Lainey Wilson had to wait little longer to take home the highest CA Award, performer of the year. The emerging talent won the big kahuna in only her second year of receiving any nominations at all, and her first year receiving a nomination for the largest prize. She also won awards for music video of the year, music event of the year, album of the year, and female singer of the year (the latter two jointly with Hardy).
The first two on-air prizes, for song of the year and single of the year, went to Luke Combs’ rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” which sparked the most excitement from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Presenter Sara Evans delivered a letter from singer-songwriter Chapman, who expressed regret for not being able to join everyone but said how honored he was that his song had been acknowledged 35 years after its release. As he accepted the award for single of the year, Combs said, “I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs ever.” It was my very first all-time favorite song.
Jelly Roll won new artist of the year in a highly competitive category for up-and-coming talent. Zach Bryan, the contender who has had the most commercial success in the genre, was singled out by him in his award speech, with the statement, “I think you are one of the hottest things on earth, not just country music.” Jelly Roll went on to say, “There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year,” in an almost preacher-like, encouraging tone. It matters much more what’s in front of you than what’s behind you. Nashville, let’s celebrate!
After winning male singer for the seventh time, Chris Stapleton said, “I’ve won a couple of these,” adding that he is “always humbled” to have succeeded. “I don’t do any of this without her,” he said, expressing his gratitude to his wife Morgane Stapleton. Don’t acquire any of them without her, for sure. Stapleton listed two pals who passed away this year, including Mike Henderson, his old Steel Drivers bandmate who, according to Stapleton, taught him songwriting techniques.
Sixth-time vocal pair of the year winners Brothers Osborne said, “We’re shocked, honestly, every year this happens.” Singer T.J. Osborne. Given the direction things were going, I believed Lainey Wilson and Hardy would win this prize. In a similar vein, Old Dominion maintained their hold on the group of the year title, winning it for a record six times.
Jelly Roll began the performance, then Wynonna Judd, an unexpected visitor, joined him for a gospel choir-driven rendition of “Need a Favor.” Another performance that was kept a secret until the evening was Wallen and Eric Church performing their recorded duet of “Man Made a Bar,” which is off Wallen’s critically acclaimed album “One Thing at a Time.” During the three-hour show, Wallen and Jelly Roll are scheduled to perform again. Wallen will honor Wynonna by performing a duet of the Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge” with K. Michelle.
Wilson had the most nominations (9), going into the awards. Jelly Roll, with five nominations, holds the second-highest total. Hardy and Combs got four nominations apiece.
Among the evening’s performances are an all-star tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett including Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown, and longtime Buffett band member Mac McAnally, as well as a medley of country songs performed by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen.
You may watch individual CMA performances here on YouTube before the complete program streams on Hulu on Thursday.
The whole list of winners in each category, highlighted in bold:
PERFORMANCE STAR OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs (2)
• Stapleton Chris
Tracy Underwood
• Wallen Morgan
The Linney Wilson
YEAR’S TOP SINGLE
The artist(s), producer(s), and mix engineer(s) get this award.
• “Quick Car” by Luke Combs
Producers: Jonathan Singleton, Chip Matthews, and Luke Combs
Mix Engineer: Matthews Chip
• Lainey Wilson, “Heart Like a Truck”
Director: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jay Joyce and Jason Hall
• Jelly Roll, “Need A Favor”
Producer: Nivarel Austin
Engineer of Mix: Jeff Braun
• Jordan Davis, “Next Thing You Know”
Paul DiGiovanni, producer
Designated Mixer: Jim Cooley
Tom Hardy, “Wait in the Truck” (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Derek Wells, Jordan Schmidt, Joey Moi, Hardy
Blending Master: Joey Moi
RECORD OF THE YEAR
The artist, producer(s), and mix engineer(s) get this award.
• Ashley McBryde Presents: Ashley McBryde Presents Lindeville
Producers: John Peets and John Osborne
Mix Engineers: John Osborne and Gena Johnson
• Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country
Director: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jay Joyce and Jason Hall
• Luke Combs, “Gettin’ Old”
Producers: Jonathan Singleton, Chip Matthews, and Luke Combs
Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, and Chip Matthews were the mix engineers.
Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing At A Time”
Producers: Cameron Montgomery, Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, and Jacob Durrett
Mix engineers: Eivind Nordland, Joey Moi, and Josh Ditty
Kelsea Ballerini, “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat”
Producers: Alysa Vanderheym and Kelsea Ballerini
Mix engineers: Alysa Vanderheym and Dan Grech-Marguerat
SONGS DURING THE YEAR
To the songwriter(s): Award
• “Quick Car”
Author of songs: Tracy Chapman
• “My Heart Is Like A Truck”
Writers: Lainey Wilson, Dallas Wilson, and Trannie Anderson
• “Thing You Know Next”
Writers: Josh Osborne, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, and Chase McGill
• “Orange Tennessee”
Composers: Ben Williams, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins, and David Fanning
• “Await the truck.”
Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, and Jordan Schmidt are the songwriters.
ANNUAL FEMALE VOCALIST
Kendall Ballerini
• Patricia Lambert
Harrison McBryde
• Pearce, Carly
The Linney Wilson
AUTHORITY VOCALIST FOR MEN
Luke Combs (2)
•Roll of jelly
•Johnson Cody
•Stapleton Chris
•Wallen Morgan
VOICE COLLECTIVE OF THE YEAR
• Woman A
•Tiny, Big Town
•Midwest
•Former Dominion
•Brown Band Zac
YEAR’S BEST VOCAL DUO
Brooks and Dunn.
• The Osborne brothers
• Shay and Dan
Maddie and Tae
• The Treaty and the War
EVENT OF THE YEAR FOR MUSICALS
The artists and producer(s) get this award.
• Jelly Roll, “Save Me” (featuring Lainey Wilson)
Producers: David Ray Stevens and Zach Crowell
The remix of “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” — Jo Dee Messina and Cole Swindell
Created by Zach Crowell
• Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown): “Thank God”
Director: Dann Huff
Tom Hardy, “Wait in the Truck” (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Derek Wells, Jordan Schmidt, Joey Moi, Hardy
• Carly Pearce, “We Don’t Fight Anymore” (with Chris Stapleton)
Producers: Carly Pearce, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
• Fleenor Jenee
•Franklin Paul
•McNelley, Rob
•Wells, Derek
•Worsham Charlie
VIDEO MUSICALE OF THE YEAR
The winner is/are the director(s) and artist(s).
• Ashley McBryde, “Light On In The Kitchen”
Director: Long Reid
• Old Dominion’s “Memory Lane”
Directors: Nicki Fletcher and Mason Allen
• Jelly Roll, “Need A Favor”
Patrick Tohill’s directorship
• Jordan Davis, “Next Thing You Know”
Director: Bear in Motion
Tom Hardy, “Wait in the Truck” (with Lainey Wilson)
Clinough, Justin, director
Artist of the Year: New
•Bryan Zach
•Roll of jelly
•McCollum Parker
•Meggan Morrow
•Whitney, Hayley
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