Fans Say Lainey Wilson Delivered the “Best Intro Ever” at the 2025 CMA Awards

Lainey Wilson didn’t just open the 2025 CMA Awards — she ignited them. What could have been a typical awards-show monologue turned into one of the most electric, talked-about openings in CMA history, with fans calling it the “best intro ever.”

Hosting live from a sold-out Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 19, Lainey stepped into the spotlight solo this year. Last year she shared hosting duties with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning — but in 2025, she proved one powerhouse woman was more than enough to carry the entire show.

A Mashup That Blew the Roof Off Nashville

Instead of jokes or speeches, Lainey kicked off the CMAs her own way — with music.

She launched into Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse,” the cameras catching Chris smiling wide from his seat as she belted out the opening lines. Seconds later, she was in the crowd beside Brooks & Dunn, firing up the arena with “Hillbilly Deluxe.”

And that was just the beginning.

What followed was a rapid-fire mashup of nine iconic country hits, blending generations of country music into one seamless, high-energy opening performance. The audience was on its feet. Artists jumped in on the fun. And fans watching at home couldn’t get enough:

• “First 15 minutes were the best part of the entire show.”

• “She’s such a great host!”

• “I’ve watched this intro over and over.”

• “Best CMA intro ever — hands down.”

Even the artists whose songs she showcased couldn’t resist joining her: Miranda Lambert jumped up with a playful dance, and Keith Urban grabbed a guitar to jam along.

Lainey’s Full Intro Song List:

• “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton

• “Hillbilly Deluxe” – Brooks & Dunn

• “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green

• “Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson

• “Need You Now” – Lady A

• “Gunpowder & Lead” – Miranda Lambert

• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey

• “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town

• “Where the Blacktop Ends” – Keith Urban

It was bold. It was unexpected. It was Lainey Wilson at her absolute best.

A Night of Big Wins

The show didn’t just start strong — it ended with Lainey reaching the highest point of her career.

By the end of the three-hour broadcast, she had earned:

• Entertainer of the Year

• Female Vocalist of the Year

• Album of the Year for Whirlwind

Winning Entertainer of the Year for the second time put her in rare company — and solidified her status as one of modern country music’s defining stars.

Watch her opening show with madley of nine hits.

A Meteoric Rise — And Still Climbing

They say it takes a decade to break through in Nashville, but Lainey Wilson has moved with the speed of a runaway train.

Since signing her record deal in 2018, she has:

• Released three critically acclaimed albums

• Earned multiple No. 1 radio hits

• Landed a role on Yellowstone

• Won Entertainer of the Year twice

• Hosted the CMA Awards so well that she was invited to do it alone

And somehow, she’s doing all of this while planning her wedding to fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges.

A Host, A Star, A Force

Lainey Wilson didn’t just open the CMAs — she set a new standard.
Her intro was a celebration of country music’s past, present, and future… and a reminder that she has become one of the brightest lights in the genre.

Fans aren’t just calling it the best intro ever —
they’re calling it the moment Lainey Wilson officially stepped into her legendary era.