genre country

25 Nov 2025

Lainey Wilson & Kelsea Ballerini Bring the Charts to Oz With Hot Country Songs Moves for ‘Somewhere Over Laredo’ & ‘Emerald City’

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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, per Luminate.

Wilson co-wrote the Jay Joyce-produced track, which interpolates 1939’s iconic “Over the Rainbow.”

The Baskin, Louisiana, native is quickly growing her footprint among country’s most successful women. Of the top 100 artists by count of top 10s on Hot Country Songs in the last 10 years, Wilson’s nine tie her with Maren Morris for third among solo women behind Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, who have logged 17 and 10, respectively. Including ties for fifth (Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan’s 15), eighth (Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay and Florida Georgia Line’s 11), and ninth (Carrie Underwood and Old Dominion’s 10), Wilson places comfortably in the top quarter overall at No. 10, tying both Maren Morris and Cole Swindell. Narrow the lens to the last five years and her rise looks even sharper: Wilson trails only Swift among solo women and places fourth overall behind Morgan Wallen (37), Luke Combs and Taylor Swift (14 tie) and Zach Bryan (13).

Kelsea Ballerini, meanwhile, makes her own Hot Country Songs impression with two titles. She bows at No. 36 with “Emerald City” (2.9 million streams). The track sits just behind “I Sit in Parks,” which rises 14% (37-32) and logs 3.3 million streams. Both appear on Mount Pleasant, her new six-song EP, which opens at No. 9 on Top Country Albums with 13,000 equivalent album units. “Emerald City” becomes Ballerini’s 24th charted title on the list, seven of which have made the top 10 since 2015’s breakthrough “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

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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

6 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Stephen Wilson Jr., ERNEST, Ne-Yo & More

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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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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

A New ‘Favorite Country Song’: HARDY Scores His Fifth Top 10 on Country Airplay Chart

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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 almost two years after “Truck Bed” last put him there in February 2024. That song went all the way, becoming his third No. 1 that March, further cementing his momentum as both an artist and a writer.

“Favorite Country Song” is just one piece of HARDY’s current chart impact. He’s on the list three times over as his own rising hit joins two Morgan Wallen singles with a HARDY writing credit. HARDY cowrote Wallen’s “I Got Better,” which topped the chart in October and ranks at No. 6, as well as “I Ain’t Coming Back” (featuring Post Malone), at a new No. 24 high (8.2 million, up 10%).

HARDY has stacked 14 Country Airplay No. 1s as a cowriter, including three that he recorded, a run that began with Wallen’s “Up Down” (featuring Florida Georgia Line) in 2018. To date, 41 songs by 31 artists have reached the chart with HARDY’s name in the liner notes as a writer.

Dawn of ‘Midnight’

Nate Smith shows up elsewhere on Country Airplay as he and Tyler Hubbard bow at No. 34 with “After Midnight” with 4.6 million in audience. The track gives Smith his second-highest debut, following “Drinkin’ Buddies,” his 2024 collaboration with Lee Brice and Hailey Whitters, which opened and peaked at No. 26 that May. It’s Hubbard’s fourth top 40 premiere as a solo act (apart from his output in Florida Georgia Line); he started at a No. 19 best with “Undivided,” with Tim McGraw (an eventual No. 16 hit), in 2021.


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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).

Related

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

Carrie Underwood Has ‘The Cure’ for the Dreaded ‘6-7’ Trend: ‘It’s Gonna Take All of Us’

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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:

20 Nov 2025

CMA Rehearsals With Tucker Wetmore & Old Dominion: Behind the Scenes | All Access

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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 Access. Let’s check out Tucker’s rehearsal.

Tucker Wetmore:

Tucker Wetmore, here for rehearsal. 

Security:

Yeah, you’re good. 

Tucker Wetmore:

Yeah, thanks, man. I’m excited to see a bunch of people. Lainey, my buddy, BigX, I’m excited to see him do his thing up there. I’m excited to see Ella’s song too. I’m just excited for the whole night honestly.

Guest 1:

Tucker, we need you to grab your ears.

Tucker Wetmore:

Mariah Carey’s stuck in my head. How do I psych myself up to perform? Well, this is my first, like, big one, I guess. I don’t really know. If I’m being honest, I’m really scared. I’m nervous, but I’m excited. So I’ll probably do some jumping jacks, maybe backflip, I don’t know. Pray. I’m gonna pray. I’m wearing something a little more elevated onstage for the performance, more elevated than the usual shows. Got Wrangler Jeans on as usual. I think I’m doing like an all-brown type thing. American hat on top.

Tetris Kelly:

Next, Old Dominion welcomed us into their rehearsal.

Matthew Ramsey:

I mean, the longer this goes, we’re just more grateful and just honored that we’re here and able to perform at this level. So everything past the first one has been great, so it’s a little nerve-racking, but we’re super proud of where it is.

Keep watching for more!

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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