An emotional moment during a deeply personal song.
The 2025 CMA Awards are coming up November 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Lainey Wilson will be hosting the show solo this year, with performances from artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Stephen Wilson Jr., Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, and…BigXthaPlug.
Over the past few years, it’s honestly hard to think of more than a handful of performances from the CMA Awards that actually stand out. Which is what makes this performance from 2007 all the more special.
Kellie Pickler won over hearts while appearing on American Idol back in 2006 (back when people actually cared about those kind of shows). And during her time on the show, the Albemarle, North Carolina native was extremely candid about the personal struggles she’d dealt with when it came to her relationship with her parents.
The country singer was raised by her grandparents after her mother left her when she was 2 years old, and her father spent much of Kellie’s childhood in and out of prison. And in October 2006, when Kellie released her debut album Small Town Girl, it featured a deeply personal message to her mother.
The second single from the album, “I Wonder,” was co-written by Kellie, and found her longing for answers about her relationship with her estranged mom:
“I think about how it ain’t fair
That you weren’t there to braid my hair like mothers do
You weren’t around to cheer me on
Help me dress for my high school prom like mothers do
Did you think I didn’t need you here
To hold my hand, to dry my tears?
Did you even miss me through the years at all?”
At the 2007 CMA Awards, Kellie found herself nominated for the Horizon Award (now known as New Artist of the Year). And while the award ultimately went to another up-and-coming country artist named Taylor Swift, it was Kellie who ended up stealing the show that night with her performance of “I Wonder.”
An emotional Pickler broke down during the song before receiving a standing ovation for the heartbreaking performance. But a little while later, Kellie would reveal just why the performance was so emotional for her.
In an interview with People, Kellie revealed that she had struggled with adjusting to fame – falling into a depression and turning to medication to help her navigate her new lifestyle.
But just before the CMA Awards, she decided to stop taking the antidepressants that, as she put it, made her feel like “a zombie.”
“The CMAs were right after I’d gone off the pills, so my body still needed them. I was an emotional wreck.”
That wasn’t all though. Right before her performance, Kellie found out that her estranged mother, who she hadn’t spoken to in 12 years, had given an interview on television talking about why she had abandoned Kellie all those years ago:
“Then 10 minutes before I went onstage, I got a call saying my mom was on TV. I hadn’t seen her in years. I felt like, “Tonight I’m good enough?”
It really hurt. My hands shook all during the song. Then I lost it.”
The result was a powerful, emotion-filled performance that brought Kellie and the audience to tears – and to their feet.
It’s the kind of performance that you don’t often see at these awards shows, which are usually filled with bland personalities and forgettable performances – which is why this is one performance we’re still talking about today.
2025 CMA Awards Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
- Morgan Wallen
- Luke Combs
- Lainey Wilson
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
Album of the Year
- Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
- Producer: Kristian Bush
- Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
- Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
- Producer: Carson Chamberlain
- Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey
- F-1 Trillon – Post Malone
- Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
- Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
- I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
- Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
- Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
- Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- Producer: Jay Joyce
- Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Zach Top
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Lainey Wilson
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group of the Year
- Old Dominion
- The Red Clay Strays
- Little Big Town
- Lady A
- Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Dan + Shay
- Brothers Osborne
- The War and Treaty
- Maddie & Tae
Single of the Year
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
- Producer: Jay Joyce
- Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
- “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs
- Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
- Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
- “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
- Producer: Kristian Bush
- Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
- “I Never Lie” – Zach Top
- Producer: Carson Chamberlain
- Mix Engineer: Mat Rovey
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green
- Producer: Will Bundy
- Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
Song of the Year
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
- Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
- “Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
- Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney
- “I Never Lie” – Zach Top
- Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
- “Texas” – Blake Shelton
- Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green
- Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
New Artist of the Year
- Zach Top
- Ella Langley
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
- Tucker Wetmore
- Shaboozey
Musician of the Year
- Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle)
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
- Brett Mason (Guitar)
- Rob McNelley (Guitar)
- Derek Wells (Guitar)
Music Video of the Year
- “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
- Directors: Alexander Gavillet, Megan Moroney
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
- Director: Dustin Haney
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
- Director: TK McKamy
- “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
- Director: Running Bear
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
Musical Event of the Year
- “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green ft. Ella Langley
- Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff
- “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake w/ Jelly Roll
- Producer: Micha Nichols
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/ Carrie Underwood
- Producer: Trent Willmon
- “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton
- Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome
- “You Had to Be There” – Megan Moroney ft. Kenny Chesney
- Producer: Kristian Bush
