Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The 2025 CMA Awards are set to air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Lainey Wilson is already preparing for her big night as host of the upcoming CMA Awards.
During an appearance on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the 33-year-old “Watermelon Moonshine” singer talked about making history as the first woman to host the show solo since Reba McEntire in 1991.
“I looked it up myself because I couldn’t believe it,” Wilson said. “I let Reba know I was doing this, and she was so excited. It’s been a long time since a woman’s done it on her own. I’m just glad they trust me — I love to talk, and I love country music.”
With only a few weeks left before the ceremony, the “Hang Tight Honey” artist will soon begin rehearsals — and she has just one request: that she’s allowed to keep her humor unfiltered.
Lainey Wilson is getting ready to take center stage as the solo host of the 2025 CMA Awards — and she already knows exactly how she wants the night to go.
During an appearance on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the 33-year-old “Watermelon Moonshine” singer talked about making history as the first woman to host the show alone since Reba McEntire in 1991.
“I looked it up too, and I was like, there’s no way,” Wilson said. “I let Reba know I was doing this, and she was so excited. It’s been a long time since a woman has done it solo. I’m glad they trust me — I love to talk, and I love country music.”
As she gears up for rehearsals in the coming weeks, Wilson has one main request: that her humor doesn’t get censored.
“If I can poke fun at people, hey, we good,” she joked. “I tried to get them to let me do it last year, and they were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa… that’s too far.’ But I go way back with these people. Let me make fun of Luke Combs, please.”
Last year, Wilson co-hosted the CMAs with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning — while in 2023, the pair handled hosting duties as a duo. She admitted she was surprised when producer Robert Deaton told her she’d be hosting alone this time.
“I have no clue how that happened, but I guess Luke ain’t mad at me, ’cause I’ve talked to him since,” she laughed. “Honestly, he was probably happy to have a year off. And Peyton too — they’ve been doing that for a while. Those guys are such genuine people, and I think they’re happy for me. I really do.”
When the Country Music Association announced on Sept. 30 that Wilson would return to host the 2025 show — this time solo — the “Out of Oklahoma” singer called the opportunity “a true honor.”
“I grew up watching the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl,” she said. “To be hosting for a second year is such an honor. I’m humbled that the CMA has trusted me with this role, and I can’t wait to celebrate this genre that’s given me so much.”
Wilson, who released her latest album Whirlwind in 2024 and dropped its deluxe edition this past August, heads into the show as one of the year’s top nominees — tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney, with six nods each.