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Award-winning songwriter Rhett Akins has signed with Jonas Group Publishing (JGP). Additionally, Jonas Catalog Holdings will acquire songs from Akins’s extensive catalog, while Warner Chappell Music will continue its long relationship with Akins and administer the copyrights.
Akins, who is a two-time BMI songwriter of the year winner, eight-time CMA triple play winner, Academy of Country Music songwriter of the decade recipient and a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, has had songs recorded by Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and more.
Jonas Catalog Holdings has also acquired songs from his Little Brocephus Music,Ritten by Rhettro Catalogs. The acquisition includes songs such as “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” (Luke Bryan), “What’s Your Country Song” (Thomas Rhett), “To Be Loved By You” (Parker McCollum), “Half Of Me” (Thomas Rhett/Riley Green), “It Matters To Her” (Scotty McCreery), and “Red” (HARDY/Morgan Wallen).
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Jonas Group Publishing launched in 2020 and is a division of Jonas Group Entertainment, founded by Kevin Jonas Sr. in 2005. Jonas Group Publishing is led by JGP president Leslie T. DiPiero and is home to songwriters including Akins, Justin Ebach, Terri Jo Box, Franklin Jonas, Bailee Madison, Amy Stroup and the catalog of Julia Michaels.
“Rhett is an extraordinary songwriter,” DiPiero said in a statement. “Personally, I have admired his work since I first came to town. He is a master of everything that is great about country music. It is an honor to represent his catalog of excellence, and our entire team is looking forward to contributing to his continued growth and success.”
“I’ve seen Leslie’s dedication to songwriters for many years,” Akins said. “She is a friend of and advocate for creators. The impact the Jonas family has made on the music world is remarkable, and it is obvious their love for music and family is their driving force. You put all that together, and I think you have a pretty unstoppable squad that leads with their values. I am very excited to join Kevin, Leslie, and the whole Jonas Group Publishing team.”
“We are honored to welcome Rhett to our roster, along with his incredible catalog,” Jonas of Jonas Group Entertainment stated. “Rhett is an immensely talented songwriter whose contributions have shaped the landscape of country music and beyond. His catalog reflects not only his incredible talent but also his ability to create songs that resonate with audiences around the world.
“We are thrilled to bring Rhett’s body of work into the Jonas Group Publishing family, which would not have been possible without the support and expertise of our trusted financial partner, Corrum Capital Management. We must also thank Access Media Advisory and Teresa Miles Walsh, Dave and Ruscell Pavlin, Matthew Beckett, and Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC for providing valuable assistance throughout the purchase of the catalog. All of us at JGP look forward to celebrating and amplifying Rhett’s extraordinary artistry.”
In this week’s crop of new music, Randy Houser and Miranda Lambert team for a solidly country tune about time and desire, while Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown reunite for a steamy pop-country track. Elsewhere, LANCO teams with Cory Asbury on a tender song about parenthood, Hudson Westbrook issues his self-titled EP, Kashus Culpepper dips his commanding voice into ultra-soulful territory, and Kameron Marlowe offers his own spin on a previous hit for singer-songwriter Cam.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best country releases of the week below.
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Randy Houser feat. Miranda Lambert, “Still That Cowboy”
Randy Houser welcomes Miranda Lambert for this duet, featuring on Houser’s upcoming Note to Self Deluxe album, out in January. Mississippi-born Houser’s rugged voice crackles with power, enough to make most male country vocalists envious, and he smartly teams with Lambert, possessor of one of the genre’s most distinctively country voices. Written by Houser with Josh Hoge and Matt Rogers, this sultry slow-jam finds Houser singing about the hope that time, age, and new life phases haven’t dampened his lover’s desire. Lambert’s smooth twang adds a reassuring harmony that further elevates this top-shelf track.
Kashus Culpepper, “Pour Me Out”
This Navy veteran and Big Loud Records artist decamped to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record this righteously bluesy outing, where the angst in his gravelly voice is heightened by the song’s poetic simplicity in relating bitter romantic realization on lyrics such as “If you don’t wanna drink me baby, Don’t sip me baby/ Just pour me out.” As with his previous releases including “After Me?,” Culpepper’s masterful vocal is undeniable. He wrote “Pour Me Out” with Ben Burgess and Diego Urias.
