The 58th Annual CMA Awards lit up Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last night, delivering an unforgettable evening of jaw-dropping performances, historic wins, and heartwarming moments. Hosted by the dynamic trio of Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson, the night celebrated the best of country music with a perfect blend of humour, camaraderie, and show-stopping talent.
Major Wins and Milestones
- Morgan Wallen earned his first-ever CMA Entertainer of the Year award, cementing his place as one of country music’s brightest stars.
- Megan Moroney was crowned CMA New Artist of the Year, a testament to her meteoric rise in the genre.
- A new record was set as both Brooks & Dunn and Chris Stapleton tied for the title of most-awarded CMA winners of all time, each boasting an impressive 19 wins.
Unforgettable Performances and Collaborations
The night was packed with electrifying solo acts and groundbreaking collaborations:
Solo Performances:
- Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman delivered performances that ranged from high-energy to deeply emotional, showcasing the versatility of country music.
Show-Stopping Collaborations:
- Kelsea Ballerini joined forces with Noah Kahan for a breathtaking duet.
- Dierks Bentley, alongside Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, brought bluegrass magic to the stage.
- Brooks & Dunn teamed up with Jelly Roll, while Jelly Roll also performed with Keith Urban, delivering some of the evening’s most memorable moments.
- Ella Langley and Riley Green charmed the audience with their duet.
- Post Malone and Chris Stapleton set the stage ablaze with their powerhouse performance.
- Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims delivered a soulful collaboration.
- Cody Johnson surprised fans with a stunning duet alongside Carrie Underwood.
A Tribute to a Legend
The night also honored the 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, George Strait, in a moving tribute. The “King of Country” himself surprised the audience by joining Lainey Wilson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, and Chris Stapleton for a heartfelt celebration of his unparalleled career.
A Night of Records and Revelry
With a combination of record-breaking wins, stellar performances, and surprises, the 58th CMA Awards once again proved why it’s one of the most anticipated nights in country music. From Morgan Wallen’s historic win to George Strait’s iconic tribute, the evening celebrated the heart and soul of country music while looking toward its exciting future.
Our Thoughts and Opinions
- Morgan Wallen's ‘Entertainer of the Year' award was thoroughly well deserved and puts to bed all the suspicions and theories about Wallen being frozen out by the voting members of the CMA. It secures his place in Country music after one of the biggest grossing tours of all time and a string of mesmeric and iconic performances. However, it also places a weight on his shoulders as an ambassador for the genre worldwide that he needs to take seriously too.
- Chris Stapleton and Post Malone's ‘California Sober' was a rowdy, funky way to open the show and the song suited the style of both singers.
- Luke Bryan's teeth. Just that. Luke Bryan's teeth.
- To be fair, Luke Bryan's presenting style and the fact that they made him the butt of the jokes worked well and helped him come across as very likeable. Lainey was a good presenter and very natural up in that position.
- George Strait sort of didn't understand what all the fuss was about, did he?
- Luke Combs always, always looks better in a hat.
- Chris Stapleton's ‘White Horse' was a great song and I was surprised more people haven't been talking about it all year. A well deserved winner of Song and Single of the year.
- Why wasn't Megan Moroney allowed to say ‘he's good in bed' in the chorus of ‘Am I Okay?'
- Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley and John Osborne took the toast to Toby Keith very seriously.
- Shaboozey's performance of ‘A Bar Song' was awesome and the backing dancers really added to the feel too – let's hope he's not just a flash in the pan.
- We love you Charlie Worsharm – his surprise at being ‘Musician of the Year' was so heartwarming as was his speech.
- I wonder when Chris Stapleton realised that Morganne didn't come up on stage to accept the ‘Single of the Year' with him and what his ‘F-word' reaction might have been to provoke the apology during his acceptance speech during ‘Song of the Year'?
- Riley Green's little fist bump with Dierks as he took the stage during the duet with Ella Langley was very sweet.
- Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims copying Morgan Wallen's iconic ‘walk to the stage' made me chuckle.
- Keith Urban comes across a massive advocate for just about everybody in Nashville – he knows all the lyrics to every song, right?
