How to Watch, Stream, and What to Expect

The 59th Annual CMA Awards air tonight, Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 8 pm ETlive from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show will broadcast on ABCwith next-day streaming available on Hulu for anyone who wants to catch the biggest wins, speeches and performances after the fact. With country music in one of its strongest commercial eras in decades, this year’s ceremony is expected to draw one of the genre’s largest global audiences yet.

The CMAs are arriving at a moment when country is expanding faster than Nashville’s traditional playbook can keep up. Streaming has pushed the genre far outside the South, breakout stars are finding fame on TikTok before radio, and crossover acts continue to blend country with pop, soul and Americana. The 59th ceremony is shaping up to be a snapshot of that entire evolution.

How To Watch Or Stream The 2025 CMA Awards

The live broadcast begins at 8 pm ET on ABC. Viewers can tune in through any standard cable package, digital TV provider or live-TV streaming bundle that includes ABC, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. For fans outside the US, international streaming availability varies by regionbut local affiliates or network apps typically provide access.

Hulu remains the exclusive next-day streaming home for the CMA Awards. The full show will be available to stream on Thursday morningallowing fans to re-watch performances, acceptance speeches, red-carpet arrivals and any viral moments that dominated social media during the broadcast. For cord-cutters, this window is key. Award shows have struggled to maintain live viewership, but the CMAs continue to perform strongly in streaming thanks to high-profile performances and the genre’s growing international reach.

Presenters, Performers & What To Expect

Host Lainey Wilson returns for the second year, anchoring the show from the Bridgestone Arena stage. Performers announced so far include Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tucker Wetmore, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Little Big Town and Keith Urban. Presenters and special guests span a wide cultural cross-section: Billy Ray Cyrus, Elizabeth HurleyLady A, Jessica Capshaw, Lauren Daigle, Steve Martin, LeAnn RimesNe-Yo, Chris O’Donnell, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer and Bert Kreischer, among others. Vince Gill will be honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the show.

This year’s CMAs feature several marquee categories stacked with heavy hitters. Entertainer of the Year includes Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson. Album of the Year features Post Malone’s F-1 TrillionMorgan Wallen’s I’m the ProblemLainey Wilson’s WhirlwindZach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music and Megan Moroney’s Am I OK? Performances are expected to be one of the night’s biggest draws. With country music’s streaming and international boom, this year’s lineup is expected to reflect that expanded audience and blur the lines between genres. Nashville’s old gatekeeping systems are cracking, and the CMAs are one of the few places where the past and future collide live on stage. Whether you’re tuned in for the showmanship, the speeches or the inevitable viral moments, the 2025 CMA Awards are the clearest window into a genre that refuses to stay in one lane.

10 Major Nominee Categories For The 59th Annual CMA Awards