Hudson Westbrook, Hudson Westbrook
Texan singer-songwriter Westbrook has surged into country music’s modern-day mainstream thanks to songs including “5 to 9.” His seven-song, self-titled EP is a succinct but solid collection, featuring the smoldering heartbreaker “House Again,” and the fiddle-laden, romantic throwback “5 to 9,” while he willingly trades the mellowing effects of alcohol for the thrilling feel of being with his new love in “Dopamine.” Westbrook’s voice is a blend of grit, twang and Lone Star State confidence, and he’s a co-writer on many of his songs. This is a very promising start for Westbrook.
Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown, “Body Talk”
This married couple previously earned a No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hit in 2023 with the swirling, pop-inflected and gratitude-filled “Thank God.” They return with another pop-heavy groove on this sensuous, dance-worthy track that further evinces that Katelyn’s airy, velvety vocal is a standout, and when paired with Kane’s vocal, brings out the grittier, sultrier notes in his voice. This song leans decidedly more pop than country, but brings out the best in both vocalists. “Body Talk” will be featured on Kane Brown’s upcoming album The High Road.
LANCO and Cory Asbury, “We Grew Up Together”
Country group LANCO teams with Contemporary Christian artist Cory Asbury for this tender, self-reflective pondering on how both parents and children undergo seasons of growth over the years. “You ain’t the only one who’s gonna make mistakes,” LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster sings, offering the perspective of a father singing to a child. The song was written by Asbury along with LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster, Chandler Baldwin, Tripp Howell, and Jared Hampton. “We Grew Up Together” is from LANCO’s upcoming album We’re Gonna Make It, set for January.
Kameron Marlowe, “Burning House”
Kameron Marlowe puts his own sultry spin here on Cam’s near-decade old hit “Burning House.” The pared-back production and understated, polished instrumentation provide a lush vessel for Marlowe’s pain-filled, octave-leaping voice. Marlowe’s earned a smattering of chart placements with songs such “Burn ‘Em All” and the Ella Langley duet “Strangers,” but this dynamic ballad places his captivating voice front and center.
Cody Johnson‘s producer Trent Willmon is clarifying remarks he made about Shaboozey during the 2024 CMA Awards.
On Saturday (Nov. 23), Willmon took to social media to address the backlash he faced after appearing to throw shade at the “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hitmaker during Johnson’s album of the year acceptance speech for Leather.
“Ok… what I meant to express in my overly-shocked and excited state was that I am very proud of @codyjohnson,” Willmon wrote on Instagram. “He has worked his BOOTY off the last 15 years putting out and performing great music and it’s not an overnight success. I was so proud he’s finally getting recognized!”
The producer added, “And shout out to Shaboozey for your response to my fumble and having a great sense of humor, congrats on that 17-Week #1 Song!”
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During his CMA Awards speech, Willmon had told the Nashville audience, “It takes an army of people to make a great record, but I gotta tell ya, this is for this cowboy who’s been kicking shaboozey for a lot of years, y’all.”
Following the comment, many country music fans took to social media, expressing confusion and anger over the remark, which some interpreted as disrespecting Shaboozey. However, it was unclear whether Willmon’s comment was an intentional dig at the artist or simply an awkward attempt at humor that fell flat.
Shaboozey — who was nominated for new artist of the year and single of the year for “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at this year’s CMAs — didn’t seem upset by Willmon’s comment. After the show, he posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “Ain’t nobody kicking me!”
Though Shaboozey didn’t win any CMA trophies, he has multiple opportunities for recognition ahead. He’s up for five Grammy Awards in 2025, including nominations for “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” in categories such as best country song, best country solo performance, and song of the year. Additionally, he’s nominated for best new Artist, while his collaboration with Beyoncé and Linda Martell, “Spaghettii,” from the album Cowboy Carter, is up for best melodic rap performance.
Shaboozey’s hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has also dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending 18 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 and is just one week away from setting a new record.
See Willmon’s full post about the Shaboozey comments on Instagram here.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” rebounds a spot to No. 5 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Nov. 30). In the Nov. 15-21 tracking week, the hit drew 22.9 million in audience, according to Luminate.
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Of the 30 weeks that the track by the Virginian has been on Country Airplay, 18 have been inside the top five, including seven weeks at the pinnacle beginning in early August. It ties Post Malone’s fellow 2024 crossover hit “I Had Some Help” (featuring Morgan Wallen) for the sixth-longest stay in the top five since the chart launched in 1990. Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” holds the record (24 weeks, 2022-23).
Hubbard Broadcasting Seattle operations manager and KPNW pd Scott Mahalick says that “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has become entrenched at the format “because Shaboozey is so passionate about country music. At the end of the day, it’s an upbeat summer record that is fun and non-political. The listeners have spoken – they love it.”
