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Trending on Billboard Lainey Wilson logs her ninth top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart dated Nov. 29, as “Somewhere Over Laredo” rises 11-9. The track pulls 4.1 million official United States streams (up 3%), 24.6 million in radio audience (up 8%) and 1,000 in sales (up 36%) during the Nov. 14-20 tracking week, […]
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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 yearAll-American Road Show Tour crew – Chris StapletonAm I Okay? Tour crew – Megan MoroneyBroken Branches Tour crew – Dierks BentleyI’m the Problem Tour crew – Morgan WallenJim Bob World Tour crew – HARDYLive on Tour crew – Kelsea BalleriniOn the Road Tour crew – Tyler ChildersWhirlwind World Tour crew – Lainey Wilson
Backline technician of the yearPatrick Boyle – Tyler ChildersDalton Ray Brown – Lainey WilsonWilliam Coats – Eric ChurchCasey Ervin – Jelly RollTerry Fox – Kenny ChesneyMatt Kennedy – Morgan WallenHunter Lamb – HARDYChris Miller – Keith Urban
Business manager of the yearStephanie Alderman – Farris, Self & Moore, LLCRenee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.Legina Chaudoin – O’Neil Hagaman, LLCDuane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.Jen Conger – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.Stephanie Mundy-Self – Farris, Self & Moore, LLCKris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLCDwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC
Coach/truck driver of the yearChad Allison – HARDYTim Barrett – Kane BrownDustin Bringham – Parker McCollumSteve Carmack – Megan MoroneyGreg Cook – Riley GreenCaleb Garrett – Luke BryanJason Humphrey – Jason AldeanNick Wagner – Morgan Wallen
Front of house engineer of the yearRyan Dell – Lainey WilsonChris Diener – Kelsea BalleriniDavid Loy – Kane BrownJames “Pugs” McDermott – Dierks BentleyJeff “Pig” Parsons – Blake SheltonRobert Scovill – Kenny ChesneyTodd Wines – Miranda LambertIan Zorbaugh – Old Dominion
Lighting director of the yearBen Bearden – Chris StapletonNick Chang – Kelsea BalleriniZac Coren – Morgan WallenJustin Kitchenman – Luke BryanAndy Knighton – Rascal Flatts/Jason AldeanKevin Lichty – Old DominionAlex Sanchez – Parker McCollumAlec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
Manager of the yearNarvel Blackstock – Starstruck EntertainmentHayley Corbett – PunchBowl EntertainmentEnzo DeVincenzo – 377 ManagementKerri Edwards – KP EntertainmentTroy “Tracker” Johnson – TRACK ManagementChris Kappy – Make Wake ArtistsMandelyn Monchick – Red Light ManagementZach Sutton – Red Light Management
Monitor engineer of the yearBeau Alexander – Morgan WallenCurt Armstead – Lainey WilsonBrad Baisley – Blake SheltonCory Benson – Tyler ChildersChris Daniels – Luke BryanLogan Hanna – Brothers OsborneChris Newsom – Kelsea BalleriniPhil Wilkey – Keith Urban
Production manager of the yearChris Alderman – Blake SheltonJohn Garriott – Chris StapletonJeff “Goofy” Greeninger – Jon PardiAdam Groeninger – Dierks BentleyChad Guy – Morgan WallenBrent Maxon – Parker McCollumEarl Neal – Jason AldeanEd Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
Publicist of the yearJanet Buck – Essential Broadcast MediaZach Farnum – 117 Entertainment GroupAsha Goodman – Sacks & Co.Olivia Hanceri – OH CreativeTyne Parrish – The GreenRoomJessie Schmidt – Schmidt RelationsWes Vause – Press On PublicityJennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
Stage manager of the yearShaun Carswell – Dierks BentleyAlex Church – Megan MoroneySam “Sambo” Coats – Eric ChurchTodd Green – Chris StapletonMatt Hornbeck – Luke CombsJosh “Dude” Marcus – Jason AldeanAllison Noah – Carly Pearce / Lainey WilsonLonnie Taylor – Jon Pardi
Support services company of the yearASCOT Travel Services – NashvilleBandit Lites – NashvilleClair Global – NashvilleCrom Tidwell Merchandising – NashvilleMoo TV – NashvillePioneer Coach – NashvilleRichards & Southern – Goodlettsville, Tenn.Sound Image – Nashville
