Awards

24 Nov 2025

2025 CMA Touring Awards Nominees Revealed

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Keith Urban will return for a fourth consecutive year to help the Country Music Association celebrate those behind the year’s top country tours, when the 2025 CMA Touring Awards are held Jan. 27 in Nashville.

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The nominations were revealed Monday (Nov. 24) for the upcoming awards ceremony, which honors touring musicians, managers, touring managers, stage managers, backline technicians, lighting directors, production managers, performance venues and many other touring professionals.

Final round voting for the 2025 CMA Touring Awards opening Monday, Dec. 1, and closes Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. CT.

Veteran artist manager Jim Halsey will be honored with the CMA touring lifetime achievement award, which is presented to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of country music touring. During the course of more than six decades, Halsey has guided the careers of artists including Roy Clark, Reba McEntire, Merle Haggard and The Oak Ridge Boys, and expanded country music’s international impact, helping the genre to rise to a global stage.

“Recognizing the incredible work of our touring community is one of the highlights of our year,” Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Our road warriors are the heart and soul of our business, bringing their spirit to audiences everywhere with creativity and passion. The growth of country music would not be possible without the dedication of each of our nominees, and we can’t wait to celebrate their achievements in January.”

“I love touring, always have, always will,” Urban shared in a statement. “And that only happens with so many people behind the scenes out there on the road making it happen every night. The CMA Touring Awards is where we turn the spotlight on our road families and celebrate the hard work they all do for all of us. It’s an honor to host, and I’m glad to be back.”

The CMA Touring Awards (originally called the Standing Room Only Awards) were launched in 1990 by the CMA Board of Directors to recognize outstanding professional achievements in the touring industry; the ceremony was renamed the CMA Touring Awards in 2016.

See the full list of nominees below:

Crew of the year
All-American Road Show Tour crew – Chris Stapleton
Am I Okay? Tour crew – Megan Moroney
Broken Branches Tour crew – Dierks Bentley
I’m the Problem Tour crew – Morgan Wallen
Jim Bob World Tour crew – HARDY
Live on Tour crew – Kelsea Ballerini
On the Road Tour crew – Tyler Childers
Whirlwind World Tour crew – Lainey Wilson

Backline technician of the year
Patrick Boyle – Tyler Childers
Dalton Ray Brown – Lainey Wilson
William Coats – Eric Church
Casey Ervin – Jelly Roll
Terry Fox – Kenny Chesney
Matt Kennedy – Morgan Wallen
Hunter Lamb – HARDY
Chris Miller – Keith Urban

Business manager of the year
Stephanie Alderman – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
Legina Chaudoin – O’Neil Hagaman, LLC
Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Jen Conger – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Stephanie Mundy-Self – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
Dwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

Coach/truck driver of the year
Chad Allison – HARDY
Tim Barrett – Kane Brown
Dustin Bringham – Parker McCollum
Steve Carmack – Megan Moroney
Greg Cook – Riley Green
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Jason Humphrey – Jason Aldean
Nick Wagner – Morgan Wallen

Front of house engineer of the year
Ryan Dell – Lainey Wilson
Chris Diener – Kelsea Ballerini
David Loy – Kane Brown
James “Pugs” McDermott – Dierks Bentley
Jeff “Pig” Parsons – Blake Shelton
Robert Scovill – Kenny Chesney
Todd Wines – Miranda Lambert
Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion

Lighting director of the year
Ben Bearden – Chris Stapleton
Nick Chang – Kelsea Ballerini
Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
Justin Kitchenman – Luke Bryan
Andy Knighton – Rascal Flatts/Jason Aldean
Kevin Lichty – Old Dominion
Alex Sanchez – Parker McCollum
Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett

Manager of the year
Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment
Hayley Corbett – PunchBowl Entertainment
Enzo DeVincenzo – 377 Management
Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
Troy “Tracker” Johnson – TRACK Management
Chris Kappy – Make Wake Artists
Mandelyn Monchick – Red Light Management
Zach Sutton – Red Light Management

Monitor engineer of the year
Beau Alexander – Morgan Wallen
Curt Armstead – Lainey Wilson
Brad Baisley – Blake Shelton
Cory Benson – Tyler Childers
Chris Daniels – Luke Bryan
Logan Hanna – Brothers Osborne
Chris Newsom – Kelsea Ballerini
Phil Wilkey – Keith Urban