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CMA Winners at Radio
After the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards were held on Wednesday (Nov. 20) in Nashville, here’s a look at some of the night’s biggest winners and how their latest singles are faring on Country Airplay.
Morgan Wallen, entertainer of the year: “Lies Lies Lies,” which led the Nov. 23 list, ranks at No. 4 (24 million impressions, down 21%), followed by “Love Somebody” (No. 12; 16.2 million, up 23%).
Lainey Wilson, female vocalist of the year: “4x4xU” (No. 20; 10 million, up 7%).
Chris Stapleton, male vocalist of the year, single of the year, song of the year (both “White Horse”): “Think I’m in Love With You” (No. 21; 10 million, up 2%).
Cody Johnson, album of the year (Leather): “I’m Gonna Love You” (with Carrie Underwood) (No. 27; 6.4 million, up 15%).
Megan Moroney, new artist of the year: “Am I Okay?” (No. 31; 4.7 million, up 4%).
Jelly Roll has had a stellar year, seeing his album Beautifully Broken debut at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200, notching No. 1 Country Airplay hits such as “I Am Not Okay” and “Halfway to Hell” and embarking on his first headlining arena trek, The Beautifully Broken Tour. Plus, he turned in a pair of top-shelf performances at this week’s CMA Awards, including a moving version of “Believe” with Brooks & Dunn.
However, though he had multiple nominations leading into this year’s CMAs, his name wasn’t among this year’s winners. Jelly Roll was nominated for entertainer of the year (which ultimately went to Morgan Wallen, marking his first win in the category), male vocalist of the year (which saw Chris Stapleton pick up his eighth win in that category) and album of the year (Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel was nominated, but Cody Johnson’s Leather was declared the victor in the category). Notably, Jelly Roll is featured on Leather, collaborating with Johnson on the song “Whiskey Bent.”
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Jelly Roll may not have walked away from this year’s CMAs with any new hardware in his arsenal — he won the CMA new artist of the year accolade in 2023 — but he’s not letting that get him down. Instead, he’s determined to work even harder ahead of next year’s CMA Awards, and he had plenty of praise for this year’s winners.
In a social media post, Jelly said he was grateful for his performance alongside Brooks & Dunn, showered praise on Wallen, Johnson and Stapleton, thanked his family, and revealed a moment of inspiration he took from watching Taylor Swift.
“Standing next to the two people that matter the most to me, we walked into the Bridgestone Arena for my second CMA ever as a nominated artist,” he wrote. “On the biggest night in country music on the biggest stage in Nashville I had the opportunity to stand next to a couple of living legends and praise Jesus in front of the world. Thank you Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, y’all could’ve picked any artist in the world bigger than me, I’ll never be able to thank y’all enough for giving me an opportunity to shamelessly stand on my faith in front of the world.”
He added of this year’s CMA Awards winners, “I know I don’t have to say this but, just so we are clear – Chris Stapleton was and always will be the Male Vocalist of the year as long as he is alive and I think we all agree about that. MORGAN WALLEN MY EAST TENNESSEE BROTHER finally got the flowers he deserves, no one has done more for country music in the last quarter of a century than Morgan has. And Cody, my brother and one of my best friends Cody Johnson, your album Leather is truly one of my favorite albums recorded in the last decade, any win for you is a win for me, you deserved this one, and now I can brag that I’m one of the only features on the CMA album of the year. To my wife and daughter, thank you both. You both stood by me when I wasn’t worth standing by I’m glad we are enjoying this rocket ride together.”
He ended his post by recalling inspiration he has taken from Taylor Swift, when Swift was in a similar situation, after her 2017 album Reputation did not receive a Grammy nomination in the album of the year category — though Reputation did pick up a nomination for best pop vocal album.
Jelly Roll wrote, “Lastly I seeen [sic] a clip the other day of Taylor Swift when she found out her album Reputation was not nominated for album of the year at the Grammys and her first response was “it’s ok, I just have to make a better record” – man that lit a fire under me in a way I’ve never had lit,” he said. “That was ultimate accountability in action in the real moment and that’s why Taylor is the legend she is. That was all said to say, I’m going to write a better album, I’m going to work harder and I’ll be back baby, I will be back. PS REPUTATION was one of the greatest albums ever written.”
See Jelly Roll’s post below:
Megan Moroney is just 27, but she already knows all about the ups and downs of awards shows. On Nov. 8, she learned that she had been passed over for a Grammy nomination for best new artist. Just 12 days later, she won the CMA Award for new artist of the year.
