Country music superstar Luke Combs has broken many records in his surprisingly quick ascent in Nashville, but this summer, he proved he can sell out stadiums — and voters rewarded him accordingly. For the second year in a row, Combs won Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night on ABC, the most prestigious award at the genre’s biggest awards show.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Combs, who also took home the album of the year trophy for his most recent record, “Grown Up.” “I want to thank country music for making my dream come true. … There’s no one in this category who doesn’t deserve to be standing here.
Combs wins over Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Morgan Wallen – How Wallen, best known to mainstream audiences as a singer saying the n-word in a February 2021 TMZ video, once again saved the industry from headlines. He was rewarded with a redemptive journey.
Any other potential conflicts were also ignored; Not a word has been said about the recent, widely covered social media incident involving Jason Aldean and Maren Morris, after Aldean’s wife, influencer Britney, posted an Instagram video Morris criticized as transphobic. Although Morris previously said she might leave the show, they all attended. (Both Aldean and Morris were nominated for the same award and did not win in their respective categories.)
And although co-host Luke Bryan issued a defensive statement last week after he criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for inviting him on stage at the concert, no one touched on politics or current events — except for Bryan and his co-host, Peyton Manning. Jokingly said that if Brian ran for president, his slogan might be “a candidate who never begs a fifth, but he will drink a fifth.”
Newcomers Cody Johnson and Lenny Wilson tied Coombs with two wins; Johnson won in the single and music video categories with his impossibly catchy hit “‘Til You Can’t,” while Wilson won for new artist and a female vocalist. Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne continued their march as industry favorites as a group and duo, respectively, and Jordan Davis’ recent smash “By Dirt” (featuring Brian, his labelmate) won song of the year.
The full list of winners and nominees is below — here are some highlights from the night.
Tribute to Loretta Lynn
The death of 90-year-old Loretta Lynn rocked many members of the country music world last month, as they mourned the groundbreaking legend who opened doors for countless women. The show opened with footage of Lynn accepting the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year in 1972, the first time a woman had won the award, followed by tributes from Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McIntyre.
The trio sang some of Lynn’s greatest hits, including Underwood’s “You, Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)”, “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)”. From Lambert, “You’re Looking at Country” from McEntire and of course, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” sung by the trio. While it would have been fitting for a woman to finally win entertainer of the year for the first time since Taylor Swift took home the trophy in 2011, Underwood and Lambert went home empty-handed.
Cole Swindell and Joe De Messina and ’90s country
It was the moment ’90s country fanatics had been waiting for: the audience screamed as Joe De Messina joined Cole Swindell for a rousing version of Swindell’s “She Had Me at Head’s Carolina,” a reimagining of Messina’s 1996 smash. , tail California.”
It’s hard to overstate how big a hit this is for Swindell, who has had several big singles in his career, but the song saw it explode over the summer and fall, spending five weeks at No. 1 on the radio charts — as Nashville knows, the ’90s nostalgia is real and heavy. is Swindell and Messina finally released a remix of the song together this week, perfectly timed for their CMAs performance.
Chris Stapleton and Patty Loveless, together again
The two Kentucky natives performed together at a recent Kentucky benefit concert for flood relief and thrilled the CMAs audience when they sang Lovelace’s “You Won’t Leave Harlan Alive.” Chris Stapleton’s booming voice — the reason he won Male Vocalist of the Year — always sends country fans into a frenzy, and aided by Patty Loveless’ stellar vocals, the crowd was practically on its feet before the song was over.
Tribute to Alan Jackson
Nothing shows love at the Country Awards more than showing how many contemporary stars love the hits of legendary artists, and Camera performed during her tribute to Alan Jackson’s classics with songs from Kelsey Ballerini, Breland, Ashley McBride, Combs, and more.
