- Morgan Wallen is nominated for “Entertainer of the Year” and more.
- Morgan Wallen will not perform at the 2025 CMA Awards.
The biggest night in Country Music is happening this week.
The 59th Country Music Association Awards will take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Several Knoxville-native stars are nominated for CMA Awards including Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney and Kelsea Ballerini.
Last year, Wallen won big, receiving the 2024 Entertainer of the Year award. The “I’m The Problem” singer is once again up for the top award. Will he be in Nashville to accept it in person?
Here’s what to know about Wallen’s CMA history and current nominations.
Will Morgan Wallen be at the CMA Awards?
Last year, Morgan Wallen did not show in person to accept his Entertainer of the Year award. Will the Knoxville-native be at the award show this year?
The singer has not posted any indication as to whether he’ll show at the award ceremony as of Nov. 18.
Wallen does have a rocky history with the CMA Awards. He was deemed ineligible for solo awards ― like Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year ― by the CMAs in 2021 after being caught on camera using racial slurs. He was also barred from awards at ACM and CMT award shows for the same incident.
However, the ineligibility did not linger. He was nominated for awards again in 2022.
Will Morgan Wallen perform at the CMA Awards?
No. Wallen is not scheduled to perform at the CMA Awards.
What CMA Awards is Morgan Wallen nominated for?
Wallen is nominated for several other awards this year, following the release of his album “I’m The Problem” in May 2025. The singer was nominated in the following categories:
- Entertainer of the Year
- Album of the Year: “I’m The Problem”
- Male Vocalist of the Year
Which Tennesseans have won Entertainer of the Year?
Wallen is one of the few Tennessee-natives who have claimed the prestigious Entertainer of the Year title. Three of the four native Tennesseans to win are from cities in East Tennessee.
- Eddy Arnold, 1967 winner. Arnold is a native of Henderson, Tennessee.
- Dolly Parton, 1978 winner. Parton is from Locust Ridge, Tennessee.
- Kenny Chesney, four-time winner in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Chesney is from Luttrell, Tennessee.
- Morgan Wallen, 2024 winner. Wallen is a native of Sneedville, Tennessee.
Where is Morgan Wallen from?
Wallen is originally from Sneedville, a small town in East Tennessee with a population of less than 1,300 people, according to recent census data. Sneedville is about 70 miles northeast of Knoxville.
Wallen later moved to Knox County and he graduated from Gibbs High School.
When are the CMA Awards?
The CMA Awards will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 19.
How to watch the CMA Awards
If you’re not going to be at Bridgestone Arena in person, that’s okay! You don’t have to miss out on any of the action.
Fans can watch the CMA Awards live on ABC, or viewers can stream the award show on Hulu the following day, Nov. 20, according to the Country Music Association.
Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: [email protected]
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