Production manager of the year
Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
John Garriott – Chris Stapleton
Jeff “Goofy” Greeninger – Jon Pardi
Adam Groeninger – Dierks Bentley
Chad Guy – Morgan Wallen
Brent Maxon – Parker McCollum
Earl Neal – Jason Aldean
Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney

Publicist of the year
Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
Zach Farnum – 117 Entertainment Group
Asha Goodman – Sacks & Co.
Olivia Hanceri – OH Creative
Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom
Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Relations
Wes Vause – Press On Publicity
Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity

Stage manager of the year
Shaun Carswell – Dierks Bentley
Alex Church – Megan Moroney
Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church
Todd Green – Chris Stapleton
Matt Hornbeck – Luke Combs
Josh “Dude” Marcus – Jason Aldean
Allison Noah – Carly Pearce / Lainey Wilson
Lonnie Taylor – Jon Pardi

Support services company of the year
ASCOT Travel Services – Nashville
Bandit Lites – Nashville
Clair Global – Nashville
Crom Tidwell Merchandising – Nashville
Moo TV – Nashville
Pioneer Coach – Nashville
Richards & Southern – Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Sound Image – Nashville

Talent agent of the year
Becky Gardenhire – WME
Chad Kudelka – CAA
Keith Levy – Wasserman Music
Braeden Rountree – WME
Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency
Elisa Vazzana – UTA
Hunter Williams – CAA
Jay Williams – WME

Talent buyer/promoter of the year
Bridget Bauer – Messina Touring Group
Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville
Brian O’Connell – Live Nation Nashville
Rich Schaefer – AEG Presents
Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville
Stacy Vee – Goldenvoice
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

Tour manager of the year
Matt Anderson – Old Dominion
Kyle Crownover – Tyler Childers
Dustin DeRosier – Kelsea Ballerini / Little Big Town
Jeff Gossett – Morgan Wallen
Mike McGrath – Keith Urban
Meg Miller – Lainey Wilson
Mark Oglesby – Post Malone
Chelsae Partosan – Megan Moroney

Touring musician of the year
Mark “Taco” Annino (Drums) – Morgan Wallen
Jody Bartula (Fiddle) – Cody Johnson
JT Cure (Bass Guitar) – Chris Stapleton
Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle) – George Strait
Aslan Freeman (Guitar) – Lainey Wilson
Kenny Greenberg (Guitar) – Kenny Chesney
Kurt Ozan (Multi-Instrumentalist) – Luke Combs
Jesse Welles (Multi-Instrumentalist) – Tyler Childers

Tour videographer/photographer of the year
Mason Allen – Old Dominion
Alex Alvga – Kane Brown
Zach Belcher – Dierks Bentley
Caleb Cockrell – Jordan Davis
Sam Crabtree – Riley Green
Tanner Gallagher – HARDY
Zack Massey – Luke Combs
Catherine Powell – Kelsea Ballerini

Tour video director of the year
Dave Bergfeld – Lainey Wilson
Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
Adam Cline – Morgan Wallen
Milojko Dobrijevich – Little Big Town
Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
Jordan Karow – HARDY
Justin Stein – Parker McCollum
Jake Zobrist – Cody Johnson

Venue of the year
BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, N.H.
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville
Fenway Park – Boston
Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville
Greek Theatre – Los Angeles
Moody Center – Austin, Texas
The Pinnacle – Nashville
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.

Unsung hero of the year
Holly Atherton (Production Assistant) – Chris Stapleton
Chase Butler (Road Manager) – Riley Green
Michael Corcoran (General Manager) – mtheory
Kayla Carter Greear (Production Assistant) – Luke Bryan
Jeff “Bean” Griffin (Road Manager) – HARDY
Lolo Kinser (Logistics Coordinator) – Post Malone
Diana “Lemonade” McBride (Backstage Hospitality) – Grand Ole Opry
Mel Murphy (Road Representative) – Live Nation Nashville


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24 Nov 2025

SZA Has Set This All-Time Grammy Record

SZA’s SOS Deluxe: Lana, the deluxe edition of her 2022 album SOS, has set a new record as the album with the most tracks that have received Grammy nominations – a whopping nine tracks.

