It’s the day after the CMA Awards, and the show is still fresh in everyone’s mind. This year’s ceremony delivered a mix of the good, the bad, and the downright puzzling. Going into the night, I made my usual predictions—but for the first time in a while, there really weren’t any clear front runners.
That unpredictability reflects a shifting moment in country music. A wave of new artists is breaking through in a big way, creating tighter races and replacing the long stretch where the same stars dominated year after year.
Overall, this might go down as one of the tamest CMA Awards I can remember. Not bad—just missing that one huge, unforgettable moment. The closest the night came was Zach Top winning New Artist of the Year and strolling onstage with his beer, which was charming, but not exactly the kind of headline-stealer people talk about the next morning.
One of my favorite moments was Lainey Wilson’s opening medley. She absolutely crushed it, singing some of the most iconic hits in country music history right in front of the artists who made them famous. Everyone seemed into it—well, everyone except Ronnie Dunn—but Lainey proved once again she can sing anything.
There was also a noticeable disconnect this year with several major stars missing entirely. No Jelly Roll, no Carrie Underwood, no Thomas Rhett. Whether they opted out or simply couldn’t make it, their absence was definitely felt.
Most performances were solid, but none truly stuck with me today. I found myself wishing that artists nominated for Entertainer of the Year or Single/Song of the Year would actually perform those songs—it would make the whole night feel more cohesive and connected to what the awards are celebrating.
