Zach Top is both a nominee and performer at the 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 19), and the fast-rising country star opened up about his plans for the evening during a chat with Country Now. The singer scored five nominations at this year’s ceremony, including nods for Single of The Year (“I Never Lie”), Album of The Year (Cold Beer & Country Music), Song of The Year (“I Never Lie”), Male Vocalist of The Year and New Artist of The Year.
“It’s wild,” Top said of the achievement. “I think I still have sort of the mindset of the underground, under the radar, up and comer, so…it’s strange to be up for all the awards, but I’m very thankful, obviously. It is cool whenever other folks in your business feel like you’ve been doing a good job and want to pat you on the back and say, ‘Good job.’ So I’m really, really proud to just be nominated for all them things.”
The award he’d be the most shocked to win this year would be Album of The Year, which spotlighted his debut effort, Cold Beer & Country Music. “It’s crazy, especially for my debut record, and getting that nomination feels wild,” Top reflected. “That’s definitely the one that would blow me away if we end up taking that one home. It’s already just mind-boggling that we’re in that category. So very, very excited for that one. And like you said, to have that stamp on a body of work, not just like a single moment or a single song is kind of just an added sort of kudos, I guess, that I’m very thankful for.”
Should he win, Top won’t be celebrating alone, revealing that his girlfriend Amelia will once again be attending the annual awards show with him and that their outfits will be “semi-coordinated.”
“Hopefully everybody will look at her and listen to me later. I think that’s how it’s meant to be,” he said. “She finds out what she wants to wear, and then I ask her, ‘Can I wear this?’ She is the boss of the aesthetic, for sure.”
During The 59th Annual CMA Awards, Top will be performing “Guitar,” the opening track from his sophomore album, Ain’t in It for My Health.
“I’m excited,” Top shared. “[It’s] uptempo, fun. I feel like it’ll be a nice introduction to any folks who haven’t heard me before, either.” “Guitar” was written by Top with Carson Chamberlain and Tim Nichols and reflects on Top’s love of the instrument and the life of an artist, with the chorus delivering the album’s title when Top sings, “Ain’t in it for the money / If I was, I’d do something else / Ain’t in it for the fame / I damn sure ain’t in it for my health.”
“The song is kind of biographical to me, almost,” he explained. “And yeah, it is country music. If you love it, great. And if you don’t, I’m sorry, it’s probably not going to get any different.” He confirmed that sentiment when asked what viewers can expect from his CMA Awards performance, responding, “Country music, baby.”
In addition to Top, the 2025 CMA Awards will also feature unforgettable performances from BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, Chris Stapleton and more.
The 59th Annual CMA Awards is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director and Jon Macks is the Head Writer.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 2025 CMA Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC and will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.
