Country music fans from far and wide tuned in on November 9th to watch the 56th annual Country Music Association Awards. The show took place in none other than Nashville, Tennessee, the home to country music. Hosted by country music celebrity Luke Bryan along with former NFL player Peyton Manning, the CMA Awards was a night to remember. 

The night was filled with incredible live performances from renowned country artists like Carrie Underwood and Chris Stapleton to singers of other genres, such as Katy Perry. The show opened with a tribute to the late Loretta Lynn performed by country music powerhouses Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert. Not only did Luke Bryan act as a host, but he also wowed the audience with a performance of one of his new songs, “Country On.” Throughout the award show, powerful artists continued to show their talent and captivate the audience with the true culture of country music.

As for the nominations, musicians ranging from country music veterans to newcomers were in the running. For the Entertainer of the Year award, Luke Combs, who has been a big star on the country music radar since 2016, took the victory. His fellow nominees included extremely popular artists Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen. Chris Stapleton took Male Vocalist of the Year, making it his 6th time winning the award. As for Female Vocalist of the Year, the winner ended up being Lainey Wilson, an up-and-coming country star. Although this was her first time being nominated at the CMA Awards, Lainey Wilson beat renowned artists, setting a theme of victory among newcomers at the show. Wilson later won the New Artist of the Year award. New country star Cody Johnson won multiple awards for his song “Til You Can’t,” most notably being Single of the Year. Actress Blake Lively, unfortunately, did not take Music Video of the Year for directing Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me,” but it was awarded to Cody Johnson.

The CMA Awards were a great opportunity to congratulate the newest artists on the country music scene and recognize country music legends. Not only did fans get to watch their favorite artists win awards for their hard work, but they also were presented with amazing performances by some of the best artists in the industry. 

If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show live, the performances can still be watched on the CMA website. Also, make sure to listen to the new country artists who were nominated for awards this year, like winner Lainey Wilson