These nominations have been spread out over four Grammy eligibility years. “Good Days,” which was released in December 2000, was nominated as a stand-alone single at the Grammy ceremony in 2022.  “Kill Bill,” “Ghost in the Machine” (with Phoebe Bridgers), “Love Language,” “Snooze” and “Low” were nominated at the ceremony in 2024, the same year that SOS vied for album of the year and best progressive R&B album; “Saturn” won best R&B song at the ceremony earlier this year; “30 for 30” (with Kendrick Lamar) and “Crybaby” are nominated at the ceremony set for Feb. 1.

SOS headed the Billboard 200 for 13 nonconsecutive weeks across three calendar years – 2022 (two weeks), 2023 (eight weeks) and 2025 (three weeks). Lana has not charted separately. Its activity has been counted toward SOS’s total.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Santana’s Supernatural and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter also featured five or more Grammy-nominated tracks (counting music video nominations). All four of those albums won the Grammy for album of the year. SOS did not. It was nominated for the top prize but lost to Taylor Swift’s Midnights.

Here’s a closer look at albums with five or more tracks that received Grammy nominations. The years shown are the years of the Grammy ceremonies. Titles that won have the word “won” immediately after category name or year.


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21 Nov 2025

Coffey Anderson & Rissi Palmer Take Home 2025 Origins Impact Awards: Complete List of Winners

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Rissi Palmer, Coffey Anderson, Miko Marks, Reyna Roberts and Pynk Beard were among the winners at the second Origins Impact Awards, held Thursday (Nov. 20) at Nashville’s The Cowan.

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The awards were launched last year by boutique entertainment agency Origins Music Group to recognize emerging, independent and underrepresented artists and executives in the Nashville music community.

Palmer, who received the Academy of Country Music Honors Lift Every Voice Award in August, took home two awards: the Cultural Impact Award for her Apple Music podcast Color Me Country, and the Innovative Project Award for From Where I Stand, a newly expanded version of a boxed set originally released in 1998 by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Warner Music Nashville that highlights the works of Black country and Americana artists. Palmer shared the latter award with BMI’s Shannon Sanders and the CMHOF.

Angie K won artist of the year, while Sacha’s “Hey Mom I Made It” captured song of the year.

The nominees were selected from a write-in ballot from industry members and fans.

Hosted by Justin Lee, performers included Pynk Beard, Wendy Moten, Grayson Russell, Sam Pounds and Coffey Anderson.

Below is the full list of Origins Impact Awards winners.

Champion Award

Winner: Coffey Anderson

Breland

Nina “Teapot” Owens

Jacqueline Marushka

CULTURAL IMPACT AWARD

Winner: Color Me Country

FEMco

Country Proud

Country Latin Association

Community Advocate Award

Winner: Song Suffragettes

BMI Rooftop on the Row

Kinfolk (Warner Records)

Equal Access

Executive of the Year

Winner: James Marsh – Warner Music Nashville

Gina Miller – Waters Edge Entertainment

Rakiyah Marshall – Back Blocks Music

Candice Watkins – Capitol Records Nashville

Best Collaborative Effort Award

Origins Music Group x Country Latin Association – Country Con Corazon

Color Me Country x The Long Road Festival

Don Louis & Sammy Arriaga – Mine in My Mind

Winner: Frank Ray & Shy Carter – Jesus at the Taco Truck

Innovative Project Award

Winner: From Where I Stand — Shannon Sanders, Rissi Palmer & CMHOF

Country Forward — CMA

Biscuits and Banjos — Rihannon Giddens

Country Con Corazon — Origins Music Group & Country Latin Association

Female Country Pop/Rock Artist of the Year

Tristan McIntosh

Kasey Tindall

Ashlie Amber

Winner: Leah Galván Turner

Male Country Pop/Rock Artist of the Year

Grayson Russell

Winner: Sam Pounds

Ollie Gabriel

Zeus Rebel Waters

Female Country Soul Artist of the Year

Brei Carter

Ashley Ave

Winner: Miko Marks

Shae Nicole

Male Country Soul Artist of the Year

803 Fresh

Winner: Pynk Beard

Tonio Armoni

Mike Clark Jr.

