Here Were The Best 5 Performances at the 2025 CMA Awards

The biggest night in country music occurred last night at the 59th CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the night featured all of country biggest artists. As with any CMA Awards show, there was a stacked lineup of performers. Let's take a look at the top 5 performances from the night:

5. Riley Green - Worst Way

Riley Green performance of “Worst Way" had just a few of the girls looking. The #1 hit song performance had a intro guitar lick and strong cowboy delivery from Riley. Riley also took home a few awards for his collaboration with Ella Langley on “You Look Like You Love Me.”

4. Kelsea Ballerini - I Sit In Parks

Kelsea Ballerini delivered a emotional performance of her new song “I Sit in Parks."  She didn’t just sing, but she invited the audience to take a breathe and listen to every word. The staging was simple by powerful, with warm lights and a park-bench setup that framed her storytelling. Toward the end of the song, it started raining on the park swing and Kelsea stood there delivering a powerful vocal.

3. Red Clay Strays

The Red Clay Strays brought pure energy and authenticity to the 2025 CMA Awards, delivering one of the most refreshing performances of the night. They sang their track "People Hatin." and with their southern-rock infused sound and killer lead vocals, it showed how good the band is live.

2. Lainey Wilson 

Truly a triple threat. Wilson hosted the evening, performed a dynamic medley and original song, and walked away with major awards. She took home Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Whirlwind. It was clear why she was Entertainer of the Year with this performance of "Ring Finger" - sassy, classy, and full of energy. Detailed choreography matched with strong vocals, this was a standout performance of the evening. 

1. Stephen Wilson Jr - Stand By Me

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s CMA performance and rendition of “Stand By Me” was more than a song: it was a moment. In his interview ahead of the show, he revealed that “Stand By Me” has haunted him since childhood. After Stephen’s father’s death he began singing it at home, transforming it “from a haunting tune into more of a hymn.”

This was a song that we all needed to hear last night. The new artist of the year nominee performed acoustically with his self built guitar. In a night of big productions and flashy collaborations, the quiet, raw moment stood out. Everyone in the crowd at Bridgestone had their phone flights in the air but stood silent as Wilson Jr delivered one of the strongest vocals of the evening. Country music often recognizes toughness and resilience while this performance flipped the script: vulnerability, reflection, and intimacy.

Wilson Jr’s talent speaks for itself but this was the first time he was able to showcase his abilities on a platform as big as the CMAs. Many other nominees and award winners in the crowd applauded Wilson Jr’s delivery. There was an energy and reaction much like Stapleton’s breakout performance at the 2015 CMA Awards. A decade later, another star in the making.