The 59th annual CMA Awards opened with a bang at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night, and the first winners announced were Ella Langley and Riley Green for Single of the Year with their hit track You Look Like You Love Me.
Ella Langley, 26, admitted she was caught off guard by the early spotlight.
“I wasn’t expecting to get up here so early tonight,” she said, visibly thrilled.
“I feel like this song just keeps giving because the fans keep listening.”
She praised her collaborators, mentioning Will Bundy and Jim Cooley for their work on the record, and Riley Green for his part in the second verse.
Laughing nervously, she concluded, “Wow, thank you so much for this. This means the world to all of us.”
Riley Green, 37, chimed in with heartfelt words for his duet partner: “I’m just so glad to be part of this song.
I’m proud of you, Ella, and how you make country music really country.”
Brooks & Dunn Celebrate Their 16th Vocal Duo Win
Veteran country duo Brooks & Dunn took home Vocal Duo of the Year, marking an impressive 16th win in the category.
Ronnie Dunn, clearly emotional, addressed the audience: “Every night of sold-out shows is surreal… we’ll take this and try to make you proud.”
His partner, Kix Brooks, added with his trademark humor, “I heard earlier tonight y’all ever get sick of this? Hell no, man, this is too good! Thank you very much.”
Zach Top Named New Artist of the Year
Rising star Zach Top earned his first CMA win as New Artist of the Year.
In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude for being in the company of so many talented performers.
“I’m so thankful to be included in a category with a bunch of other great artists who’ve had phenomenal years,” he said.
“This is my first CMA win ever, so it’s a big deal to me.”
Lainey Wilson Hosts With Hometown Pride
Lainey Wilson, who also received six nominations including Entertainer of the Year, opened the show with a heartfelt welcome.
Reflecting on her small-town roots, she shared, “I grew up in the village of Baskin, Louisiana, population 175.
Ever since I was a little girl, country music has been a huge part of my world. It was more than a genre—it was a way of life.”
Wilson recounted her family traditions: “There were two things we never missed growing up—bull riding and the CMA Awards.
And if we had to miss one, it wasn’t gonna be this.”
She described the honor of hosting as a dream come true, adding, “It’s making little Lainey, sitting way too close to the TV, really, really proud.”
Stiff Competition for Entertainer of the Year
Lainey Wilson faced a formidable field for Entertainer of the Year, including Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and 2024 winner Morgan Wallen.
With the CMA spotlight shining brightly on Nashville, it was clear the night would be full of surprises and emotional moments.
Vince Gill to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Adding to the evening’s star power, country legend Vince Gill was set to be honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating decades of influence and artistry in Music City.f
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