Mark Your Calendars: The 2025 CMA Awards Date and What to Expect
Country music fans, get ready! The 2025 CMA Awards are officially set to light up Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on November 19th. ABC will broadcast “Country Music’s Biggest Night” live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, with streaming available on Hulu the following day. But this isn't just about the date; major changes are underway that could reshape the awards landscape. Here's a deep dive into what you can expect.
Last year, the CMA Awards shifted its usual early November timing to avoid clashing with the general election, and it seems the move paid off. As CMA CEO Sarah Trahern noted, "The ratings were strong." Now, this later date may become a permanent fixture, pending ABC's programming decisions. This shift also gives the show's production team two extra weeks for crucial set-up and pre-production after the final nominations are revealed.
Voting Overhaul to Reflect Evolving Country Scene
Beyond the date, the CMA has undertaken a significant revamp of its voting procedures. "One of the things that we’ve really spent the last year on culminated in some membership category changes to impact this year’s voting," Trahern explained. This revamp aims to broaden the reach of some categories, particularly to include executives at coastal labels (New York and Los Angeles) who are increasingly influential in the country music world. This is in response to the rise of artists like Zach Bryan, Warren Zeiders, Koe Wetzel and Megan Moroney.
Tiffany Kerns, CMA's SVP of industry relations and philanthropy, emphasized, "We need to make sure that we are not just thinking of preserving what we have but being inclusive and thinking about what we don’t. We have to be forward thinking. We have to be the membership organization that is helping drive the future of country music." The expansion ensures that coastal labels working directly with country artists can have a voting roster proportionate to their artist roster. Though the changes will not drastically increase the overall number of voters, it signals a commitment to inclusion.
Who's Expected to Dominate?
As the eligibility period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 nears, let's consider some frontrunners. Morgan Wallen, winner of the 2024 Entertainer of the Year, could contend again. Jelly Roll and Wallen are in a tight race atop Billboard's country radio charts. Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" has enjoyed pop success and may be a strong contender for song of the year.
On the female front, keep an eye on Ella Langley and Jessie Murph, two Alabama-born artists predicted to have a potential breakout year. 2024 winners includes Lainey Wilson (Female Vocalist of the Year, Chris Stapleton (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Cody Johnson (Album of the Year for "Leather"). Their success could translate into nominations in 2025.
Looking Ahead
With the date set and voting changes implemented, the 59th CMA Awards are poised to be a dynamic reflection of the evolving country music landscape. Will the voting changes lead to surprising wins? Who will be crowned Entertainer of the Year? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
