The 2025 CMA Awards aired Wednesday, Nov. 19, and in between one win after another for host Lainey Wilson (who went home with entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year and album of the year) there were plenty of great performances, funny acceptance speeches and a lot of smooching. Read on for the best moments of the night, a few happy accidents we’re still talking about, and some style standouts that deserve a second look.
Best Carpet for Kisses
The many couples walking the red carpet didn’t shy away from PDA. From Lainey Wilson pecking her fiancé Devlin Hodges on the cheek to Lauren Alaina smooching her husband Cam Arnold and Zach Top cheekily hiding his kiss with girlfriend Amelia Taylor, country stars had plenty of love to go around.
Best Way to Kick Off the Show: Lainey Wilson’s Medley
For her first time hosting solo, Wilson stuck to what she knew best: serenading the crowd. Paying homage to modern country hits like Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and timeless classics like Lady A‘s “Need You Now,” the nine-time CMA winner brought out the best in the audience, dancing with Ella Langley, Gretchen Wilson and more. To top it all off, she stuck the landing with an electric duet featuring Keith Urban!
Oops, Zach Top Forgot to Set His Beer Down
Zach Top had his hands full while accepting his first-ever CMA Award, winning New Artist of the Year over Langley, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr. Onstage, he confessed he wasn’t sure if he had to put his can of beer down, but the 28-year-old singer shrugged it off. Taking a swig of his beer in one hand and holding the trophy in the other, he launched into a touching speech.
Worst Night to Have Worked on Your Beard
Sorry to anyone who spent a significant amount of time grooming their goatee tonight: For quite a few of the biggest stars walking the CMAs red carpet, it was all about a magnificent mustache.
Better Off Red: Kelsea Ballerini
On a night when her love life was going to be buzzed about (her ex-husband hit the red carpet with a new love, and her maybe-ex-boyfriend is being messy on the internet), Kelsea Ballerini proved looking good was the best revenge, showing up in three striking scarlet ensembles (one on the red carpet, one to perform and a third to sit in the audience).
Best Throwback Vibes: Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney gave the people what they wanted with a medley of two of his biggest hits, “American Kids” from 2014 and “When the Sun Goes Down” from 2004 — and judging by the audience’s enthusiastic response, the man is still delivering two decades worth of hits like it’s the first time he’s ever performed them.
Best Banjo Break: Steve Martin
Why is Steve Martin at the CMA Awards, confessing he’s slightly scared of the audience? The answer is that he and Alison Brown are promoting their new album Safe, Sensible and Sane, but honestly, we don’t need a reason — we’d be happy to see him show up and recite stock prices.
‘Worst Way’: Riley Green
The PEOPLE staff was fighting in Slack over who called dibs on Riley Green first after seeing his sultry performance of “Worst Way.” (And first, we’ll have to take on all the PEOPLE readers who voted him Sexiest Country Star last month.)
Best Case for a Dick Wolf Series Set in Nashville: Billy Bob Thornton and Lainey Wilson
This picture alone should launch Nashville P.D. immediately. We need these two cracking jokes in a squad car, stat!
Worst Night to Not Text a Picture of Your Outfit Before Leaving the House
Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert looked like two peas in a pod in their brown suits and embellished cowboy hats during their performance of “A Song to Sing,” while Leanne Morgan asked “Is it too much?” when taking the stage in a very similar ensemble to Lainey Wilson.
Best New Look: Lil Wayne
Has Lil Wayne ever worn a cowboy hat before? We’re glad he did tonight.
Best Country Couple: Vince Gill and Amy Grant
No doubt Vince Gill deserved his Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, but he was already the night’s biggest winner thanks to his date, wife of over 25 years Amy Grant. She looked emotional in the audience as he thanked her to close his speech, calling her “the kindest soul I’ve ever known.”