Female Country Latin Artist of the Year

Angie K

Ana Cristina Cash

Andrea Vasquez

Winner: MŌRIAH

Male Country Latin Artist of the Year

Alejandro Medina III

Frank Ray

Louie TheSinger

Winner: Sammy Arriaga

Female Country Hip-Hop Artist of the Year

Stormie Leigh

Winner: Reyna Roberts

Tanner Adell

CieratheRapper

Male Country Hip-Hop Artist of the Year

2’Live Bre

Chris Detroit

Winner: Kng Ego

Ron Killings

Emerging Artist of the Year

Steve Ray Ladson

Scoot Teasley

MŌRIAH

Winner: Rodell Duff

Song of the Year

“EYA”— Louie TheSinger

“Happy and You Know It (Drink a Beer)”— Coffey Anderson

Winner: “Hey Mom I Made It”— Sacha

“Bigger Than the Song”— Brittney Spencer

Artist of the Year

Tonio Armani

Winner: Angie K

Madeline Edwards

Louie TheSinger


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21 Nov 2025

Music Docs About BTS ARMY, Selena, Led Zeppelin & More on Oscar Longlist for Documentary Feature Film

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Music documentaries are well-represented on the list of 201 features that are eligible in the documentary feature film category for the 98th Academy Awards. Docs about BTS’s avid fan army, Tejano star Selena, rock gods Led Zeppelin, John Lennon & Yoko Ono and songwriter Diane Warren are in the running for nominations.

The Warren doc includes a new song that she wrote for the film, “Dear Me,” which may bring the veteran songwriter a 17th Oscar nomination for best original song.

The longlist includes two films about very different live experiences that became cultural touchstones – Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror and Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – the Untold Story.

There’s the cheekily titled Billy Idol Should Be Dead, as well as docs about some music and entertainment personalities who are, in fact, dead, including songwriter Jeff Buckley, Selena and Lennon (both shot to death, tragically), comedians Andy Kaufman and Stiller & Meara, 1960s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and ventriloquist and puppeteer Shari Lewis.

There are two films about Oscar-winners for best actress — Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (Liza Minnelli) and Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.

Members of the Documentary Branch will vote to determine the shortlist of 15 films and then the five nominees.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also released the list of feature films eligible in the animated feature film and international feature film categories. Thirty-five features are eligible in the animated feature film category. Eighty-six countries or regions have submitted films that are eligible in the international feature film category.

Shortlists in 10 categories will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 22. The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC.

Here are music and entertainment documentaries that are eligible in the documentary feature film category.

BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Billy Idol Should Be Dead

Diane Warren: Relentless

14 Short Films about Opera

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery– The Untold Story

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (Liza Minnelli)

One to One: John and Yoko (John Lennon and Yoko Ono)

Selena y Los Dinos (Tejano star Selena Quintanilla)

Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror

Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted

Viva Verdi! (about a retirement home for elderly opera stars)

Who in the Hell Is Regina Jones? (publisher of Soul newspaper)

Other Entertainment Documentaries

Being Eddie (Eddie Murphy)

Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie

Chronicles of Disney

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (Jayne Mansfield)

The New Yorker at 100

Shari & Lamb Chop (puppeteer Shari Lewis)

Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost (Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara)

Thank You Very Much (Andy Kaufman)

21 Nov 2025

‘Forget Me Nots’ Singer Patrice Rushen Is Among 2026 NEA Jazz Masters

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The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the 2026 recipients of the Jazz Masters Fellowship, billed as the highest award bestowed by the United States on jazz musicians and advocates. They are pianist, composer, musical director and educator Patrice Rushen; vocalist, composer and arranger Carmen Lundy; drummer, percussionist, composer and educator Airto Moreira; and jazz broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton, who is set to receive the 2026 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

Rushen, Moreire and Lundy have all received Grammy nominations. Rushen also landed a top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 with “Forget Me Nots,” which has often been sampled and interpolated.

The NEA will honor the 2026 Jazz Masters at a free concert on Saturday, April 18, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and streamed online.

 “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the NEA is proud to also honor these individuals who have played a significant role in jazz, considered one of our country’s greatest cultural gifts to the world,” NEA senior advisor Mary Anne Carter said in a statement. “As with our nation, jazz is an art form with a rich heritage that continues to evolve, thanks to those who have dedicated their lives and creativity to this music over generations.”

The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to living individuals based on nominations from the public including members of the jazz community. NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are $25,000. Since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded 181 fellowships to important figures in jazz.