Talent agent of the yearBecky Gardenhire – WMEChad Kudelka – CAAKeith Levy – Wasserman MusicBraeden Rountree – WMEAdi Sharma – The Neal AgencyElisa Vazzana – UTAHunter Williams – CAAJay Williams – WME
Talent buyer/promoter of the yearBridget Bauer – Messina Touring GroupTodd Boltin – Variety AttractionsPatrick McDill – Live Nation NashvilleBrian O’Connell – Live Nation NashvilleRich Schaefer – AEG PresentsAaron Spalding – Live Nation NashvilleStacy Vee – GoldenvoiceEd Warm – Joe’s Bar
Tour manager of the yearMatt Anderson – Old DominionKyle Crownover – Tyler ChildersDustin DeRosier – Kelsea Ballerini / Little Big TownJeff Gossett – Morgan WallenMike McGrath – Keith UrbanMeg Miller – Lainey WilsonMark Oglesby – Post MaloneChelsae Partosan – Megan Moroney
Touring musician of the yearMark “Taco” Annino (Drums) – Morgan WallenJody Bartula (Fiddle) – Cody JohnsonJT Cure (Bass Guitar) – Chris StapletonJenee Fleenor (Fiddle) – George StraitAslan Freeman (Guitar) – Lainey WilsonKenny Greenberg (Guitar) – Kenny ChesneyKurt Ozan (Multi-Instrumentalist) – Luke CombsJesse Welles (Multi-Instrumentalist) – Tyler Childers
Tour videographer/photographer of the yearMason Allen – Old DominionAlex Alvga – Kane BrownZach Belcher – Dierks BentleyCaleb Cockrell – Jordan DavisSam Crabtree – Riley GreenTanner Gallagher – HARDYZack Massey – Luke CombsCatherine Powell – Kelsea Ballerini
Tour video director of the yearDave Bergfeld – Lainey WilsonHouston Creswell – Dierks BentleyAdam Cline – Morgan WallenMilojko Dobrijevich – Little Big TownRon Etters – Chris StapletonJordan Karow – HARDYJustin Stein – Parker McCollumJake Zobrist – Cody Johnson
Venue of the yearBankNH Pavilion – Gilford, N.H.Bridgestone Arena – NashvilleFenway Park – BostonGrand Ole Opry House – NashvilleGreek Theatre – Los AngelesMoody Center – Austin, TexasThe Pinnacle – NashvilleRed Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.
Unsung hero of the yearHolly Atherton (Production Assistant) – Chris StapletonChase Butler (Road Manager) – Riley GreenMichael Corcoran (General Manager) – mtheoryKayla Carter Greear (Production Assistant) – Luke BryanJeff “Bean” Griffin (Road Manager) – HARDYLolo Kinser (Logistics Coordinator) – Post MaloneDiana “Lemonade” McBride (Backstage Hospitality) – Grand Ole OpryMel Murphy (Road Representative) – Live Nation Nashville
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Stephen Wilson Jr., who had a double-shot of performances at this week’s CMA Awards, has released a new tribute to blue-collar workers, while R&B star Ne-Yo offers up a country-inspired new track and ERNEST pays tribute to tight-knit communities. Kameron Marlowe, newcomer Emily Roth and bluegrass trio Sweet Sally also offer up new music.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
Stephen Wilson Jr., “Gary”
Last week, Stephen Wilson Jr. not only performed twice at the CMA Awards and during the SESAC Nashville Awards, but he also released this stirring new track. It’s a gritty tribute to working-class men, those who are “Born with a cigarette glued to their face/ Fix about anything a hammer can handle.” Wilson Jr. praises the titular character’s blue-collar skills, but also fears that current and future generations won’t have enough “Garys.” Wilson Jr. has long been known for his formidable songwriting and grunge rock infused style of country. Searing guitar, explosive percussion and lines like “Time leaves town but the minute hand stays” reinforce his reputation as a superb musical craftsman.
Ne-Yo, “Simple Things”
R&B star Ne-Yo has been a steady presence in Nashville of late, as a presenter at the CMA Awards and performing on the Opry in the past week. Now, he releases this country-leaning track about appreciating simple things in life, like spending time with loved ones. The song is a deft mix of R&B and country, and Ne-Yo’s voice is as smooth and commanding as ever.
