After dominating the pop and nation charts since 2019, Morgan Wallen picked up his first entertainer of the 12 months honor on the 2024 CMA Awards, although he wasn’t there to simply accept it.
The nation star beat out final 12 months’s winner, Lainey Wilson, in addition to Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Chris Stapleton, who gained a number of honors Wednesday. Jeff Bridges introduced the ultimate award of the night time, which comes weeks after Wallen earned his first pair of Grammy nominations.
Although Wallen missed the present, Stapleton was the massive winner: He took house single, track and male vocalist of the 12 months. He additionally opened the three-hour occasion alongside Publish Malone with their collaboration, “California Sober,” sang “Honky Tonk Corridor of Fame” with George Strait — who earned the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award — and strummed his guitar whereas watching his spouse, Morgane Stapleton, as they carried out “What Am I Gonna Do.”
Collectively, the Stapletons gained single of the 12 months for “White Horse” (Morgane co-produced it). “I’m stunned,” Stapleton mentioned as he gained track of the 12 months, dedicating the award to Morgane.
Brooks & Dunn additionally shined onstage, incomes the efficiency of the night time alongside Jelly Roll for an up to date rendition of their 2005 hit “Imagine.” It introduced a number of viewers members to tears, together with Keith City and Little Large City’s Jimi Westbrook and Philip Candy. The icons additionally gained vocal duo of the 12 months.
“There’s a well-known quote that claims, ‘Time is undefeated.’ I simply say, ‘Not but I assume,’” Kix Brooks mentioned.
The efficiency was one in every of many successful moments for Jelly Roll. He made the guts image together with his arms as Malone sang his touching track about his daughter, “Yours”; he cheered Cody Johnson on as he gained album of the 12 months (Jelly Roll was additionally nominated within the class); and he introduced the home down with a rousing, soulful efficiency of “Liar,” which included a successful help from City on guitar.
Eric Church honored storm victims together with his efficiency; Combs sang his Grammy-nominated hit “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” from the Twisters soundtrack; Ashley McBryde paid tribute to Kris Kristofferson with “Assist Me Make It By way of the Night time”; and Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum and Jamey Johnson honored Strait, who earned a standing ovation from the viewers on the Bridgestone Enviornment in Nashville. “I need to thank the CMAs for including my title to the unimaginable artists on this small record of recipients, carrying the title of the icon Willie Nelson,” Strait mentioned.
Different performers embody Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett with Teddy Swims, Dierks Bentley, Bailey Zimmerman, Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan, and Shaboozey, who sang “A Bar Track (Tipsy).” The monitor not too long ago logged its 18th week on high of the Billboard Scorching 100 and is one week shy of tying the report set by one other country-rap mashup: “Previous City Highway” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Shaboozey misplaced new artist of the 12 months to Megan Moroney, whereas Previous Dominion had been named vocal group of the 12 months and Ella Langley and Riley Inexperienced gained musical occasion of the 12 months for “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Wilson gained feminine vocalist of the 12 months and co-hosted the present with Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan.
“There’s one factor I need to say to everyone right here concerning the latest outcomes — whether or not the candidate you voted for gained or misplaced, all of us must get collectively behind the winner,” Wilson mentioned as Manning rapidly chimed in with: “Lainey, we talked about this now, let’s not get into politics tonight.”
She replied: “I’m speaking concerning the vote for Folks’s Sexiest Man Alive.”
