The 2025 Country Music Association award nominations signal a significant moment for women in the genre, with Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Ella Langley each securing a leading six nominations. Their success follows Wilson’s 2022 breakout and marks a notable trend in an industry recently dominated by male artists like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.
However, the trio sees this achievement as a collective victory rather than just individual recognition.
“Including Ella, Megan and me, there’s a long line of showstopping ladies who have put everything into honing their craft and are lined up and ready to grab the world’s attention,” Wilson told The Tennessean. “Just like us, they’re all prepared to be recognized and noticed, too.”
This spirit of collaboration is evident on the road. Wilson is currently touring with Kaitlin Butts and has previously championed acts like Mae Estes and Meghan Patrick. Moroney has brought artists such as Maggie Antone and Carter Faith on her 2025 tour, while Langley has featured openers like Laci Kaye Booth and Meg McRee.
The powerful fan response to this new wave of talent is compelling the industry to take note. After a year of headlining and opening for Kenny Chesney, Moroney’s concerts are now backed by what she calls an “uproarious wall of sound.”
“The industry now has to pay attention,” Moroney said, describing her young, female-driven fanbase as an “obviously undeniable force.”
Looking ahead, the artists remain focused on their work. Four of Langley’s six nominations are for duets with Riley Green, and her 2024 album “hungover” established her as one of the genre’s most emotive songwriters. Instead of celebrating her nominations, she spent the day in the studio working on her next project, embodying a philosophy she shared in 2024.
“Sometimes, even though you shut your mouth and do the work required, it doesn’t work,” Langley said at the time. “That’s when you remember how much pursuing your dreams can humble you.”
Wilson, upon learning she had received 25 award nominations in the past four years, echoed a similar sentiment.
“I’ve finally got a seat at the table and am taking full advantage of it,” she said. “More than ever, I’m bound and determined to work hard, continuing to introduce myself to people as an artist with a look and a sound that people get and want to digest.”
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