This is some big recognition for the country music genre. Hope NYC can handle this much country music coming to town in September, because country is coming.
With everyone along with their sister’s cousins friends wanting to be country, Alan Jackson teaching us in 1994 with “Gone Country”, this news makes complete sense.
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are going country y’all, as they’ve now introduced something that is much needed. They’ve actually added a brand new ‘Best Country Video’ category for 2025, recognizing country music’s growing influence and popularity. As they should too.
This inaugural category celebrates country music videos in a damn good way. Nominees includes Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen to name a few. We’ll get to more on the nominees shortly.
Now we’re not saying the Grammys’ addition of more country categories inspired the MTV Video Music Awards to introduce a country category like they did, because we don’t have proof of that. The timing of these new categories however…is very interesting to say the least. Especially knowing that a country category has never existed before.
Country music is a damn mainstream genre now and it’s a great time to be a country music fan. Hopefully they’ll get real country and invite Zach Top to perform for the fine people who call NYC home.
So, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards new Best Country category will highlight some of the visual content created over the last year. I have to be honest, their list of nominees aren’t bad at all. I’m actually very impressed.
Best Country Nominees are…
Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m in Love with You” – Mercury Nashville
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You” – CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville
Jelly Roll – “Liar” – BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records
Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU” – Broken Bow Records
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?” – Columbia Records
Morgan Wallen – “Smile” – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records
Now this is a brand new, only country music category, but since we’re talking about this…there’s some more country representation in other categories as well. Like Post Malone, Ella Langley, and of course Morgan Wallen shows up again too.
Other categories with country artist representation include…
Artist of the Year:
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
Kendrick Lamar – pgLang/Interscope Records
Lady Gaga – Interscope Records
Morgan Wallen – Big Loud Records/Mercury Records (I really hope he wins this too)
Taylor Swift – Republic Records (she’ll always be country…let’s be real)
The Weeknd – XO/Republic Records
Best New Artist:
Alex Warren – Atlantic Records
Ella Langley – SAWGOD/Columbia Records
Gigi Perez – Island
Lola Young – Island
sombr – SMB Music/Warner Records
The Marías – Nice Life/Atlantic Records
Best Collaboration:
Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther” – pgLang/Interscope Records
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Records
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me a Drink” – Mercury Records
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” – Atlantic Records
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – “Sunset Blvd” – SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
Shaboozey was also nominated for the MTV Push Performance of the Year with “Tipsy (A Bar Song)”, and I know some people who will argue how that’s not really country, like me. Nonetheless, Shaboozey is a part of the country music family now, rather you like or not.
Voting online is now officially open. As for the show itself…the 2025 MTV VMAs is set to air live from New York City Sept. 7th on CBS.