Rushen’s career has bridged jazz, R&B, classical and pop. Rushen was the first woman to serve as musical director for the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards and the NAACP Image Awards.

“It is an absolute honor to be named an NEA Jazz Master,” Rushen said in a statement. “To even be considered among those whose love of this art form has contributed to the music at the highest level, is an indescribable feeling. I am humbled and grateful.”

Hamilton played a key role in the early days of jazz radio station WBGO-FM and has served as a trusted guide for generations of jazz listeners, including in her current role as host of a weekday radio show on KKJZ-FM in Los Angeles.

Lundy’s artistry has significantly influenced modern jazz over a career spanning more than five decades and including more than 150 published songs.

Moreira is a defining voice in jazz percussion, proficient at instruments ranging from the tambourine to the bongos.

Visit the NEA site for more information about the 2026 NEA Jazz Masters.


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21 Nov 2025

Stephen Schwartz, Charles Fox & More to Be Honored by Society of Composers & Lyricists

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The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) will present the 2025 SCL Lifetime Achievement Awards to composers Stephen Schwartz and Charles Fox and will posthumously induct legendary composer Ennio Morricone and iconic singer-songwriter Peggy Lee into its Hall of Fame.

The SCL will also present its 2025 Ambassador Award to artist, songwriter, and actress Sara Bareilles. Nashville composer and songwriter Steve Dorff will receive the SCL 2025 Trailblazer Award. The SCL will also present Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with special recognition for Excellence in Advocacy for championing the rights of music creators.

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Stephen Schwartz

Schwartz, Fox, Lee and Dorff have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Morricone received an Honorary Oscar in 2006 (and another in competition in 2016 for The Hateful Eight).

The presentations will be made at the SCL’s upcoming holiday events in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.

Here are details about the three upcoming events:

Dec. 2, New York City: Stephen Schwartz will be presented with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, and Sara Bareilles will be presented with the 2025 SCL Ambassador Award during the SCL Holiday Party to be held at The Cutting Room from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Dec. 6, Nashville: Steve Dorff will be presented with the SCL’s 2025 Trailblazer Award, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) will be recognized for Excellence in Advocacy during the SCL Nashville Holiday Party to be held at Oceanway Studios Nashville from 6 – 9 p.m.

Dec. 10, Los Angeles: The SCL will present the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Charles Fox, and induct Ennio Morricone and Peggy Lee into the SCL Hall of Fame during its 36th Annual Holiday Dinner to be held at the Skirball Cultural Center from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m.

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21 Nov 2025

Snubs & Surprises: 2025 ARIA Awards

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The hangovers have cleared. The cleanup, complete. And the 2025 ARIA Awards are in the books.

The Australian recorded music industry’s annual night is the curtain call on the year in music, a fancy party in Sydney as the baking hot summer makes its predictable entrance.

It’s a good — no, great — time of year. AC/DC is currently in the market, playing stadiums. Oasis and Metallica have been, and rocked. Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran are coming. The festivals circuit will swing in the weeks ahead.

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The ARIAs, presented at the historic Hordern Pavilion, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary, was a goal-scoring celebration for Amyl and The Sniffers. The punk rock outfit converted four of their six nominations, including the coveted album of the year, for Cartoon Darkness. This was the year Amy Taylor ruled at Glastonbury, and scored nominations at the Grammys and Brit Awards. In years to come, they’ll remember 2025 as the year their respective lives changed.

Ninajirachi entered the ARIAs race with a leading eight nominations, and she didn’t go home disappointed, by collecting three trophies, including the Michael Gudinski newcomer award.

Fellow production masterminds Kevin Parker and Dom Dolla collected two pointy awards each.

Not every artist got what they’d hoped, or deserved. And some got the surprise of a lifetime. Billboard remembers the surprises and the snubs from the 2025 ARIA Awards.

Surprise: BARKAA

If a hero had to be selected from the 2025 ARIA Awards, it was BARKAA. The Indigenous artist won for best hip hop/rap release with Big Tidda (Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia), beating out a stacked field that included Hilltop Hoods, Miss Kaninna, ONEFOUR and the Kid LAROI. The roar of approval from the audience was immense, and BARKAA’s acceptance speech was honest and real. “Still can’t believe I can now say I’m an ARIA award winning rapper, the first Aboriginal woman to ever win this award,” she writes on social media. “Hip-hop raised me and hip-hop saved me and this is BIGGER THAN ME! My purpose was to come out here and put on for BLACK WOMEN, to be that representation like my sisters who have paved the way before me, to be able to do what I’m doing.” She’s nominated in the First Nations category for the NSW Music Prize, to be unveiled next week.

