The top moments from the59th Annual CMA Awardscan be summed up with three words:Lainey, duets andVince.
The night was full of electrifying performances from newer acts to the CMA stage, such as the newly crowned vocal group of the year, The Red Clay Strays, and some long-time favorites likeKenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Old Dominion andKeith Urban.
The awards – which took place Wednesday, Nov. 19, live from Nashville and aired on ABC – saw hostLainey Wilsonmake history, alongtime CMA staplehonored with a lifetime achievement award and a night full of collaboration and camaraderie.
Here are our top moments from country music's biggest night.
The CMAs are back in Nashville to celebrate country music in 2025!Lainey Wilson is set to host and enters the night as one of the top nominees. She has six nominations, including for the night's biggest award of Entertainer of the Year. Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen are also up for the prestigious category.
Beyond the awards, we can't wait to see the best red carpet looks of the night, starting with Lainey Wilson.
Dustin Lynch" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Best CMAs 2025 red carpet looks — Lainey Wilson, Elizabeth Hurley, Kelsea Ballerini, more
The CMAs are back in Nashville to celebrate country music in 2025!
Lainey Wilson is set to host and enters the night as one of the top nominees. She has six nominations, including for the night's biggest award of Entertainer of the Year. Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen are also up for the prestigious category.Beyond the awards, we can't wait to see the best red carpet looks of the night, starting with Lainey Wilson.
1. Lainey Wilson lifts up her peers
Wilson not only hosted the show for the very first time as a solo host, she also performed and she won big, taking home female vocalist of the year, album of the year and entertainer of the year.
Wilson opened the show with a fresh, fun performance of a medley of other people's songs. She would find them in the crowd and sing their song to/with them. She included Ella Langley and Riley Green's "You Look Like You Love Me," Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman," Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" and ended with Little Big Town's "Girl Crush." Little Big Town surprised the crowd when they stood up with microphones in hand to join Wilson.
While it was a much more fun way to open the show than a pre-rehearsed monologue, it set the tone of the night, showcasing artists supporting each other. There were duets by artists competing against each other for the same award and heartfelt messages by winners to those in the crowd who helped them get where they are.
But Wilson's crowning moment was during her acceptance speech for female vocalist, where she told the crowd that Miranda Lambert (also nominated in the same category) had poured into her. So had Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
" Jo Dee Messina texted me a three-minute prayer this morning, lifting me up," Wilson said. "Girls, I just wanna say find those people that lift you up and encourage you, pray for you, love on you on the good days, on the bad days, all of it. And for the folks that are sitting at home in your mama's basement eating Cheetos trying to pit women against each other, y'all need to find something better to do."
CMA Awards 2025 winners list –Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Zach Top take top honors
2. Vince Gill accepts lifetime achievement award from George Strait
Legendary singer, songwriter, guitar player and all-around talent, Vince Gill was honored with the Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award. After being serenaded by Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless, who sang Gill's hit "When I Call Your Name," there was an audible gasp in the crowd as the announcer welcomed the king of country music, George Strait.
Strait rolled through a few of Gill's highlights by saying, "His songwriting is amazing. His singing is amazing and he can sing higher than anybody I know.
"He is in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and oh yeah, he plays with The Eagles. I could have just said that. I mean, there's not a more deserving person," he continued. "You deserve this great honor, which bears the name of the true icon himself, Mr. Willie Nelson. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Vince Gill."
Vince Gill receivesCMA Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award
In true Vince Gill fashion, he took the stage and opened with his witty sense of humor, saying, "It's not lost on me they had to get girls to come out here and sing for me tonight. No boys can get up that high."
He then joked that of the handful of others who have won this award, he's the only one who never smoked any weed.
But his wit quickly turned to sincerity as he thanked the man whose name is on the trophy.
" Willie Nelson, the man who is on this, is a long, long friend," Gill said. "Fifty years we've known each other. I adore him. What I admire most is his willingness to include his family. He calls his band family. Man, that's a great way to live. So Willie, if you're out there listening, at 92 years old, you're still inspiring us."
3. The duets win the night's performances
While there were some spectacular solo performances, such as Kenny Chesney, Stephen Wilson Jr., The Red Clay Strays and Luke Combs, who kicked off the show with a fiery opening number, the night was full of interesting duets.
After Wilson opened the show with several mini-duets as part of her opening number, multiple other beautiful pairings followed.
Combs sang with rapper-turned-country artist BigXThaPlug. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton sang together. Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless sang to Vince Gill and Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. (who were both up for new artist of the year) put their competition aside to perform a flawless rendition of "Took a Walk" from Stephen King's "The Long Walk."
All in all, the 59th Annual CMA Awards was a night of collaborations, celebrations and camaraderie. All of this — and we got to hear Steve Martin play the banjo. What a night of celebrating all things country music.
Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee atmhurt@tennessean.comor on Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman,USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:CMA Awards top moments include Lainey Wilson, stellar duets
