Visual Depiction

Photo Credit

John Shearer ​/ Contributor via Getty images

Image Caption

Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. take the stage during the intermission of the 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Key Takeaways:

• The collaboration “Took a Crawl,” performed by Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr., earned a standing ovation at the CMA Awards in 2025.
• This year’s CMA Awards experienced a remarkable surge of over 15% in viewership compared to last year, reflecting the increasing appeal of country music.
• BigXThaPlug joined forces with Luke Combs for an electrifying live performance of “Pray Strong” from his genre-defying album.
• A meaningful highlight for Shaboozey was his nomination for Best New Artist,marking a pivotal moment in his journey into country music.

CMA Awards Performance Highlights

The annual Country Music association (CMA) Awards unfolded on November 19th, showcasing performances that celebrated cultural diversity. Shaboozey and BigXThaPlug made headlines as they represented their roots with powerful acts. The event reached its peak when Shaboozey performed alongside Stephen Wilson Jr., receiving keen applause from attendees.

Kicking off at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena,Luke Combs ignited the crowd before returning later to collaborate with BigXThaPlug on “Pray Strong,” featured on BigX’s latest album *I Hope You’re Pleasant*,which launched in August 2025 and has garnered acclaim for its innovative fusion of hip-hop and country styles.

while primarily recognized as a traditional rapper, BigXThaPlug has ventured into new territories; conversely, Shaboozey has firmly established himself within the country music landscape. His breakout single “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” released in 2024 after collaborating with Beyoncé on her *COWBOY CARTER* album,achieved immense success by topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and setting records—including maintaining its number one position longer than any other song this past year. During this awards ceremony, Lainey Wilson honored “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” through her live performance while Shaboozey watched proudly from the audience.

Celebrating Ongoing Success

Dismissing any doubts about being merely a passing trend, Shaboozey showcased his latest track “Took A Crawl,” part of *The long Walk* movie soundtrack.The performance was artistically designed to echo themes from the film; as he walked along an illuminated path towards guitarist wilson Jr., it created an emotionally charged atmosphere that resonated deeply with those present—culminating once again in rapturous applause from fans during their captivating act supported by a full band accompaniment.

An additional highlight was Shaboozey’s nomination for Best New Artist—a prestigious accolade within this year’s ceremony—though Zach High ultimately took home the award amidst stiff competition during this landmark fifty-ninth edition!