Snub: Hilltop Hoods

The Hilltop Hoods aren’t just a hip-hop group. They’re Aussie rap royalty. Hailing from Adelaide, the Hoods are on a wild winning streak. Suffa, Pressure and DJ Debris debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in August with Fall From The Light (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia), their sixth consecutive leader, and seventh overall. With this feat, the Hoods established an ARIA record for chart leaders by an Australian group, ahead of AC/DC, Powderfinger, Cold Chisel, Silverchair, and the rest. They couldn’t however, extend on their tally of 10 career ARIA Awards on Wednesday night, despite reeling in five nominations.

Surprise: Amyl and The Sniffers

Amyl and The Sniffers cleaning up with four ARIA Award wins wasn’t a surprise, not to the industry. But it was to them. The much-loved punk rock outfit always keeps it real, Amy Taylor always speaks her mind, and with best group and best album honors, for Cartoon Darkness (Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group), Amyl and The Sniffers were the dominant force at this year’s ceremony. Bass player Gus Romer was both a surprise and a snub; he failed to take the stage when his band won for album of the year. “Looks like we lost the bass player,” Taylor joked. “It happens a lot, he’s replaceable, don’t worry about it.” It’s official: Amyl and The Sniffers are national treasures.

Snub: Royel Otis

After dominating the 2024 ARIA Awards with four wins, Royel Otis might’ve expected the good times to roll on. The Sydney duo of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic collected four nominations this time, off the back of their sophomore album Hickey (Ourness / Capitol Records), which cracked the ARIA top 10, emulating the chart success of their debut, Pratts & Pain. Royel Otis had the top-ranked homegrown recording on triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown in January, with a cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor” coming in at No. 2, and Hickey single “Moody” topped Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay Chart in July of this year. On Wednesday night, those four ARIA Award nominations came to nought.

Surprise: Ninajirachi

With eight nods, the night was all set up for Ninajirachi. As the house lights went up, the EDM artist (real name: Nina Wilson) had her hands full with three heavy ARIA trophies. That’s quite a haul, and it comes after she collected the Australian Music Prize and triple j’s J Award for I Love My Computer (NLV Records). Ninajirachi could see the irony in winning the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist award; the Central Coast-raised creative released her first record eight years ago, as a teen. Good things do come to those who wait, and Ninajirachi can now claim to be an overnight success, a decade in the making. She’s nominated in two categories for the NSW Music Prize, to be announced next week.

Snub: RÜFÜS DU SOL

Electronic music was pumping at the ARIA Awards, as Ninajirachi and Dom Dolla scored five awards between them. RÜFÜS DU SOL bagged four nominations for 2024’s Inhale / Exhale (Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia), their fifth studio album. The collection opened its account at No. 3 on the ARIA Chart, continuing a podium finish for all their recordings: Atlas (2013), Bloom (2016) and Surrender (2021) went to No. 1 in 2013 and Solace peaked at No. 2 in 2018. RDS have won four career ARIA Awards, they have a Grammy Award in their safekeeping (and they can add another, for best dance/electronic album next February), and they’re currently touring the country. The 2025 ARIA Awards just wasn’t their night.

20 Nov 2025

Scott Borchetta Receives 2025 CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence: ’I Truly Did Not See This Coming’

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The Country Music Association awarded Big Machine Label Group founder, chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta the 2025 CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence on Wednesday (Nov. 19) ahead of the 59th Annual CMA Awards. Borchetta was surprised with the industry honor on the red carpet by Riley Green, a Big Machine Label Group/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment artist (and winner of three 2025 CMA Awards).

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Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis perform at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.

Borchetta was also a 2025 CMA Awards nominee in the musical event of the year category as a producer, along with Jimmy Harnen and Dann Huff, of Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” which reunited the singer with Ella Langley. It was Borchetta’s second CMA nod. He was first nominated in 2013 as a producer on Taylor Swift’s Red, an album of the year nominee.

