Down to the Honkytonk Hall of Fame: The 2025 Country Music Awards

Danny Griffin

Opinion Editor

As the clocks turn back and the sun begins to set early, on November 19th there will be a lasting hope of another summer past. The 59th Country Music Awards, taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, will have everyone on watch this year. With so many big name artists up for nomination, from Morgan Wallen to Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney, this is a time to celebrate all the good that came this past year. Top to bottom with so many new names, personalities, and identities, country music being showcased on this platform will have all Americans watching, eager to see who will win its major awards. 

It is fortunate to have some of the best talent seen in decades in the country world, with 12 awards to be decided in just one evening, no artist is guaranteed to win. In the past with sweeps taking place from A-List artists like Morgan Wallen running the table, all will be excited to see this historical lineup be celebrated unlike any other. 

Leading off the night with the Entertainer of the Year, this category may take home the cake for most debatable of the awards. Featuring country giants like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, who both packed stadiums night after night in their Summer 2025 tours, while Combs did not drop an album in 2025, his riveting lyrics truly hit home for fans across the United States. Just like Morgan Wallen as well, who dropped his “I’m the Problem” album in May, this switch from more energetic country music to a somber and slower vibe truly captured the hearts like no other artist has done in recent years. As well with artists like Cody Johnson known for songs like “Diamond in My Pocket” and “The Painter,” Christ Stapleton with “Parachute” and “Traveler,” and Lainey Wilson’s classic “Watermelon Moonshine,” each of these artists unique flare will make them a viable candidate for the crown. 

Additionally, with the next major awards being Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year, these three dive deeper into the nitty gritty of what country music has had to offer. Combining old with the new including a country music rookie Post Malone and his album, “F-1 Trillion,” Zach Top and his, “Cold Beer & Country Music,” and “Am I Okay?” by Megan Moroney, these new faces on the scene will definitely make for an interesting conversation come Wednesday. Going down the list with other names like Miranda Lambert and Ella Langley, it has truly been a blessing to witness all these top notch artists in the same playing field at the time. Each with their own blend of country, combining unique instruments, stories, and backgrounds to get their message across, it’ll be a very exciting night to see who takes home gold. 

The Country Music Awards showcasing such great amounts of talent will be a very exciting watch. With a mission to put the music industry on watch, Country Music is receiving a buzz unlike any music critic could expect, and will continue come showtime Wednesday. So make sure you get a comfy spot on your couch with some friends to tune in, witnessing some of the best music and artists the genre has ever had to offer.