Two Alabama Country Artists Shine Bright in 2025 CMA Award Nominations
The heart of country music may beat in Nashville, but this year, Alabama is adding some serious rhythm of its own. The Country Music Association (CMA) just unveiled nominations for its 59th annual awards, and two artists with Alabama roots are standing tall among the industry’s brightest stars.
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Ella Langley: From Hope Hull to Center Stage
Ella Langley, the breakout powerhouse from the small community of Hope Hull, is having a year to remember. Fresh off a brief hiatus for rest and recuperation, she roared back into the spotlight with an impressive six CMA nominations—tying with Megan Moroney and reigning superstar Lainey Wilson for the most nods of any artist.
Langley’s nominations include:
Single of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me”
Song of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me”
Music Video of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me”
Musical Event of the Year – duet with Riley Green on “Don’t Mind If I Do”
Female Vocalist of the Year
New Artist of the Year
It’s a meteoric rise for a singer who blends Alabama grit with Nashville polish. For fans, it feels like a long-overdue moment of recognition; for Langley, it’s proof that her mix of soulful honesty and powerhouse vocals has struck a national chord.
Riley Green: Jacksonville’s Own Keeps Climbing
Joining Langley in the spotlight is Riley Green, the Jacksonville native known for his down-home storytelling and rugged charm. Green earned four nominations, three of which he shared with Langley for “You Look Like You Love Me” (Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year). Their collaboration “Don’t Mind If I Do” is also in the running for Musical Event of the Year.
Together, Green and Langley have become a dynamic Alabama duo—proof that when you mix heartfelt lyrics with magnetic stage presence, magic happens.
Alabama’s Wider Footprint on the CMA Stage
The state’s influence doesn’t stop there:
Little Big Town, the beloved quartet that includes Jimi Westbrook of Sumiton (and other members who first crossed paths at Samford University), scored a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year.
Red Clay Strays, the fast-rising roots-rock group out of the Mobile area, also landed a spot in the Vocal Group of the Year category. Their nomination is a signal that Alabama’s music scene isn’t just producing stars, it's rewriting the soundscape of modern country.
Why This Matters
For Alabama, the 2025 CMA Awards are more than just a night of glitz and guitar strings. They represent the state’s deep and enduring connection to country music, a legacy that stretches from front-porch pickers to arena-filling performers.
Ella Langley and Riley Green’s nominations reflect the genre’s balance between honoring its roots and embracing fresh voices. And with groups like Red Clay Strays crashing onto the national stage, it’s clear Alabama’s musical heritage is alive, well, and evolving in surprising ways.
The CMA Awards air live on ABC on Nov. 19, when all eyes will turn to Nashville. But make no mistake Alabama will be well represented on that stage, carrying the spirit of its small towns and bayou backroads right into the heart of country music’s biggest night.
