CMA Awards

Old Dominion, celebrating 10 years of music together with their new album Barbara, performed a medley of hits including “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “Snap Back,” “Hotel Key” and “One Man Band,” offering a potent reminder of the group’s steady string of hits over the past decade. With the audience singing along to every word, it’s clear this group has built a remarkably strong connection with their fans and an enduring catalog of hits. Still, given that they just released new music, it would have been nice to have heard some fresher songs from the new album included in the mix.

BigXthaPlug already scored a major Billboard Hot 100 hit with his Bailey Zimmerman collab “All The Way,” but his album I Hope You’re Happy features country and hip-hop fusions with several artists, among them Luke Combs. Combs opened the show earlier in the evening, and returned to the stage to perform “Pray Hard” with BigXthaPlug, with a performance that showcased the powerful vocals and onstage charisma of both performers, though at moments the vocals seemed to overpower each other.

Kenny Chesney, a newly-minted Country Music Hall of Fame member and New York Times bestselling author (for his book Heart Life Music with author/journalist Holly Gleason), gave a potent reminder of just why he continues to be one of country music’s most storied performers. He commanded the CMAs stage with a retrospective of hits that included his party-ready “American Kids,” and the island-tinged “When The Sun Goes Down.” He ended with a heartfelt tribute to late songwriter (and longtime Chesney collaborator) Brett James, saying, “Brett James, we love you,” as photos of James were shown on the screen behind Chesney. Still, as with Old Dominion’s performance, it would have been nice to hear some of Chesney’s newer songs showcased as well.

Kelsea Ballerini turned in a theatrical, elegant performance of her new ballad, “I Sit in Parks,” from her new EP Mount Pleasant. Seated on a swing and dressed in a simple red gown, she performed her new song about the struggle between familial longing and chasing her career dreams. As she sang, the background faded to a stormy setting, as Ballerini leaned back into the falling rain, creating a beautifully poetic visual.

Tucker Wetmore performed his hit “Wind Up Missin’ You,” beginning his performance seated on a stool and drawing the audience in with an intimate, vulnerable delivery. But he quickly commanded the full expanse of the main stage, displaying an ease and charisma as an entertainer. “Wind Up Missin’ You” reached the top 5 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Alabama group The Red Clay Strays, known for their songs such as “Wondering Why,” brought more blistering, bluesy-rock to the CMAs with a performance of their recent release “People Hatin’.” Though their vocals were at times slightly muffled, the group’s churning guitar and searing percussion were undeniable, evincing their reputation as a group with exceptional talent.

Riley Green brought one of the evening’s sultriest performances, with his hit “Worst Way.” Against an understated stage design, Green’s unadorned, straightforward country vocal performance took the lead, letting the song’s raw emotion, and Green’s powerful but never overdone delivery, stay in the spotlight.

By the time she performed her song “Ring Finger,” Wilson had already taken home the album of the year honors for her album Whirlwind. Donning a silvery fringe outfit and her signature hat, she gave an energetic performance of “Ring Finger” from that Whirlwind album. Backed by dancers, she turned in a funky song of heartbreak, betrayal and defiance, turning a storyline that could have been drenched in sorrow into a furious dance groove.

Luke Combs kicked off the show with a performance of “Back in the Saddle,” a song currently in the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Flanked by his band and plumes of fire and fireworks, Combs prowled the stage and turned in a vocal performance that was all grizzled determination, making for a sharp CMAs opening.

Megan Moroney just launched her pink-hued new era, tied to her upcoming album Cloud 9, and her CMA Awards performance was appropriately awash in blush tones. Dressed in a floor-length fluffy robe, she opened the performance in a slumber party setting, flanked by dancers, as she performed the empowering “Six Months Later.” Midway through, she revealed a glittering, sequined pink dress, as the dancers joined in for an upbeat, buoyant performance.

Ella Langley performed her new fan-favorite song, “Choosin’ Texas,” complete with a pair of dancers and stage design that celebrated the Lone Star State. The song’s tale of losing a lover to a woman from Texas, and its old-school charm mixed with Langley’s deep twang, combined for a solid performance. At one point in the performance, the camera panned to one of the song’s co-writers, Miranda Lambert, who proudly held up a Texas flag.

