CMA Awards 2025 Feature Red Carpet Appearances By Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson and LeAnn Rimes
Country music stars shine at the CMA Awards 2025 with standout red carpet looks in Nashville.
The 59th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards lit up Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday evening, drawing country music's elite for a night of accolades, performances, and high-glamour fashion. Hosted solo for the first time by reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Lainey Wilson, the event celebrated the genre's biggest talents, with stars arriving at the adjacent Music City Center for red carpet festivities that blended Western flair with red carpet elegance. Broadcast live on ABC from 8 p.m. ET, the ceremony honoured achievements from the past year, including early winners like Ella Langley and Riley Green for Music Video of the Year with "You Look Like You Love Me" and Post Malone for his first CMA trophy in Musical Event of the Year alongside Blake Shelton. As the sun set over Music City, attendees channelled the spirit of country glamour, setting the tone for an evening filled with tributes, collaborations, and surprise moments.
Lainey Wilson commanded attention from the outset, stepping out in a teal jumpsuit adorned with glittering accents, a plunging neckline, and a flowing green cape, topped with her signature cowboy hat and statement jewellery for a bold, headliner-ready silhouette. Kelsea Ballerini, a fellow Female Vocalist nominee, turned heads in a sheer, cheeky red gown that offered a daring peek at her backside, paired with loose waves and minimal accessories to let the bold fabric shine. LeAnn Rimes, presenter and genre veteran, opted for sophisticated poise in a sleek, form-fitting ensemble that highlighted her timeless appeal, while Lainey Wilson herself later dazzled with eight outfit changes throughout the show, from camo-printed jumpsuits to velvet-gloved drama. These looks exemplified the night's theme: unapologetic boldness fused with country roots, as celebrities like Megan Moroney in a rhinestone-encrusted black strapless gown and gloves and Shaboozey in a cropped studded blazer with double Western belts amplified the maximalist vibe.
Power couples added romance to the arrivals, with Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley coordinating in sizzling red attire—his tailored suit complementing her long-sleeved gown with a thigh-high slit and plunging neckline—hand-in-hand for their high-profile date night. Luke Combs, nominated for Entertainer of the Year, walked with his pregnant wife, Nicole Hocking, both glowing in classic black ensembles that exuded effortless charm. Other notable pairs included Lauren Alaina with husband Cam Arnold, marking her first red carpet post-baby in a shattered-mirror halter gown of oversized paillettes, and Miranda Lambert skipping the carpet but stunning inside alongside husband Brendan McLoughlin in a fitted black number. Kenny Chesney joined Megan Moroney for coordinated black looks ahead of their duet performance, while emerging talents like Ella Langley in a ravishing red gown and Zach Top in a dark blue suit with a signature hat brought fresh energy to the mix. Cross-genre guests, including comedian Bert Kreischer with wife LeAnn and actor Alan Ritchson, infused Hollywood crossover appeal.
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The red carpet served as a prelude to the night's emotional highs, with Vince Gill receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award for his 18-time CMA-winning legacy and trailblazing influence. Performances promised to elevate the glamour, featuring Wilson opening alongside Luke Combs and Keith Urban, plus standouts like Stephen Wilson Jr's soulful "Stand By Me" cover—a personal hymn born from grief—and Shaboozey's collaborations that echoed themes of loss and resilience. As the event streamed the next day on Hulu, it underscored the country's evolving landscape, from traditional honky-tonk to genre-blending hits, with nominees like Brooks & Dunn and Chris Stapleton vying for record wins. The 2025 CMAs not only crowned achievements but also reaffirmed Nashville's role as the heartbeat of American music, where style, story, and song converge under the bright lights.
