4t COUNTRY MUSIC ROYALTY ETERNALLY CROWNED: Vince Gill to Receive the Ultra-Prestigious 2025 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award — A Tear-Jerking, Star-Studded Tribute Performance Will Explode Across The 59th Annual CMA Awards Stage in Nashville!
Vince Gill has been named the recipient of the 2025 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 CMA Awards. The Country Music Association (CMA) announced that the 68-year-old country music legend will be honored at The 59th Annual CMA Awards with a special tribute performance before accepting the coveted award.
Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, explained why the CMA selected Gill for this distinguished honor. “Vince embodies the very best of what Country Music stands for,” Trahern said in a statement via a press release. “He’s a true trailblazer, one who gives back to the community, honors the roots of our genre, and even now, continues to share his talent with fans across the globe. As a Country Music Hall of Fame member, 18-time CMA Award winner, and former 12-time CMA Awards host, he remains a vibrant force in our industry, and we’re honored to celebrate an artist whose influence is so deeply woven into the fabric of our format.”
According to The Country Music Association, the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is “awarded to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music. The award recognizes those who have achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, streaming numbers, record sales, and public representation at the highest level. The artist receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre over the course of many years and has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on fans and industry alike.”
Previous recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021), Alan Jackson (2022) and George Strait (2024).
Vince Gill has firmly established himself as one of Country Music’s most celebrated artists. An Oklahoma native, he has released 20 albums, sold over 30 million records, and charted 45 singles. Renowned for his heartfelt songwriting, masterful guitar playing, and distinctive tenor voice, Gill is equally admired for the warmth, humility, and quiet humor that have endeared him to fans and fellow musicians alike. His musicianship and versatility have made him a key member of several iconic bands, including Pure Prairie League, The Cherry Bombs, and The Time Jumpers. In 2017, he also joined the Eagles on tour and continues to contribute his talents to the legendary group. Marking 50 years of performing, Gill is celebrating this milestone with a series of EPs on MCA Records, titled 50 Years from Home. The first release in the series, I Gave You Everything I Had, was released on October 17.
Widely recognized as one of Country Music’s most accomplished and respected artists, Gill’s breakthrough came in 1990 with the single When I Call Your Name, which earned both CMA Single and Song of the Year honors, as well as a GRAMMY for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. Over the course of his career, he has won 22 GRAMMY Awards and 18 CMA Awards, including a record-setting four Song of the Year wins, the most in CMA history.
He also shares the record for hosting the CMA Awards, leading the show from 1992 to 2003. Additional accolades include the CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence (2014), the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award (2017), and four CMA Triple Play Awards. His most recent GRAMMY came in 2021 for Best Country Solo Performance for the moving When My Amy Prays, further solidifying his legacy as a leading voice in Country Music. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.
The 2025 CMA Awards will also feature performances from BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr. and more.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the Country Music’s Biggest Night airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu. Tickets for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” are on-sale now at CMAawards.com/tickets.
