Country music got a major win when the MTV Video Music Awards announced its nominees list on Tuesday (Aug. 5).
The show is finally giving the genre its own category.
The VMAs has been around since 1984, and throughout its four decades of airing, the awards show has largely back-burnered country music — until now.
Six country music videos will be in the running to win a trophy in the genre-specific category at this year’s ceremony.
A press release announces the new Best Country category, along with another new category for 2025: Best Pop Artist.
Here Are the Best Country Nominees for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards
Chris Stapleton, “Think I’m in Love With You”
Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You”
Jelly Roll, “Liar”
Lainey Wilson, “4X4XU”
Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?”
Morgan Wallen, “Smile”
What Other Country Stars Are Nominated at the Show?
Along with the Best Country category, several country stars are in contention for other wins, including some all-genre categories, at the 2025 VMAs.
Morgan Wallen is nominated in the all-genre Artist of the Year category. He’s the only full-time country star in the running for that trophy, though Post Malone and Beyoncé are also nominees.
Wallen’s I’m the Problem is also the only country album nominated for Best Album.
Jelly Roll is the most-nominated country artist overall at the VMAs. In addition to his Best Country nomination, he’s up in the Best Hip-Hop category (for his feature on Eminem’s version of “Save Me”), the Video for Good category (also for the Eminem collaboration) and Best Alternative (for his MGK duet, “Lonely Road”).
Ella Langley is only nominated for one trophy, but it’s a big one: She’s up in the all-genre Best New Artist category.
Shaboozey and Dasha are both nominated in the MTV Push Performance of the Year category. Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs‘ “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” is nominated for Best Collaboration, as is Post Malone and Blake Shelton‘s “Pour Me a Drink.”
As the VMAs continue to open their doors to country, the awards show is providing some first-time nominations to artists who’ve already been superstars in the genre for years now.
Shelton’s 2025 VMAs nomination is the first of his career, and Wilson is a first-time nominee, too, despite the fact that both have already won some of country music’s highest honors.
When + Where Are the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards?
The 2025 VMAs will take place on Sunday, Sept. 7 at New York’s UBS Arena at 8PM ET.
The show will air live on CBS.
See the Most Played Country Song from the Year You Were Born
Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