- I love Cody and I love Carrie but their duet ‘I'm Gonna Love You' just lacks that extra spark, umph or special, secret something that would make it a classic. I did like the way that Carrie just unassumingly walked on stage to perform it though – it was good to have her back!
- Jordan Davis scrubs up nice, doesn't he?
- It was great to see The Red Clay Strays nominated for Vocal Group of the Year but it's going to take something special from Little Big Town and Lady A to seemingly dislodge Old Dominion from winning this award – even Matt Ramsey looked a little abashed at first. His speech was great although I'm not sure Little Big Town enjoyed being put with the Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama as ‘bands that paved the way.'
- Brooks and Dunn and Jelly Roll doing ‘Believe' was the performance of the night. Ronnie Dunn is 71 years old – take that in and lets give the guy some credit for keeping his voice (and hair) in top notch condition.
- Post Malone is ‘such a great addition to our family' as Luke Bryan said.
- Pleased for Cody Johnson winning ‘Album of the Year' – he seems a thoroughly nice fella.
- The new string arrangement of Lainey Wilson's ‘4X4XU' was much better than the original, which isn't one of her strongest songs. Release this one please!
- I love Bailey Zimmerman and if you've made it this far through my reactions I'll give you a little spoiler that at this point his show in Birmingham, UK earlier in 2024 is well in contention for being my gig of the year. Don't love Bailey Zimmerman's little white shorts though!!!!
- Brooks and Dunn didn't seem to expect to win vocal duo of the year but why the hell would they think that given they've already won it 14 times before last night! When Ronnie said ‘What a weird business, right?' it made me laugh out loud.
- Lainey did justice to ‘Amarillo by Morning'.' I wonder how many of the newer viewers wondered who the hell Jamey Johnson was!
- Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, for me, still the two leading female singers in Country music right now, just turned up and sang on other people's songs which speaks well to their characters given the industry isn't showing either of them the love that it used to or that they deserve.
- There was a lot of Texas vibes on the show this year which is also a reflection to where the money and the industry and fan base has lurched in these past few years. Let's hope that keeps going because the Lone Star state is an important part of the genre jigsaw.
- George Strait looks damn ruggedly fine for 72 years old! Him and Ronnie Dunn ought to get together and do one of those risqué calendar shoots! He's been with his wife for 53 years – what an upstanding and wholesome man.
- Well done Ashley McBryde – lovely tribute to Kris Kristofferson – again, she's an artist who understands the import of tipping your hat to those who have gone before.
- It was great to see Carrie, Miranda, Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley performing at the show – these are the real heavyweights of the modern Country genre and the only artist missing from that group was Brad Paisley really, maybe Aldean too. The CMA has been accused of ignoring them over the past few years in favour of younger, trendier, TikTok friendly artists so it was good to seem them representing them this year. Even Kacey Musgraves seems to be back in the fold again – what a throwback year 2024 was!
- I want Jelly Roll and Keith Urban to form a duo – they look and sound so good together. Can you imagine the positivity and good vibes that the pair of them would bring to the world plus the extended guitar solos would slay. ‘Urban Roll'? ‘Jelly Keith'?
- The tributes and nods to the great artists of the past, like the one to Tom Petty, were well handled and well placed this year.
- I feel like Dierks Bentley has transitioned into an ‘elder statesman who can do whatever the F he wants to now' and it's a good look on him. He's earned it and doesn't have to worry about all the other rubbish that being in Nashville brings – he can just turn up and do whatever he feels like. Rock. Country. Bluegrass. Love it.
- Was Jeff Bridges actually just Jamey Johnson without a wig and beard?
- You'd have thought that the CMA would have told Jeff Bridges how to pronounce Morgan Wallen's name – that was the one cringe-inducing moment of the show.
- How come Morgan Wallen wasn't there? What a damp squib of an ending to announce the biggest prize of the night and not to have the recipient there. If Morgan knew he was going to win and didn't show that was something of a dick move on his part. Is that the first time the Entertainer of the Year has failed to be there? Feels like the tension between the parties involved just rumbles on.
- An enjoyable show with a carefully balanced mix of old and young, new and traditional. Nicely handled and slickly presented by Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning – I mean, it was as cheesy as hell but in an enjoyable way that made me chuckle a few times and that's all you can ask from those awkward presenting moments and segues between segments.
