Who Had the Best Performance at the 2025 CMA Awards? Vote! The Country Music Association Awards wouldn't be complete without, well, some "country dang music," as entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson phrased it Wednesday night (Nov. 19) while hosting the 2025 ceremony at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Country music's biggest stars showed off their best fashions on the red carpet at the 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday night. Mickey Guyton and Colbie Caillat were among the first stars to step out on the carpet at the 59th annual Country Music Association awards show at Music City Center in Nashville.

The 59th CMA Awards felt shiny and new on Wednesday night. Credit that to an influx of exciting fresh faces like Ella Langley, Zach Top, Stephen Wilson Jr., and the Red Clay Strays, and a new host in Lainey Wilson,

The performers for the 2025 CMA Awards were announced earlier this month and one of the most exciting inclusions was BigXthaPlug and Luke Combs, performing their collaboration “Pray Hard.”

LeAnn Rimes stepped out for the 2025 CMA Awards, where she presented the award for Best New Artist of the Year, in a show-stopping dress. The country music icon took PEOPLE behind the scenes of her getting-ready process.

Lainey Wilson and Ellla Langley came up big as Wilson won for Entertainer of the Year and Album of The Year, while Langley won for single and song of the year.

Check out Variety's video interviews with the Red Clay Strays, Tucker Wetmore, the War & Treaty, Megan Moroney, Brandon Lake and more CMA Awards stars.

Stephen Wilson Jr. made his CMA Awards performance debut on Wednesday night, mesmerizing the crowd with his inventive rendering of “Stand by Me,” Ben E. King’s 1961 hymn that was later recorded by John Lennon in 1975.