Moroney’s situation isn’t unique. Since 1981, when the Country Music Association introduced its horizon award (renamed new artist of the year in 2008), most of their winners haven’t received Grammy nods for best new artist. Even such giants as Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts and Morgan Wallen were passed over for Grammy best new artist nods.
The situation has improved markedly in recent years, as the graphic below shows. But the Recording Academy still has work to do to make sure that country artists are getting a fair shake in the marquee categories.
Here is every CMA winner for the horizon award and new artist of the year, divided into four categories – those who also won the Grammy for best new artist; those who were nominated for the Grammy for best new artist but didn’t win (and who won in that category!); those who were not eligible for a new artist Grammy nomination that year (because of prior Grammy nods or wins); and those who were eligible for the Grammy, but were simply not nominated. The year shown is the year of the CMA ceremony where the artist won.
We cap this discussion by showing the four CMA winners for the horizon award/new artist of the year who have yet to win a Grammy in any category. (Moroney has lots of time to move off this last list.)
One lesson from this list is that we need a variety of awards shows – all-genre shows like the Grammys and genre-specific shows like the CMA Awards and their country brethren. What one show misses, hopefully, the other catches.
Won CMA Award; Won Best New Artist Grammy
1997: LeAnn Rimes 2006: Carrie Underwood2010: Zac Brown Band
Won CMA Award; Nominated for Best New Artist Grammy, But Lost
1984: The Judds (lost to Cyndi Lauper)1998: Dixie Chicks (lost to Lauryn Hill)2000: Brad Paisley (lost to Shelby Lynne)2004: Gretchen Wilson (lost to Maroon 5) 2007: Taylor Swift (lost to Amy Winehouse)2008: Lady A (lost to Adele)2011: The Band Perry (lost to Bon Iver) 2012: Hunter Hayes (lost to fun.)2013: Kacey Musgraves (lost to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)2016: Maren Morris (lost to Chance the Rapper) 2018: Luke Combs (lost to Dua Lipa) 2021: Jimmie Allen (lost to Olivia Rodrigo)2023: Jelly Roll (lost to Victoria Monét)
Won CMA Award; Not Eligible for Best New Artist Grammy That Year
1983: John Anderson (had been nominated for an early solo hit at the 1982 ceremony) 2009: Darius Rucker (had won two Grammys with Hootie & the Blowfish) 1995: Alison Krauss (had won three Grammys – one solo and one each with The Union Station and The Cox Family)2015: Chris Stapleton (had received three previous Grammy nods with his group, The SteelDrivers)
Won CMA Award; Not Nominated for Best New Artist Grammy
1981: Terri Gibbs 1982: Ricky Skaggs 1985: Sawyer Brown1986: Randy Travis 1987: Holly Dunn 1988: Ricky Van Shelton 1989: Clint Black 1990: Garth Brooks 1991: Travis Tritt 1992: Suzy Bogguss 1993: Mark Chesnutt1994: John Michael Montgomery 1996: Bryan White 1999: Jo Dee Messina 2001: Keith Urban 2002: Rascal Flatts 2003: Joe Nichols 2005: Dierks Bentley2014: Brett Eldredge 2017: Jon Pardi 2019: Ashley McBryde 2020: Morgan Wallen2022: Lainey Wilson 2024: Megan Moroney
Won CMA Award; Has Yet to Be Nominated for a Grammy in Any Category
1993: Mark Chesnutt2014: Brett Eldredge 2017: Jon Pardi 2024: Megan Moroney
At Wednesday’s (Nov. 20) CMA Awards, Ashley McBryde turned in one of the evening’s top moments with her tribute to the late Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson, with a performance of one of the star’s most well-known songs, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
During rehearsals ahead of the CMA Awards, McBryde told Billboard of Kristofferson, “He’s one of my favorite songwriters. So Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, John Prine, this is how the list goes, and it’s my father’s favorite musician-songwriter. It’s his favorite voice to listen to.”
Kristofferson died at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Sept. 28, and was known for writing classics including “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Kristofferson was a singer/performer himself, though many of his songs were best known as performed by other artists. He was also a well-known actor who starred in films including A Star is Born, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Blade.
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“Help Me Make It Through the Night” has special meaning in McBryde’s own musical journey. “My father taught me to play that song when I was like seven years old, before I even had a guitar of my own,” McBryde said. “And I had no concept [at that age] of who writes songs and who sings songs and all that. So if I can just keep it together, I think it’s going to be a good moment.”