Emily Roth, “Matter of Time”
In her new song, Roth sings of how a glass of wine and intimate talk with a potential lover leave her teetering on the edge between infatuation and full-blown romance. Roth’s silky voice and the song’s understated musicianship give it a tender, dream-like quality. She wrote this track with Alex Kiel and Jesse Dozzi.
ERNEST, “Hate a Small Town”
On this song from his new project Live From The South, ERNEST lends his strong, vivid songwriting to chronicling the daily happenings and sights of a small community, from kids helping an elderly neighbor, to Friday night football games and “miles and miles of cottonwood trees.” This uptempo track’s percussion sizzles and while the guitar lines are tight and catchy, making for quite the radio-friendly track. ERNEST wrote the song with Chandler Paul Walters, Jordan Dozzi, and Brad Clawson.
Kameron Marlowe, “Fire on the Hillside”
Marlowe has already proven himself as a superb vocalist, and he turns that impeccable voice to this hard-charging tale of how, sometimes, smoke means fire when it comes to rumors raging through small towns. Marlowe’s soulful voice, paired with the song’s relentless rock swagger, makes this a track worth repeated listens and further cements Marlowe as a treasure of a newcomer in the genre.
Sweet Sally, “Iron Waterfall”
This all-woman California bluegrass trio has played at bluegrass events including DelFest, IBMA’s World of Bluegrass and High Sierra Music Festival. Its offers up a smooth, moody performance on “Iron Waterfall,” lyrically sketching a scene of emotional devastation and resilience. Guitarist Lucy Khadder wrote the song, and the trio is joined on the recording by mandolin player Sophia Sparks and bassist Clare O’Grady. Their tight-knit musicianship, paired with their honeyed harmonies that are sprinkled judiciously in the track, showcases their instinctive musical chemistry as a group.
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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
Trending on Billboard HARDY cracks the top 10 of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for a fifth time as “Favorite Country Song” surges 12-7 on the list dated Nov. 29, up 17% to 20.5 million in audience Nov. 14-20, according to Luminate. The track, which HARDY cowrote alongside six others, including Nate Smith, reaches the region […]
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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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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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Carrie Underwood is an eight-time Grammy winner, a three-time ACM entertainer of the year winner, an American Idol judge, an actress and a businesswoman — and she’s also a mom to two sons, Jacob and Isaiah. Thus, Underwood is well-acquainted with the scourge facing countless parents right now: Kids’ obsession with the phrase “6-7.” The trend has become so popular, in fact, that it was named Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year.
During a preview clip for American Idol‘s upcoming season, Underwood greets a contestant on the show, Uzziah Hutchinson, who works with kids and references the popular catchphrase.
“I bet you get a lot of funny stories,” Underwood says, with the contestant replying, “Right now, it’s ‘6-7.’”
Immediately, Underwood begins mimicking the hand gesture that goes with the catchphrase, which is wildly popular with school-age kids. “6-7” originally came from the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by rapper Skrilla, in reference to NBA star LaMelo Ball’s height, but it’s mostly just become extremely popular for students to repeat — and an annoyance for many parents and teachers.
Fortunately, Underwood has a scheme to get the “6-7” craze to halt.
“Here’s how we stop that, Uzziah. I have the cure,” Underwood says. “Every time the kids say ‘6-7,’ we have to immediately say [singing], ‘5-3-0-9,’” she says — referencing Tommy Tutone’s Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “867-5309/Jenny” from 1982.
“That’ll work!” Uzziah said.
“And if we all band together and do that, it will stop,” Underwood insists. “It’s gonna take all of us.”
Season 24 of American Idol will launch on Jan. 26 — exactly 67 days from now — welcoming back Underwood as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. The music competition airs on ABC and streams on Hulu.
See the American Idol preview clip below:
Trending on Billboard Tucker Wetmore & Old Dominion take us behind the scenes of their CMA Awards rehearsals before the big show and discuss what went into these performances. Tetris Kelly: The CMAs took over Nashville this week, and Tucker Wetmore and Old Dominion show you what went down behind the scenes in Billboard All […]
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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.”
Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Blake Shelton all moved up the list this year. See where they rank.
11/20/2025
