CMA nominations this year, tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the 2025 record. She was nominated for “Entertainer of the Year,” “Female Vocalist of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Music Video of the Year,” and “Single of the Year.”

The 59th annual CMA Awards are airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC until 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The ceremony will stream on Hulu starting on Thursday.