Kristofferson wrote and recorded “Help Me Make It Through The Night” for his 1970 debut album Kristofferson. Sammi Smith’s recording of the song topped the Hot Country Songs chart for three weeks in 1971 and became a crossover pop hit. The song also earned Smith the 1971 Grammy for best country vocal performance, female, and the Country Music Association’s award for single of the year. Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, and Gladys Knight and the Pips are also among the many artists who have recorded the song.
McBryde’s favorite line in the song? “‘Let the Devil Take Tomorrow/ Tonight, I need a friend,’” McBryde said. “I mean, I was just a little girl singing that with my dad. I was raised in a really strict, religious household, too. So [it was] interesting to hear my father sing something like, ‘Let the devil take tomorrow. Tonight, I need a friend.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve never heard [something that says] I don’t care what it costs me. I’m not worried about it.” I’ve never heard it put that way, at that age. And Kris Kristofferson is responsible for me being a songwriter.”
Next month, McBryde will release her new song, “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” which she wrote with Chris Harris and Patrick Savage. After landing on the song title, they realized it connected to “missing the things that made me make the choices that made me who I am,” McBryde said.
“The more we talked about it, the more we noticed that it had a lot to do with the cowboys we looked up to when we were little, and the songs surrounding the lives they led,” she added. “It was they way they lived their lives, the way they presented. They do what they say they’re going to do, and they are where they say they’re going to be, and they stick up for people when they’re having weak moments. For us, [it was about] trying to stay tethered to that touchstone.”
Asked about her own favorite “cowboy songs,” she notes Chris LeDoux’s “This Cowboy’s Hat” as a contender.
“I love that moment where he sings, ‘But if you touch my hat/ You gotta fight us all,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the life I want to lead.’ It’s having each other’s back and it’s knowing that the people standing around you have your back, and that’s largely what country music has been built on. So I think it’s time to get back to some cowboy songs.”
Wednesday night’s (Nov. 20) 58th annual Country Music Association Awards showcased the best and brightest that country has to offer, from its rising stars to a moving tribute to the man they call the King of Country, George Strait.
It also featured multiple appearances from fresh-to-the-genre rapper-turned-crooner Post Malone, as well as a couple spotlight moments for Jelly Roll, who cemented his status as one of the brightest, most inspiring singers in Nashville when he held his own with Brooks & Dunn during a performance of their inspiring gospel-tinged track “Believe.”
Malone and Chris Stapleton kicked things off with their duet “California Sober,” followed by new artist of the year winner Megan Moroney’s glitzy “Am I Okay?” and Shaboozey’s ramble through his ballad “Highway,” which gave way to his 18-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
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Other notable duets came from Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan on “Cowboys Cry Too,” Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims mashing up “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Woman” and “Lose Control,” and Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You.”
Though he went into the night with seven nominations, entertainer of the year winner Morgan Wallen was a no-show, while Stapleton had a great night, winning three of the top five prizes, including single of the year and song of the year for “White Horse.”
If you missed some, or all, of the action, check out all of the 2024 CMA Awards performances below.
Post Malone and Chris Stapleton
The dynamic duo opened the show in style with a run through their weed-is-acceptable anthem from Posty’s hit debut country album, F-1 Trillion.
Megan Moroney
The new artist of the year honoree brought the glam with a bedazzled performance of the title track from her latest album, Am I Okay?
Shaboozey
For a minute there it seemed like this year’s breakthrough country superstar might eschew his ubiquitous hit in favor of the more contemplative new single, “Highway.” No worries, though, he also came through with a high-spirited take on “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” that had the all-star crowd at Bridgestone Arena dancing and singing along.
Ella Langley and Riley Green
After winning musical event of the year before the broadcast, the duo performed their honored old-school duet, “You Look Like You Love Me,” with Langley moseying to the stage after starting out on the arena floor as she sang-talked her way to the barroom set on the main stage. Green followed suit, making the same slow walk with his trusty acoustic slung across his chest.
Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims
Dressed in their finest black leathers, Rhett and Swims started in the venue’s backstage area and slow walked into the spotlight for a rumble through the former’s soulful “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Woman” from Rhett’s seventh studio album, About a Woman. Keeping the love vibes going, they pivoted to Swims’ equally impassioned Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Lose Control.”
Luke Combs
Combs lit up the stage with his Twisters soundtrack hit “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” barreling through the rock-tinged track on a set featuring giant rusty oil derricks, towering pyro effects and digital lightning flashing behind him.
Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan
Ballerini and Kahan performed their duet “Cowboys Cry Too” — the lead single from Ballerini’s recently released fifth album, Patterns — live for the first time together on TV.
Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood
With images of snow-capped mountains behind them, Johnson and Underwood gave us all the feels with their moving duet from the deluxe edition of his 2023 Leather album.
Chris Stapleton
The night’s big winner proved why he’s a humble Nashville favorite son with an unadorned, mesmerizing performance of his Higher ballad “What Am I Gonna Do,” accompanied by his “secret weapon,” wife singer/songwriter Morgane Stapleton.
Kacey Musgraves
Musgraves didn’t need anything besides her trusty acoustic and her bell-clear voice to strum her way through the wonder-of-the-universe single “The Architect” from this year’s Deeper Well album.
Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll
The triple-threat trio brought the CMAs to church with their emotional, soaring performance of the beloved duo’s gospel-tinged “Believe,” backed by a full orchestra and swaying choir.
Lainey Wilson
The evening’s co-host took the crowd to a nighttime tailgate party with her impassioned run through her latest single, “4x4xU,” surrounded by roaring campfires and glittering stars.
Bailey Zimmerman
Injecting some rock energy into the proceedings, Zimmerman cut loose with his twangy “New to Country” on a set accented by a four-wheeler, his initials in towering red letters and a bunch of Solo cup-swigging bros playing beer pong with a wrestler.
George Strait tribute featuring Lainey Wilson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum and Chris Stapleton
The beloved King of Country got his proper respect during a nine-minute, all-star tribute that kicked off with Wilson performing “Amarillo By Morning,” followed by Johnson’s take on “Give It Away,” Lambert and McCollum joining in on “Troubadour” and the Country Music Hall of Famer himself popping out with Stapleton for their collab, “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”
Ashley McBryde
McBryde’s reverential tribute to late country outlaw Kris Kristofferson via his classic “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” brought a hush over the arena as her crystalline voice was accompanied by a series of pictures of the beloved singer who died at 88 in September.
Luke Bryan
The American Idol judge and night’s co-host kept it simple with a bare bones, earnest run through his top 5 Country Airplay hit, “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.”
Eric Church
In his ongoing quest to keep a light on those Americans in his home state of North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, Church played “Darkest Hour,” a song he released last month to help with recovery efforts. The impassioned Van Morrison-like ballad, which found Church backed by a horn and string section and choir, featured projected images from the aftermath of the devastating storm.
Editor’s note: At press time Post Malone’s solo performance of his ballad “Yours,” Jelly Roll and Keith Urban’s team-up on “Liar” and the “American Girl” finale with Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes were not available on the CMAs YouTube feed.
As this year’s CMA Awards drew to a close on Wednesday night (Nov. 20), Chris Stapleton became the evening’s foremost winner, picking up three trophies, single of the year, song of the year (both for “White Horse”) and male vocalist of the year. Morgan Wallen took home the evening’s biggest win, entertainer of the year. Meanwhile, Cody Johnson picked up album of the year for Leather. Brooks & Dunn extended their streak of the most wins in the vocal duo of the year category, nabbing a 15th win in the category. Megan Moroney picked up her first CMA Awards win, for new artist of the year, as did Riley Green and Ella Langley, in the musical event of the year category, for “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Outside of the award winners, many of the brightest moments at this year’s show came via a host of performances from artists ranging from legendary artists to buzzy newcomers. The soundscape highlighted a range of music under the country umbrella, including classic Texas honky-tonk, soul and rock fusions and bluegrass-leaning jams.
This year’s performances included several collaborations, including Kelsea Ballerini teaming with Noah Kahan, Post Malone performing with Chris Stapleton and Jelly Roll partnering with Brooks & Dunn on a stirring, gospel-tinged version of Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe,” included on B&D’s new Reboot II album. Plus, Dierks Bentley played alongside a trio of bluegrass music luminaries: Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes.
Artist tributes also contributed to some of the top moments, with Ashley McBryde paying homage the late singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. George Strait was honored with the 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, and was feted with all-star performances from Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
Meanwhile, Eric Church continued to bring awareness to those impacted by Hurricane Helene through his stirring performance of “Darkest Hour.”
Every artist brought a unique artistry and talent to the CMA Awards stage. Here, we count down the top performances.
Post Malone Offers Familial Ode on “Yours”
The 2024 CMA Awards, held on Wednesday (Nov. 20) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, had its fair share of snubs and surprises. To be sure, many races went exactly as expected. Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the seventh year in a row, the longest continuous winning streak in that category’s history. […]
