Lainey Wilson Makes History as a Solo CMA Awards Host
Lainey Wilson became only the third woman in CMA Awards history to host the show on her own during Wednesday night’s 59th annual ceremony. And fittingly, it turned into Lainey Wilson Night at Bridgestone Arena.
The “4x4xU” singer didn’t just host — she dominated the evening with wins for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year.
After co-hosting the 2024 ceremony with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, Wilson stepped into the spotlight solo for 2025 — the first woman to do so in 34 years, following only Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
A High-Pressure Night — And Lainey Delivered
During her opening monologue, Wilson paid tribute to her tiny hometown of Baskin, Louisiana.
“Ever since I was a little girl, country music has been a huge part of my world. It was more than a genre — it’s a way of life,” she shared, adding that hosting the CMAs made “little Lainey” beam with pride.
She then welcomed Charlie Worsham to the stage to accompany her on guitar — kicking off one of the most entertaining CMA openings in recent memory.
Lainey’s Hit-Packed Opening Medley
Wilson launched into a crowd-walking medley of country favorites, starting with:
Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse”
Brooks & Dunn’s “Hillbilly Deluxe”
The performance quickly turned interactive as she moved into the audience, stopping in front of fellow artists to sing their songs directly to them.
Highlights included:
Singing “u look like u love me” right to Ella Langley
Belting Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman”
Crooning Lady A’s “Need You Now” in front of the band themselves
Teaming up with Miranda Lambert for “Gunpowder & Lead”
The medley rolled on with:
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”, with the group stepping in to join her
And then — the surprise of the night.
Keith Urban Crashes the Stage
The crowd erupted when Keith Urban suddenly sprinted onstage, guitar in hand, to join Wilson for a duet of his 1999 hit “Where the Blacktop Ends.”
The unexpected cameo brought the arena to its feet and capped off what many are calling one of the best CMA openings in years.