BigXthaPlug And Shaboozey Will Be Part Of The High-Profile Performance Lineup For The 2025 CMA Awards

The 2025 CMA Awards already appear to be shaping up positively based on the performance schedule. Organizers announced on Thursday, November 6, that Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug will take the stage at this year’s event, alongside leading nominees Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Ella Langley.

The ceremony, set to air live on November 19 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC, will feature a live performance of “Pray Hard” by BigX and Luke Combs. The song was first featured on August’s I Hope You’re Happy. Despite this, the Dallas-based rapper is not currently in the running for any awards, though he might fare better at the 2026 Grammy Awards in February.

In contrast, Shaboozey is vying for the New Artist of the Year award. He faces Langley, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, and Stephen Wilson Jr. in his next competition, following his loss to Moroney in 2024. Attendees still managed to watch the Virginia phenomenon perform “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at last year’s 58th annual show.

Shaboozey is set to join stage with his Wilson Jr. collaboration, “Took a Walk,” for the 2025 event, a track they created and produced for The Long Walk. Further performers are anticipated to be disclosed in the near future, however, for the time being, view the CMA’s post below.

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BigXthaPlug is experiencing a massive year, with a significant contribution from the success of I Hope You’re Happy. The 11-song collection included several prominent country artists, one being Darius Rucker, and Bailey Zimmerman, who collaborated with him on “All The Way.”

“I essentially just went and looked for who I thought had the most soul in their voice, or who I could hear the most pain,” BigX explained to UPROXX about selecting his collaborators for the LP. For me, that’s what it felt like the project was all about. The project focuses on all the outcomes of a heartbreak.

He went on to say, “You can see that Ella Langleys was obviously going through a tough time back then.” You obtained the Jelly Rolls, who possess just as much soul as I do. Luke Combs was able to switch things up.