“Scott has played a pivotal role in shaping Country Music’s modern era,” Sarah Trahern, CMA’s CEO, said in a statement. “I’ve watched him navigate this industry with remarkable clarity and conviction — championing emerging talent, supporting legacy artists and investing in ideas that move our genre forward.”

“I truly did not see this coming,”Borchetta said. “A sincere thank you to our extraordinary CEO, Sarah Trahern, and all on the CMA Board for this incredible recognition. Irving Waugh was a true visionary who did so much for Country Music and its culture, and I’m humbled to stand on his shoulders alongside so many who continue to shape and inspire the world of Country Music.”

Big Machine Label Group is home to such stars as Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Mötley Crüe and Sheryl Crow. As an executive producer, Borchetta has championed projects such as the 20-track Petty Country and the Grammy-winning documentary Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me.

Waugh was a radio and TV executive who was active from the late 1940s through the early 1990s. He first joined WSM-Nashville as a radio announcer in 1941. In the late ’40s, after serving in World War II, he returned to WSM and began a career that included positions as commercial manager, GM, vp and president of WSM’s radio and TV operations. He died in April 2007 at age 94.


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20 Nov 2025

Jelly Roll Tears Up Over Grammy Nominations & Debuts Beard-Free Face: ‘I Look Like a Ninja Turtle’

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Jelly Roll has two major life updates. First, the country star is newly nominated for three Grammys. Second, his face is now bald.

In a chatty video posted to YouTube on Thursday (Nov. 20), Jelly took fans with him as he shaved his beard for the first time in years and shared how he “really feels” about the Recording Academy. After razoring off his facial hair with wife Bunnie Xo at his side in the bathroom, he went for a walk outside and talked to viewers one on one.

“By now, you have probably figured out that I look like a Ninja Turtle,” he said self-deprecatingly, explaining that before his recent weight loss, he felt he “was so obese, it was easier to cover what was happening here [with a beard].”

Jelly then fought back tears while addressing his 2026 nominations for best country duo/group performance for the Shaboozey duet “Amen,” best contemporary country album for Beautifully Broken and best contemporary Christian music performance/song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” “When I look at these nominations, all I see is God,” he said.

“I want to cry,” the singer continued. “Wow, country album of the year. It’s not even about the album or the nom. It’s about the name.”

Getting emotional, Jelly said that the title of his 2024 Billboard 200-topping LP represents “what’s happening in the world right now, I think, more than ever.”

“Win, lose, or draw, holy f—, dude, we won,” he added. “I know a lot of artists give the Grammys a lot of sh–, but the truth is I feel honored … Y’all make fun of me now and leave comments about my double chin.”

Jelly has now been nominated for a total of seven Grammys, earning his first nods in 2024 for best new artist and best country duo/group performance for his and Lainey Wilson’s “Save Me.” The following year, he scored nominations for best country song and best country solo performance for “I Am Not Okay.”


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20 Nov 2025

Artists With the Most CMA Awards

Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Blake Shelton all moved up the list this year. See where they rank.

Lainey Wilson at The 59th Annual CMA Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Lainey Wilson at The 59th Annual CMA Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Michael Buckner


Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Blake Shelton moved up our list of the top winners of all time at the Country Music Association Awards. Brooks & Dunn won vocal duo of the year for the 16th time. Wilson won three awards – entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year and album of the year for Whirlwind. Shelton won musical event of the year for his featured role on Post Malone’s “Pour Me a Drink.”

The CMA Awards were first presented in 1967. Eddy Arnold, a country star since the 1940s, was the first entertainer of the year winner. Loretta Lynn won female vocalist of the year. Jack Greene, though less-remembered today, was the night’s top winner with three awards – album of the year, single of the year and male vocalist of the year.

The show was first televised the following year, 1968 – more than two years before the Grammy Awards presented their first live telecast in March 1971. It’s one of the few awards shows that has aired on all three major networks – NBC (1968-71), CBS (1972-2005) and ABC (2006 to the present).

Thirteen artists have won 11 or more CMA Awards in competition. Here is a complete list. This list doesn’t count honorary awards. Following the lead of the official CMA list of its all-time top winners, it gives artists credit for just one win in a category, even if they also produced or co-produced the recording.

We also looked back to see if the acts won new artist of the year (known as the horizon award from 1981-2007). As you will see, not all did!

Here’s a complete list of all artists who have won 11 or more CMA Awards.


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