Laiey Wilson launched the evening with plenty of energy, and also by highlighting the starpower and camaraderie in the crowd. She paid homage to years of hits by stepping down from the stage and swaggering through the rows of her friends and fellow artists, greeting them and performing their songs. She greeted Lady A while performing “Need You Now,” jammed with Shaboozey on his “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and she offered up Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” (while LBT joined in with their always-stunning harmonies). Wilson also paid homage to Brooks & Dunn and Chris Stapleton and had plenty of good-natured fun with pals Miranda Lambert, as well as Ella Langley (performing and dancing with Langley while performing “You Look Like You Love Me”) and Gretchen Wilson (on “Redneck Woman”), before she was joined by Keith Urban, who performed “Where The Blacktop Ends.”

Stephen Wilson Jr. has quickly become one of country music’s rising artists, thanks to his top-shelf musicianship and his album Son of Dad. His CMA Awards performance, a rendition of “Stand By Me,” immediately elicited fans to illuminate the room with their cell phone lights, as he performed a raw, soul-stirring version that culminated in a standing ovation from the crowd.

Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert brought the ’70s roller skating rink vibe of the music video for their song “A Song to Sing” to the CMAs stage, complete with ’70s-inspired suits and disco balls glittering around the stage. The voices blended beautifully, highlighting the song’s slow-burn feel.

Zach Top’s CMA Awards performance dripped with ’90s country sounds and showcased his lifelong devotion to music, with Top lending his supple voice and expert musicianship playing to “Guitar,” the opening song from his sophomore album Ain’t In It For My Health. Appropriately, he and his band performed on a guitar-shaped stage, while Top himself offered up some fleet-fingered acoustic guitar picking.

Stephen Wilson Jr. made his second performance of the night when he joined Shaboozey for a collaboration “Took a Walk,” from the film The Long Walk. The stage was transformed into a sprawling field with a path breaking up the grassy area, while Shaboozey walked through it to join Wilson on the main stage. They were soon joined by backup singers, as they let loose with full-throttle voices, singing of weariness, loyalty and fortitude, ultimately drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.

Vince Gill was honored mightily as he received the CMA Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award during this year’s CMAs. Brandi Carlile began the tribute with a powerful and tender rendition of “When I Call Your Name,” and was soon joined by Patty Loveless, who originally sang harmony on the song when it was released in 1990.

“Congratulations, Vinny. I love you brother,” Loveless said.

Then, George Strait made a surprise appearance to honor Gill, praising his songwriting, singing and musicianship. “He can sing higher than anybody I know. He’s in the Country Music Hall of Fame and he’s just an immense talent. Oh yeah, and he plays with the Eagles…I could’ve just said that,” Strait said in honoring Gill.

Chris Stapleton gave a bluesy, harmonica and guitar-soaked version of “Bad As I Used to Be,” his contribution to the soundtrack of the F1 movie. Joined by his band, including his wife and fellow musician Morgane Stapleton, Stapleton unfurled a gritty, rockin’ jam session, spearheaded by his unmistakable, full-throttle voice.

The country rock band won vocal group of the year, ending Old Dominion’s seven-year consecutive win streak in this category. The Red Clay Strays’ CMA win comes just 14 months after they won emerging act of the year at the 2024 Americana Music Honors & Awards. The Alabama group won best new duo/group of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May, but lost the group of the year award to Old Dominion. Their stock has risen in the past six months.

Moroney tied with Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson for the most nominations by any artist this year, but unlike those other artists, Moroney went home empty-handed. She fared better last year, when she won new artist of the year.

Johnson won male vocalist of the year on his fourth try, topping Chris Stapleton who has won in the category eight times, including the last four years in a row. Johnson is becoming a major CMA winner. He took album of the year last year for Leather. He won two awards in 2022, single of the year and music video of the year for “’Til You Can’t.”

The steel guitar player won musician of the year for the first time on his 33rd nomination in the category. That’s not a typo. It took him 33 nominations to finally win. “I’m speechless,” Franklin said on accepting the award, for which he was first nominated in 1989. In addition to his 33 nominations in this category, Franklin was nominated for musical event of the year in 2014 for “Bakersfield,” a collab with Vince Gill. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to earn this,” he said in concluding his gracious acceptance speech.