Jackson, who received this year’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, took the stage for “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” but several others performed their own versions of Jackson’s hits, including Underwood (“Remember Wayne”) and Dierks Bentley. , John Pardee and Wilson all together on “Chattahoochee,” “Drive (For Daddy Jean)” and “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”
Brothers Osborne and War and Treaty
Brothers Osborne continued the tradition of electrifying awards show performances with a cover of “It’s Only Rock N’ Roll (But I Like It)” by the Rolling Stones — a track from an upcoming country music tribute album called “Stone Cold Country” — as well. With War and Peace, husband and wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, whose powerful vocals added to the fun spectacle. Trotters flashed around the stage as the brothers anchored on guitar, and the camera panned to crowd members dancing like they were having the time of their lives from T.J. On Osborne’s girlfriend Morgan Stapleton.
Hardy and Wilson’s murder ballad
Country music awards shows these days are known more for glitz than chilling killer songs, but Hardy and Wilson were determined to change that during a mesmerizing performance of one track, “Wait, Did He Just Say What I Said?” In this case, yes, Hardy. Sings from the perspective of a man who kills Wilson’s abuser and then goes to prison. And to make sure no one missed the point, Hardy – standing in front of the truck – drew his finger across his throat after singing the line in prison: “It’s not heaven, it’s true / But it’s absolute hell. Much better than where I sent him.”
“I want abused people to hear the song,” Wilson told The Associated Press. “I want them to feel like they’re not alone. But I want the abusers to hear it. I want them to be haunted.”
Kelsey Ballerini’s drinking anthem with a twist
Ballerini has been criticized throughout her career for being “too pop,” but her latest album features some of the year’s most classic country songs — including the upbeat “You’re Drunk, Go Home” with Carly Pierce and her collaborations. Kelly “always felt like she was on the verge of going into country music” Clarkson. All three singers sarcastically inform the songstress that they’re not interested in his pickup lines, and as they belt out the lyrics, for some reason, a brief shower of fire is behind them.
Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry’s amazing chemistry
A duet between Thomas Rhett and pop star Katy Perry – decked out in fringe dresses and cowboy hats for the ultimate country authenticity – looks like it shouldn’t work…. And yet? They were both on their A-game for the collaboration of “Where It Began,” about the couple’s younger days. Rhett admitted that he was very skeptical that Perry would agree to be on the song, and Perry admitted that he didn’t know who she was and had to ask his fellow “American Idol” judge Bryan. But this time, their vocals sounded even stronger than when they sang the track together at the “Idol” finale in the spring.
Winners and Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs — winner
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton — winner
Morgan Wallen
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson — winner
Album of the year
“Growin’ Up” Luke Combs — winner
“Humble Quest” Maren Morris
“Palomino” Miranda Lambert
“Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ ” Lainey Wilson
“Time, Tequila and Therapy” Old Dominion
Single of the year
“Buy Dirt” Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
“You Should Probably Leave” Chris Stapleton
“Half of My Hometown” Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney
“‘Til You Can’t” Cody Johnson — winner
Song of the year
“Buy Dirt” Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan (written by Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins) — winner
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde (written by Pearce, McBryde, Shane McAnally)
“You Should Probably Leave” Chris Stapleton (written by Stapleton, Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley)
“Sand in My Boots” Morgan Wallen (written by Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne)
“Things a Man Oughta Know” (written by Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton)
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion — winner
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne — winner
Dan + Shay
Locash
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
Michael Hardy
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Lainey Wilson — winner
Musical event of the year
“Longneck Way to Go” Midland feat. Jon Pardi
“Never Say Never” Cole Swindell with Lainey Wilson
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde — winner
“Beers On Me” Dierks Bentley with Breland and Michael Hardy
“If I Didn’t Love You” Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Music Video of the Year
“Longneck Way to Go” Midland feat. Jon Pardi
“Never Say Never” Cole Swindell with Lainey Wilson
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
“I Bet You Think About Me” Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton
“’Til You Can’t” Cody Johnson — winner