The 59th CMA Awards Were Held on November 19
On Wednesday, November 19, country music’s biggest stars gathered in Nashville for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the 59th Annual CMA Awards. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Lainey Wilson, making her only the third woman in CMA history to host the show solo — a milestone moment for both her career and the genre.
The night featured unforgettable performances from Patty Loveless, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Zach Top, and many more. Ten awards were presented live during the broadcast, while Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year were announced prior to showtime.
But amid all the excitement, several high-profile artists were noticeably absent. Here’s a breakdown of who skipped the ceremony — and why.
Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen was nominated for three major categories this year: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (I’m The Problem), and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Despite being one of the most nominated artists of the evening, Wallen did not attend. Recently, he made a rare appearance at the Ryman Auditorium, joining tourmate Ella Langley for a long-requested duet of “Cover Me Up.”
During that surprise appearance, he joked:
“It takes a lot more than an awards show to get me out to Broadway these days.”
Blake Shelton
Shelton earned — and won — Musical Event of the Year for “Pour Me A Drink,” his collaboration with Post Malone.
His track “Texas” was also up for Song of the Year, sparking speculation that he might appear at the ceremony. However, a source told E! News that Blake and Gwen Stefani opted to watch the show from home.
Gary LeVox
Rascal Flatts was nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, but only two members attended. Lead singer Gary LeVox shared a heartfelt update on Instagram explaining why he missed the event:
“I wish I could be there at the CMA’s tonight, but I have a family matter that needs my attention… I will see you guys soon. God Bless.”
Luke Bryan
While Luke Bryan wasn’t nominated this year, he hosted the CMAs for three consecutive years (2022–2024), most recently with Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson.
During the broadcast, Wilson revealed that both previous co-hosts texted her before the show. Peyton Manning wished her luck — while Luke Bryan jokingly wrote:
“Lainey, what time is the show?”
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll, a recent CMA Awards favorite, was nominated this year for Musical Event of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake.
Although Lake attended, Jelly Roll did not. He recently wrapped a tour in Australia and spoke openly about how isolating the experience was. It appears he chose to rest at home while watching the show from his couch.
Post Malone
Post Malone was nominated for both Album of the Year and Musical Event of the Year. While he lost Album of the Year to Lainey Wilson, he did win Musical Event of the Year.
Even so, Post did not attend the ceremony, and the CMA shared his win on-air without an acceptance speech.
Who Else Missed the Show?
With so many big names skipping this year’s event, fans were left wondering who else chose to stay home. Were you surprised by any of these absences? Let us know in the comments!