LDN.Lainey Wilson Talks Historic Hosting Gig At 2025 CMA Awards And Promises An “Unforgettable Opening”.LDN
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC.
2025 CMA Awards host Lainey Wilson; Photo Courtesy of Robby Klein/Disney
Lainey Wilson is gearing up to host the 2025 CMA Awards on November 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and the country superstar spilled a few details of what viewers can expect from this year’s show, and even revealed that she is planning an “unforgettable opening.”
In a new promotional clip for the upcoming awards ceremony, Wilson gave fans a brief taste of what they can expect when they tune in on November 19. Wearing a light blue, rhinestone-embellished pantsuit and her signature cowboy hat, Wilson first appears standing on an empty stage, looking around to see if any other hosts are joining her before declaring, “Looks like I’m running the show.”
After calling for speakers and an audience, the Louisiana native paused after asking for wardrobe and being presented with a purple ballgown with rhinestones and ruffles. Expressing some confusion, she snapped her fingers to replace the dress with a hot pink bell bottom pantsuit topped with a cowboy hat, a look much more up her alley.
“There’s some bell in them bottoms,” she said before giving viewers some info on the show. “Everyone’s favorite country stars, an unforgettable opening and… the CMA Awards,” Wilson declared. “This is what it’s all about.” She concluded, “And they say magic isn’t real,” hinting at some of the magic sure to come on stage during the ceremony.
“You heard @laineywilson — she’s taking the reins! Country Music’s Biggest Night is back and bigger than ever! Don’t miss the #CMAawards for an unforgettable night of live performances,” the clip’s caption read.
Wilson co-hosted the CMA Awards last year alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, but her solo outing in November will make her the show’s first female solo host since Reba McEntire hosted the prestigious award show in 1991.
“I looked it up, too, and that’s what I found,” she said of the statistic on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast. “And I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ That’s crazy to think about. It’s been a long time since a woman has done it. I’m glad they trust me. I like to run my mouth, and I love country music, so I guess we’re just — it’s gonna be fun. I really do think that.”
The singer further revealed that she plans to take a page out of previous awards show hosts’ books and gently make a few jokes about some of the stars who will be in the audience.
“If I can poke fun at people, hey, we good,” she said. “I tried to get them to let me do it last year, and they were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa… that’s too far.’ But I go way back with these people. Let me make fun of Luke Combs, please.”
Lainey Wilson is tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the most nominations at this year’s ceremony, with all three artists earning six nods each. For Wilson, that includes Single of the Year (“4x4xU”), Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”) and the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.
The 59th CMA Awards will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 19 and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
