The Aldean’s skipped the 2025 CMA Awards, and Brittany’s reply to a fan asking why was short — and telling. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: November 2025
Vince Gill’s emotional moment at the CMA Awards was truly unforgettable, especially when a country legend joined him on stage. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
“Thank you Jesus. Thank you Mama, Daddy and Duck,” she said wearing camouflage bellbottoms. “I could not do this without my village.” Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Almost every performance from the 2025 CMA Awards is right here. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The rising country star didn’t bring a red carpet date to the CMAs, but his seatmate during the show has fans asking questions. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Zach Top served up a healthy dose of classic country music with a performance of his song “Guitar” during the 59th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday.
The breakout star fittingly appeared on a guitar-shaped stage dressed in a sleek suit to deliver a rousing performance, marking his debut on the award show. He showcased his true star power while letting his warm vocals tackle the traditional country storytelling tune with modern production. It features twangy riffs and a steady driving beat, capturing the power of music.
The day before the CMA Awards, Zach Top spoke with Country Now, teasing what fans could expect from his first-ever performance at the show, and it comes as no surprise that he planned to bring authentic country music to the stage.
When asked what viewers could expect, he kept it simple: “Country music, baby!”
Top’s song “Guitar” is featured on his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health. Co-written with Tim Nichols and Carson Chamberlain, the track is a personal story that Top hopes will introduce him to fans who may not be familiar with his music yet.
“I’m excited. [It’s] uptempo, fun. I feel like it’ll be a nice introduction to any folks who haven’t heard me before either,” Top shared. “The song is kind of biographical to me, almost. And yeah, it is country music. If you love it, great. And if you don’t, I’m sorry, it’s probably not going to get any different.”
Top earned five nominations, including Album of the year (Cold Beer & Country Music), Male Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”) and Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”).
“It’s wild,” Top admitted of his five nominations. “I think I still have sort of the mindset of the underground, under the radar, up and comer, so…it’s strange to be up for all the awards, but I’m very thankful, obviously. It is cool whenever other folks in your business feel like you’ve been doing a good job and want to pat you on the back and say, ‘good job.’ So I’m really, really proud to just be nominated for all them things.”
Following his performance, the country act returned to the stage to collect his win for New Artist of the Year. With his beer in hand, Top offered a heartfelt speech in which he reflected on the milestone moment and made sure to thank his family, members of the industry that have been with him since day one, his road crew and more.
“I’m so thankful to be included in a category with a bunch of other great artists that have had phenomenal years. Thankful to be here. This is my first CMA win ever, so it’s a big deal to me, and I got a long list of people to thank. My father in heaven, for giving me the gift of being able to sing and play, first of all, my mother and father for realizing that I was never going to be a professional cowboy or a baseball player, so maybe the closest I could get was to sing about cowboys….It’s been a hell of last couple of years, so, so thankful and ready to celebrate on that. Thank you all very much.”
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 59th Annual CMA Awards took place live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The night also featured performances from Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Collaborative performances included Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert.
Presenters and special guests appearing throughout the evening included Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman.
The full broadcast is available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
The post Zach Top Delivers Memorable Performance of ‘Guitar’ at CMA Awards, Snags New Artist of the Year Win appeared first on Country Now.
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Luke Combs and his wife Nicole highlighted her growing baby bump on the CMA Awards red carpet.
Styled by Katy Robbins, Luke Combs hit the CMA Awards red carpet in an Eric Adler custom suit with a Brackish pocket square and M.L. Leddy’s boots, while Nicole stunned in a Carolina Herrera gown paired with Alexis Bittar jewelry, an Elizabeth Cole bracelet, an Alexander McQueen clutch, and Alaia heels. The couple radiated excitement and style as they celebrated the night and their growing family.
In late September, the pair shared the news that they’re expecting their third child using an adorable Instagram video.
Sitting on the grass with their sons’ backs to the camera, Nicole unveiled the ultrasound she had been keeping secret, while their two boys, Tex Lawrence, 3, and Beau Lee, 2 raised their hands in excitement at the news of their new sibling. A follow-up clip gave a closer look at the ultrasound as the soon-to-be family of five held hands and walked away from the camera.
Their caption read: “Third time’s a charm! ✨ Baby #3 coming this winter 🤍”
Fans had been speculating whether the couple is hoping for a little girl, however in a recent Instagram Q&A, Nicole revealed they will be happy with “any and all lil nuggets.”
She also shared that this time around, they won’t be finding out the gender until the birth.
Prior to building a family together, Luke and Nicole both worked in the music industry, with the North Carolina native pursuing his artist dreams while she was an employee at BMI. They first met during the 2016 Key West Songwriters Festival in Florida, where Nicole was hosting and Luke was performing.
They started dating not long after and officially tied the knot on August 1, 2020.
They welcomed their first son Tex Lawrence on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, 2022. The following year, on August 15, Nicole gave birth to their second son, Beau Lee Combs.
As he prepares to become a father of three, the “Fast Car” singer and his wife got to enjoy a star-studded date night in Nashville. Combs went into the night nominated in the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year (“Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma”).
Additionally, he opened the show with a fiery performance of his latest single “Back In The Saddle.”
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 59th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The show also featured performances by Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Additionally, Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert brought exciting collaborative performances to the CMA Awards stage.
Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman all appeared during the show.
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will be available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
The post Luke Combs and Nicole Stun on CMA Awards Red Carpet as They Celebrate Their Growing Family appeared first on Country Now.
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Ella Langley delivered on her promise to bring a “true to the song” performance of her latest hit single, “Choosin’ Texas,” to the CMA Awards stage on Wednesday night.
Surrounded by giant sparkling stars, Langley commanded the stage with her signature energy and heartfelt delivery as a couple two-stepped on the stage in front of her.
The Alabama native co-wrote the track alongside Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor. Langley and Lambert also co-produced the song with Ben West, and Lambert can be heard providing background vocals throughout the track.
Upon impact at country radio, “Choosin’ Texas” received adds at 130 first-week stations, making it the third largest add week for a solo female release this decade.
Heading into the CMA Awards, Langley was tied as the most-nominated artist alongside Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson, each earning six nods this year. Langley’s nominations included Single of the Year (“You Look Like You Love Me”), Song of the Year (“You Look Like You Love Me”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do”), Music Video of the Year (“You Look Like You Love Me”), and New Artist of the Year.
Ahead of the big night, Langley told Country Now that being among the most-nominated artists was “nuts.”
She explained, “People will keep asking me this question and it’s just like, yeah, I think at some point this job, so many cool things happen to you in a row and you’re just on a cloud nine type of thing. So usually, stuff like that sinks in a couple days after it happens.”
On the morning of the CMA Awards, Langley was already celebrating, having secured a win in the Music Video of the Year category for “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 59th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The show also featured performances by Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Additionally, Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert brought exciting collaborative performances to the CMA Awards stage.
Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman all appeared during the show.
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will be available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
The post Ella Langley Delivers Show-Stopping Performance of ‘Choosin’ Texas’ at CMA Awards appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Riley Green brought the heat to the CMA Awards on Wednesday with a performance of his chart-topping hit, “Worst Way.”
Over the summer, “Worst Way” became Green’s fifth career No. 1 and made history in the process. It’s only the second song solely written by the performing artist to reach the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart since 2012, making Green just the sixth solo artist in the past two decades to achieve the feat.
Backstage at the CMA Awards, Green told Country Now that the night was “going to be great.” He also joked about his steamy “Worst Way” music video, saying there were no plans to recreate the sexy visuals live on stage.
“I mean, it would be hard to top that one… my mom’s gonna watch,” he laughed, referencing the sultry scenes from the video.
As a longtime CMA Awards fan, Green said he couldn’t be more grateful to not only have a seat at the table but also to earn nominations and a performance slot.
“I mean, it’s something you grew up watching, and still being just a big fan of country music, it’s such a cool thing to be able to go to these award shows, be nominated, and get to perform…” he told Country Now.
Green raked in four CMA Award nominations this year. The country superstar, along with fellow Alabama native Ella Langley, was nominated for for Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year for their hit collaboration “You Look Like You Love Me.” The pair was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t Mind If I Do.”
On the morning of the CMA Awards, Green was already celebrating, having secured a win in the Music Video of the Year category for “You Look Like You Love Me” with Ella Langley.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 59th Annual CMA Awards took place live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The night also featured performances from Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Collaborative performances included Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert.
Presenters and special guests appearing throughout the evening included Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman.
The full broadcast is available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
The post Riley Green Delivers Sexy ‘Worst Way’ Performance at CMA Awards appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Lainey Wilson left her mark on the 59th Annual CMA Awards. Not only did she hold down her solo hosting duties like a pro, but she also delivered some of the night’s biggest moments on stage.
She started out the night by delivering an explosive, star-studded medley that paid tribute to the legends, trailblazers, and friends who’ve shaped the country music genre. The performance opened with “White Horse” (Chris Stapleton) with Charlie Worsham, fired up “Hillbilly Deluxe” by Brooks & Dunn and continued with “you look like you love me” (Ella Langley & Riley Green), “Redneck Woman” (Gretchen Wilson), “Need You Now” (Lady A), and “Gunpowder and Lead” (Miranda Lambert).
From there, she kept the energy high with Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman,” delivered the emotion of Lady A’s “Need You Now,” and brought the fire on Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder & Lead.” She also tipped her hat to the chart-topping hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, lent her vocals to “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town, and concluded with “Where the Blacktop Ends” featuring an appearance from Keith Urban.
Throughout the performance, Wilson made her way around the venue, interacting with fellow artists and making it a full-participation celebration of country music. Later in the night, she brought her signature sass with a performance of “Ring Finger.”
The evening concluded on a high note as Lainey Wilson earned Entertainer of the Year, presented by Keith Urban. This win made her the third woman in CMA history to win Entertainer of the Year twice, having previously claimed the honor in 2024. She joins Taylor Swift and Barbara Mandrell in this elite group, cementing her as a trailblazer for women in the genre.
Wilson also took home Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for her Whirlwind project, capping off a historic CMA Awards.
The 59th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The show also featured performances by Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Additionally, Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert brought exciting collaborative performances to the CMA Awards stage.
Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman all appeared during the show.
The 59th Annual CMA Awards will be available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
The post WATCH: Lainey Wilson Takes Center Stage at CMA Awards With Star-Studded Medley appeared first on Country Now.
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