How Bailey Zimmerman, BigXthaPlug created CMA Fest's top crossover moment
On the closing night of CMA Fest 2025, Bailey Zimmerman welcomed BigXthaPlug to the stage with him to perform their song "All The Way."
The 27-year-old Dallas rapper, born Xavier Landum, rapped alongside the 25-year-old country singer, who is best known for songs "Rock and a Hard Place" and "Religiously."
Zimmerman and BigX joined Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan for the bill on the festival's fourth night at Nashville's Nissan Stadium.
Their performance is also part of ABC's three-hour TV special airing on June 26.
CMA Fest 2025 on ABC: How to watch, stream special hosted by Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson
The crowd burst into applause when Zimmerman called BigX out to perform their genre-blending collaboration, which released in April as the lead single from BigX's upcoming EP.
"All The Way" brings together elements of pop-country and hip-hop, partnering trap beats with twangy choruses on the heartbreak tune.
"Don't let me down easy, if you're gonna leave me / Baby, go and leave me all the way," Zimmerman sings.
"Said you'd try and hold on 'cause the love was so strong, now I'm standing alone this kitchen / Singin' sad songs, but I'm knowin' that this s*** don't last long," BigX raps. "If you leavin', then leave 'cause your bags gone / But just know, you can never come back home."
The tune marks another successful country-hip-hop crossover in an increasingly genre-bending musical landscape.
Other artists who have paved the way by marrying the two genres include Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Nelly, and Lil Nas X.
CMA Fest 2026 will be held from June 4-7, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. The four-night stadium passes went on sale June 26 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bailey Zimmerman and BigXthaPlug's genre-blending CMA Fest moment
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