The 57th Annual CMA Awards are in the books and what a night it was. From the stars that shined on the red carpet to the closing number, there was a lot to see and talk about. So, let’s jump right in
THE RED CARPET
Watch some of your favs SLAY on the red carpet
THE WELCOME
I said it last year when Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning teamed up for the first time and I’ll say it again this year, Peyton Manning outshined Luke Bryan. I like them both, I know they’re friends, but Peyton is just so comfortable doing this.
THE PERFORMANCES
First, the opener – Jelly Roll feat. Wynonna had us all talking and all concerned. We know Wynonna has suffered from some pretty crippling anxiety in the past and it looked like Jelly Roll was her rock during this performance cause she was hanging on tight. That said, it was still a great way to open the show
https://youtu.be/M6xqPt1ovr0?si=ZunlTrnKdpA_jRCC
https://youtu.be/76wGTD-dOiQ?si=IOyGcyJ-Xs60bQkv
When Lainey Wilson came out and did “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” – I knew it was that moment that solidified her choice as Entertainer of the Year”
https://x.com/JJOnKFDI/status/1722439945686577188?s=20
https://youtu.be/avEpbzjfIMM?si=yQiwfXVzZDmj5yZe
This performance was one of my favorites of the night.
https://youtu.be/BkWnesCGIjA?si=ZJrG0sREdmBHeFuK
and this was another of my favorites…..Kelsea just crushed it. When she and Ashley were singing, you could have heard a pin drop. Ever since I heard this song, a lot of my friends listened to it as if she was singing about someone else. I think it’s a song to herself.
https://youtu.be/7BDqNyd-Eog?si=55mtjrVyWDbWFcZy
Surprise #1
https://youtu.be/NDMPJy_qcOg?si=PSMPJmnRYcoibdLB
Surprise #2
https://youtu.be/zxKEtIarHh4?si=W38vBKZ_LDc1yMFi
https://youtu.be/fb_QDvqhT5Y?si=k-YF4SeZ7l32av0B
https://youtu.be/5yz6FzxoY_I?si=DjiHH226TDAlMPYV
https://youtu.be/QpDNlD_Qe9Y?si=3FBQ6cKjVTgqmlkq
His new album HIGHER comes out Friday…..this song climbing the charts is on it.
https://youtu.be/AQcMM4xAzIA?si=AKzSdnIHH_4hRpIh
https://youtu.be/IDndsgLmVNI?si=DmDyVnbIhoxuEA9g
https://youtu.be/41bTriX7J7k?si=eNRColvIaAT8HcHM
https://youtu.be/QbctMIwH4FE?si=-H1fNSQlynWPhGUV
https://youtu.be/GB7MsQrjyrI?si=tDTFuHAjsbUPX4vm
https://youtu.be/jqxGbFN9ytI?si=o-4TT7JUjB2Rv2Ym
https://youtu.be/u3jCpGsu9EU?si=3mER29ZSSajcncTD
https://youtu.be/T8_jYByttpc?si=Czzx1HrfIkD0RqSh
THE WINNERS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
https://youtu.be/x9IuLCGZJp8
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: “Fast Car” – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Producer: Austin Nivarel
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“Wait in the Truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
Producers: John Osborne, John Peets
Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
WINNER: Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery
Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
SONG OF THE YEAR
WINNER: “Fast Car”
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like A Truck”
Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know”
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange”
Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben William
“Wait in the Truck”
Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
WINNER: Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
WINNER: Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
Producer: Zach Crowell
“Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
Producer: Dann Huff
WINNER: “Wait in the Truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Well y’all…this is some exciting news to wake up to.❤️It’s meant a lot to me to be on this ride with ya brother @HardyMusic. Thank you @CountryMusic! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/d7LRAiRbHG
— Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson) November 8, 2023
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde
Director: Reid Long
“Memory Lane” – Old Dominion
Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Director: Patrick Tohill
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Director: Running Bear
“Wait in the Truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Director: Justin Clough
Well y’all…this is some exciting news to wake up to.❤️It’s meant a lot to me to be on this ride with ya brother @HardyMusic. Thank you @CountryMusic! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/d7LRAiRbHG
— Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson) November 8, 2023
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
BACKSTAGE AND OTHER STORIES
