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Lainey Wilson Says She Has Big Shoes To Fill Being The First Woman To Solo-Host The CMA Awards In 34 Years
Following in the footsteps of two other legendary women.
The CMA Awards are right around the corner, and the anticipation is growing to see which artists walk away with awards. With names like Stephen Wilson Jr., Zach Top, Ella Langley, the Red Clay Strays, and more all up for receiving awards, along with performances from Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Megan Moroney, and more, it should be a great night filled with incredible talent.
On top of that, one of the most famous women in country music at this moment, Lainey Wilson, is set to solo-host the awards program. In September, the CMA Awards announced that the previous Entertainer of the Year winner (2023) would return to host the show, which she previously co-hosted with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
The CMA Awards reverted to a one-host model this year, which I think is the right move because it doesn’t really require three hosts, and Lainey certainly has the personality and experience to do it on her own.
The bell-bottom queen is ready, are y'all? @LaineyWilson returns to host "The 59th Annual #CMAawards" LIVE November 19 on @ABCNetwork and stream next day on @Hulu! pic.twitter.com/WtnRaKKg57
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) September 30, 2025
Lainey Wilson is also leading the pack alongside Megan Moroney and Ella Langley for the most nominations, with all three women receiving a staggering six nominations across the 12 major categories. So, Wilson is in for an epic night of hosting and (hopefully) winning.
But Wilson is under added pressure ahead of the CMA Awards, as she’s the first woman to solo-host the show in over 3 decades.
Yes, you read that right: a woman has not solo-hosted the CMA Awards since 1991. Reba McEntire was the last woman to solo-host the awards show in 1991, hosting herself in year two of her three-year stint. In the other two years, Reba handled hosting duties; she was joined by Randy Travis in 1990 and by Vince Gill in 1992.
And prior to Reba McEntire solo-hosting the CMA Awards, she was preceded by only one woman: The one and only Dolly Parton. The “9 to 5” singer made country music history when she became the first woman to host the CMA Awards on her own in 1988.
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Given that Lainey Wilson is getting invited into this exclusive group of women to solo-host the CMA Awards, she feels the pressure to perform.
During a recent press conference, Wilson shared that she has big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of these two legendary women.
“It’s a big deal. I mean, I’ve got some big ole shoes to fill. So I don’t take it lightly.”
Wilson shares that it’s “wild” for her to be only the third woman in country music history to host the CMA Awards, and noted that she reached out to Reba to see if she could give her any pointers before she’s under the spotlight on November 19.
“I texted Reba last night and I said, ‘If you had one piece of advice to give me going into this week, what would it be?’ And I thought she was just going to say something like, ‘Just be yourself and have fun.’ She sent me a list. I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, one piece of advice!’
But yeah, like I said, I got some really big shoes to fill and I just feel so honored, so thank y’all for letting me run my mouth and celebrate country music.”
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Big shoes to fill indeed, but I am certain that the “Hang Tight Honey” singer will blow it out of the water. She’s a natural-born entertainer and brings her A-game to the stage every night, so I am sure it will be no different for her hosting duties.
I hope the CMA Awards let her poke fun at some of her friends in the crowd… that will make for one helluva awards show.The post Lainey Wilson Says She Has Big Shoes To Fill Being The First Woman To Solo-Host The CMA Awards In 34 Years first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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