If you needed any more evidence of country music's newfound prominence within mainstream culture, the 59th CMA Awards is a smoking gun. "Only Murders in the Building" star Steve Martin won't just be at the Bridgestone Arena — he'll be performing — alongside Grammy-winning banjoist Alison Brown, while Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus are hard-launching their relationship at country music's biggest night.
You can watch CMA Awards 2025 from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free.
The 2025 CMA Awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday, November 19.
► Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. GMT (Thu.) / 12 p.m. AEDT (Thu.)
• FREE STREAM — BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• U.S. — ABC via Sling TV / Fubo (next day on Hulu / Disney Plus Bundle)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
Host Lainey Wilson will also get backing from "Landman"'s Billy Bob Thornton, "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox"'s Grace Van Patten, Alan Ritchson, aka "Reacher" himself and, perhaps most discordant of all, suave, snake-hipped R&B star NE-YO.
She might need it too. Not only is the "4x4xU" singer anchoring the ceremony, but she's up for six awards besides, including the Country Music Association's flagship Entertainer of the Year prize. Wilson could also win the Female Vocalist award for the fourth year running, and become the most decorated female artist in CMA Awards history.
Chris Stapleton, meanwhile, could win a fifth consecutive Male Vocalist award, and Old Dominion are up for an eighth consecutive Vocal Group nod. Further highlights include collaborations between Miranda Lambert and Stapleton, Luke Combs and BigXthaPlug, and Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr., plus the debut performance of Kelsea Ballerini's “I Sit In Parks".
Here's how to watch CMA Awards live streams for free from anywhere. Scroll down for the full list of nominees and performances.
Watch CMA Awards live streams for FREE
Watch CMA Awards 2025 from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the ceremony on your usual service?
You can still watch CMA Awards 2025 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. but want to view your free BBC coverage, you'd select a U.K. server from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to BBC iPlayer and enjoy!
How to watch CMA Awards 2025 live streams in the U.S.
In the U.S., the 2025 CMA Awards are being shown on ABC, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, November 19.
ABC is a local broadcast network that can accessed with one of the best TV antennas or through a cable TV package.
If you've already cut the cord and don't have cable, you can watch ABC on a live TV service, like Sling, Fubo, Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV.
Alternatively, Hulu (30-day free trial) will let you stream the CMA Awards from Thursday, November 20.
Hulu starts at $11.99/month, but a Disney Plus bundle is more cost-efficient.
The Hulu and Disney Plus bundle starts at just $12.99/month, while the Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Select bundle starts at $19.99/month, and the Hulu, Disney Plus and Max bundle starts at $19.99/month.
If you're currently on holiday in the U.S. from the U.K., one of the best VPN services will help tap into your FREE home coverage of CMA Awards 2025. We recommend NordVPN.
How to watch CMA Awards 2025 live streams in Canada
In Canada, the CMA Awards are being shown on CTV2, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, November 19.
Select shows stream for FREE on CTV.ca for seven days, from the day after transmission.
Outside Canada when it takes place? Use a VPN to get around the geo-restrictions that will prevent CTV from working.
How to watch CMA Awards 2025 live streams in Australia
In Australia, the CMA Awards are available to live stream on Stan, at 12 p.m. AEDT on Thursday, November 20. Stan prices start from AU$12/month.
If you don't mind waiting for free CMA Awards coverage, a full replay will become available to stream on 9Now, at 2 p.m. AEDT on Sunday, December 14.
With NordVPN, Aussies abroad can can gain access to their usual streaming services from anywhere on the planet.
CMA Awards 2025 — Need to Know
CMA Awards performers 2025
- BigXthaPlug & Luke Combs — “Pray Hard”
- Brandi Carlile
- Chris Stapleton — “Bad As I Used To Be”
- Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
- Kelsea Ballerini — “I Sit In Parks”
- Kenny Chesney
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs — “Back in the Saddle”
- Megan Moroney — “6 Months Later”
- Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton — “A Song To Sing”
- Old Dominion — Medley of “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “One Man Band,” “Hotel Key” and “Snapback”
- Patty Loveless
- The Red Clay Strays — “People Hatin’”
- Riley Green — “Worst Way”
- Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr. — “Took A Walk”
- Stephen Wilson Jr. — “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King cover)
- Tucker Wetmore — “Wind Up Missin’ You”
- Zach Top — “Guitar”
- Alison Brown & Steve Martin
- Little Big Town
- Keith Urban
CMA Awards nominees 2025
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year
- Am I Okay? — Megan Moroney
- Cold Beer & Country Music — Zach Top
- F-1 Trillion — Post Malone
- I'm the Problem — Morgan Wallen
- Whirlwind — Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Morgan Wallen
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson
Vocal Group of the Year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Maddie & Tae
- The War and Treaty
Single of the Year
- "4x4xU" — Lainey Wilson
- "Ain't No Love In Oklahoma" — Luke Combs
- "Am I Okay?" — Megan Moroney
- "I Never Lie" — Zach Top
- "You Look Like You Love Me" — Ella Langley (ft. Riley Green)
Song of the Year
- "4x4xU" — Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
- "Am I Okay?" — Megan Moroney, Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird
- "I Never Lie" — Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top
- "Texas" — Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock, Lalo Guzman
- "You Look Like You Love Me" — Aaron Raitiere, Ella Langley, Riley Green
New Artist of the Year
- Ella Langley
- Shaboozey
- Zach Top
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
Musician of the Year
- Jenee Fleenor, fiddle
- Paul Franklin, steel guitar
- Brent Mason, guitar
- Rob McNelley, guitar
- Derek Wells, guitar
Music Video of the Year
- "Am I Okay?" — Megan Moroney
- "I'm Gonna Love You" — Cody Johnson (ft. Carrie Underwood)
- "Somewhere Over Laredo" — Lainey Wilson
- "Think I'm in Love with You" — Chris Stapleton
- "You Look Like You Love Me" — Ella Langley (ft. Riley Green)
Musical Event of the Year
- "Don't Mind If I Do" — Riley Green (ft. Ella Langley)
- "Hard Fought Hallelujah" — Brandon Lake (feat. Jelly Roll)
- "I'm Gonna Love You" — Cody Johnson (ft. Carrie Underwood)
- "Pour Me A Drink" — Post Malone (ft. Blake Shelton)
- "You Had To Be There" — Megan Moroney (ft. Kenny Chesney)
Where is the CMA Awards 2025 venue?
The 2025 CMA Awards are being staged at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Who is hosting CMA Awards 2025?
This year's CMA Awards are being hosted by 2023 Entertainer of the Year and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Lainey Wilson.
She'll be assisted by individual award presenters, who include Elizabeth Hurley, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Alan Ritchson, Steve Martin, NE-YO, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jordan Davis, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Ella Langley, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Lady A, Alison Brown and Jessica Capshaw.
Who are the CMA Awards 2025 judges?
The 2025 CMA Awards winners are decided by more than 7,000 "professional voting members" of the Country Music Association.
More from Tom's Guide
- How to watch 'Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge'
- How to watch 'Surviving Ohio State'
- How to watch 'Celebrity Traitors'
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
