The 59th CMA Awards Were Held on November 19

9 Country Stars Who Skipped the 2025 CMA Awards

On Wednesday, November 19, country music’s biggest stars gathered in Nashville for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the 59th Annual CMA Awards. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Lainey Wilson, making her only the third woman in CMA history to host the show solo — a milestone moment for both her career and the genre.

The night featured unforgettable performances from Patty Loveless, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Zach Top, and many more. Ten awards were presented live during the broadcast, while Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year were announced prior to showtime.

But amid all the excitement, several high-profile artists were noticeably absent. Here’s a breakdown of who skipped the ceremony — and why.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen was nominated for three major categories this year: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (I’m The Problem), and Male Vocalist of the Year.

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Despite being one of the most nominated artists of the evening, Wallen did not attend. Recently, he made a rare appearance at the  Ryman Auditorium, joining tourmate Ella Langley for a long-requested duet of “Cover Me Up.”

During that surprise appearance, he joked:

“It takes a lot more than an awards show to get me out to Broadway these days.”

Blake Shelton

Shelton earned — and won — Musical Event of the Year for “Pour Me A Drink,” his collaboration with Post Malone.

His track “Texas” was also up for Song of the Year, sparking speculation that he might appear at the ceremony. However, a source told E! News that Blake and Gwen Stefani opted to watch the show from home.

Gary LeVox

Rascal Flatts was nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, but only two members attended. Lead singer Gary LeVox shared a heartfelt update on Instagram explaining why he missed the event:

“I wish I could be there at the CMA’s tonight, but I have a family matter that needs my attention… I will see you guys soon. God Bless

.”

Luke Bryan

While Luke Bryan wasn’t nominated this year, he hosted the CMAs for three consecutive years (2022–2024), most recently with Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson.

During the broadcast, Wilson revealed that both previous co-hosts texted her before the show. Peyton Manning wished her luck — while Luke Bryan jokingly wrote:

“Lainey, what time is the show?”

Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll, a recent CMA Awards favorite, was nominated this year for Musical Event of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake.

Although Lake attended, Jelly Roll did not. He recently wrapped a tour in Australia and spoke openly about how isolating the experience was. It appears he chose to rest at home while watching the show from his couch.