NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Lainey Wilson accepts the Female Vocalist of the Year Award onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
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Nashville is gearing up for a major night of music. The 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards will celebrate the year’s achievements in country music, live from the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Nine-time CMA winner Lainey Wilson is hosting the ceremony. This summer, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched an exhibit, Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails, honoring the 33-year-old singer. In May, she captured her second consecutive Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year award.
Wilson made her CMA Awards hosting debut last year alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. But this time around, the Louisiana native will be MCing solo, becoming the third woman to host the awards on her own, following the iconic Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
“I remember being a little girl and just sitting in front of the TV just waiting for the CMA Awards to come on,” Wilson said in a statement per ABC. “It was like Super Bowl at my house.”
The biggest categories of the night include Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Female and Male Vocalist of the Year. Leading the pack with six nominations each are Wilson, Ella Langley, and Megan Moroney. They’re followed by Zach Top with five nods, while Riley Green and Cody Johnson earned four apiece.
This year’s performer lineup also spans country legends and rising stars alike, with Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney sharing the stage alongside Moroney and Shaboozey. Additional performers include Langley, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, BigXthaPlug, Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, The Red Clay Strays, Shaboozey, Chris Stapleton and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2025 CMA Awards, including how to catch the star-studded ceremony and red carpet live on cable and streaming.
What Time Do The CMA Awards 2025 Start?
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Keith Urban and Luke Combs attend the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA)
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The CMA Awards 2025 will begin at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov. 19, on ABC.
What Time Is the CMA Awards Red Carpet Coverage?
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Kacey Musgraves attends the 2024 CMA Awards at Music City Center on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
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The official CMAs red carpet, “On the Red Carpet at the CMA Awards,” will begin at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. You can stream the red carpet coverage on the On The Red Carpet, the CMA Awards’ website, On The Red Carpet’s YouTube page and on Hulu.
How To Watch The CMA Awards 2025 On Cable
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Megan Moroney, Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO attend the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA)
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The 2025 CMA Awards will broadcast on ABC. Viewers without cable can stream the ceremony through live TV streaming services that carry ABC, including DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and YouTube TV. (YouTube TV now carries ABC again after reaching a new deal with Disney on Nov. 14.)
How To Watch The CMA Awards 2025 On Streaming
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Shaboozey performs onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
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The 2025 CMA Awards will also stream on Hulu the day after the ceremony airs (Thursday, Nov. 20).
Hulu offers multiple plans, from ad-free Hulu Premium to bundles with Disney+, HBO Max and ESPN. Visit the streaming service’s website to find the subscription that’s right for you.
How To Watch The CMA Awards 2025 For Free
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 20: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Luke Bryan performs onstage during The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
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To watch the CMAs live for free, several live TV streaming services that carry ABC currently offer free trials and limited-time discounts. For example, DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, Hulu + Live TV provides a three-day free trial, and Fubo offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
If you’re okay with waiting until the next day, the full show will be available to stream on Hulu. Hulu also offers a 30-day free trial for new and eligible returning customers.