Not even the biggest snub in the nominations.
The Country Music Association announced their 2025 CMA Award nominations yesterday, with Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley leading the way with six nominations each.
Traditional country newcomer Zach Top got quite a bit of love with five nominations, while reigning Entertainer of the Year winner Morgan Wallen is nominated in only 3 categories.
The nominees for the night’s top prize, Entertainer of the Year, include Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson, which is a little bit of a surprise because I expected Jelly Roll to be on that list (and I personally cast my vote for Eric Church, but he never gets the recognition he deserves so not a big surprise he was snubbed).
Some other head scratchers included the nominees for New Artist of the Year, which included Shaboozey and Zach Top for the second year in a row, and Duo of the Year, which continues to overlook Muscadine Bloodline in favor of the same lineup every year. Riley Green also didn’t get any solo nods, which is pretty surprising considering the monster year that he’s had with hits like “Worst Way,” “Jesus Saves” and of course his collaborations with Ella Langley.
And don’t get me started on Vocal Group of the Year: No Turnpike Troubadours, 49 Winchester or Treaty Oak Revival, but somehow Lady A and Little Big Town keep getting nominated year after year? Come on now.
Regardless, there are plenty of people who had thoughts on what the voters got right and what they got wrong when it came to choosing the final nominees. And one artist whose fan base was especially outraged was Kelsea Ballerini.
Kelsea was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, but was left out of Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year. And fans also pointed out that neither Chris Stapleton nor Luke Combs were touring this year, nor did they release a new album, which left many scratching their heads at why they got the nod over Kelsea:
Kelsea deserves better. That’s always my thought when I see the nominations for these country music shows.
(Sorry, repost because I had a typo that drove me nuts)
— Elizabeth 📜 (@AwkwardPancake) September 9, 2025
Of course some people argue that Kelsea’s music leans more pop these days and that’s why she’s not getting the recognition from the CMAs but…have you seen the rest of the nominees? Most of them aren’t exactly George Jones or Merle Haggard when it comes to making traditional country music.
Overall, the complaints that I’ve seen largely mirror those we’ve heard before, but at the same time there are some deserving artists who are up for awards so hopefully the trophies end up going to the right homes on November 19.
The full list of nominees for the 59th Annual CMA Awards:
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