Many expected “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll to win musical event of the year, but the award went to “Pour Me a Drink” by Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton). “Hard Fought Hallelujah” was a hit in an impressive range of formats, including adult contemporary, country, Christian and rock & alternative. Jelly Roll won new artist of the year two years ago.

Wilson won entertainer of the year for the second time in three years. She’s just the third woman to win entertainer of the year twice. She follows Barbara Mandrell (1980 and 1981) and Taylor Swift (2009 and 2011).

Wilson also hosted the show, having co-hosted last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. Wilson is the first person to win entertainer of the year in the same year that he or she hosted or co-hosted since Brad Paisley in 2010. Two other people have done this in CMA history – Barbara Mandrell in 1980 and 1981 and Vince Gill in 1993 and 1994.

Wilson also won album of the year for the second time with Whirlwind. She won two years ago for Bell Bottom Country. She is just the second woman to win twice in the category. Miranda Lambert won in 2010 with Revolution and in 2014 with Platinum.

Wilson won female vocalist of the year for the fourth year in a row. She’s just the third artist to win that award four or more years running. Reba McEntire was the first, winning from 1984-87. Miranda Lambert won six years in a row, from 2010-15. (Martina McBride won four times, but not consecutively. Carrie Underwood won five times but didn’t put together four straight wins.)

Brooks & Dunn won vocal duo of the year for the 16th time, which extended their lead as the top winner in the history of the category. But they achieved something even more momentous – they brought their win tally at the CMA Awards to 20, which is more than any other artist in the show’s history. They had been tied with Chris Stapleton with 19 awards, but Stapleton didn’t win an award this year.

Brooks & Dunn’s four awards outside of the vocal duo of the year category are album of the year for the multi-artist collection Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles in 1994; entertainer of the year in 1996; and single of the year and music video of the year in 2006 for “Believe.” Ronnie Dunn also shared the award for song of the year for “Believe” with his co-writer Craig Wiseman, so he has one more trophy than his longtime musical partner.

Langley and Riley Green won single of the year, song of the year and music video of the year for “you look like you love me.”

“you look like you love me” is the first collab by two solo artists to win single of the year since Waylon & Willie’s “Good Hearted Woman” in 1976 – before Langley and Green were even born. One other collab has won single of the year, but it wasn’t a pairing of two solo artists. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack featuring Sons of the Desert won in 2000.

In addition, Langley became the first artist to win music video of the year for a clip that he or she directed or co-directed. Langley co-directed the “you look like you love me” video with John Park and Wales Toney.

“you look like you love me” won musical event of the year at last year’s show. That confusing split is due to different guidelines in different categories. The song was released as a promotional single on June 21, 2024, nine days before the last day of the previous eligibility year. That was enough for it to be eligible for musical event of the year last year, where the published CMA rules are pretty basic: “The song must have been initially released during the eligibility period.”

The rules for single of the year are much more specific. It met these set of criteria during the current eligibility period: “The single must have reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, or Country Aircheck Chart for the first time during the eligibility period.  If the single charted in the Top 10 on the above charts and was released prior to the eligibility period but achieved its highest chart position during the eligibility period, it is eligible unless it has previously appeared on a Final Ballot in this category.”

Still confused? Just be glad a good song, record and video is the beneficiary of these complicated rules.

The country rock band won vocal group of the year, ending Old Dominion’s seven-year consecutive win streak in this category. Other spoilers in CMA history include Montgomery Gentry, which in 2000 snapped an eight-year consecutive win streak by Brooks & Dunn for vocal duo of the year. Brooks & Dunn returned to their winning ways the following year, kicking off a six consecutive win run.

The Red Clay Strays’ CMA win comes just 14 months after they won emerging act of the year at the 2024 Americana Music Honors & Awards. The Alabama group won best new duo/group of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May but lost the group of the year award to Old Dominion. Their stock has risen in the past six months.

Post Malone won musical event of the year for “Buy Me a Drink,” featuring Blake Shelton. Posty is the first artist who is best known for work outside of country music to win in that category since Lil Nas X won in 2019 for “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Other artists who were best known at the time outside of country music circles to win in this category include Linda Ronstadt (Trio with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris in 1987), Jimmy Buffett (“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” with Alan Jackson in 2003), Robert Plant (“Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” with Allison Krauss in 2008), Kelly Clarkson (“Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean in 2011) and Elle King (“Different for Girls” with Dierks Bentley in 2016).