It’s one of the biggest nights in Country music with the Country Music Association Awards. 

Taking a page out of the Grammy Awards playbook, the CMA Awards is presenting some special musical collaborations during the awards gala.

Country music star Luke Bryan and two time Super Bowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning return to host the event.

Jelly Roll opens the show with a performance of “Need a Favor” and is joined by Wynonna Judd.

The first award of the night was for Single of the Year and went to Luke Combs for “Fast Car”.  This is the first time that Combs has earned a Single of the Year award.  Combs said that he recorded the song because he has loved it since he was four years old.

The award for Song of the Year went to Tracy Chapman for “Fast Car”.  Unable to attend, Chapmen sent a message of thanks.

Co-host and two time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan performed a medley of his hit songs.

Ashley McBryde give a performance of “Light On in the Kitchen”.

Cody Johnson performs “The Painter”.

The award for Vocal Duo of the Year to Brothers Osborne.  This is their sixth such award.

Morgan Wallen is joined by Eric Church for a world premiere of “Man Made a Bar”.

Chris Young, the CMA’s, and Chevrolet pay tribute to the people who make a difference.  This year it was Chris’ high school music teacher.  They gave her a new car.

Award winner Luke Combs performs “Where the Wild Things Are”.

Chris Stapleton takes the stage for a performance.

Jordan Davis takes the stage for a performance of “Next Thing You Know”.  When Luke Bryan noted that Jordan is a big LSU fan, the audience booed.

Award winning Broadway star Cynthia Erivo presented the award for Vocal Group of the Year to Old Dominion – their sixth.

Lainey Wilson is up for nine CMA Awards this year; she takes the stage for a performance.

Duo Dan + Shay give a performance.

Kelsea Ballerini performs.

The husband and wife duo The War and Treaty perform.

The award for New Artist of the Year went to Jelly Roll.  He noted that there was something poetic about a 39 year old man winning New Artist of the Year.

Kenny Chesney, Mac MacAnally, the Zac Brown Band, and Alan Jackson gave a musical tribute to Jimmy Buffett who died earlier this year as a result of cancer.  Members of the Zac Brown Band gave a real Jimmy tribute by performing in their bare feet and shorts.

Megan Moroney and Old Dominion join up for a performance.

Paula Abdul and Darius Rucker present the award for Album of the Year to Lainey Wilson for “Bell Bottom Country”.  This is her first Album of the Year win.

Jordan Davis presented Marine veteran and CEO of Bunker Labs the Crown Royal Person of the Year for his work with veterans.

Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton premiered “We Don’t Fight Anymore”.

Female Vocalist of the Year winner Martina McBride presented the award she had won to Lainey Wilson – her second such award.

Hardy, Morgan Wallen, and post Malone pair up for a couple of Joe Diffy songs – “John Deere Green” and “Pickup Man”.

Little Big Town perform the Tanya Tucker smash hit “Delta Dawn” – a song she recorded when she was just 13 years old.  The new Country Music Hall of Fame member joins the group to perform the song.

The award for Male Vocalist of the Year went to Chirs Stapleton.

The biggest award of the night is for Entertainer of the Year and Keith Urban presented this year’s award to Lainey Wilson.  She gave a very emotional acceptance speech, noting that music is all she knows how to do.  She compared the music business to breaking a wild horse.

Jelly Roll and K Michelle close out the night with a performance of The Judds song “Love Can Build a Bridge”.


Awards not presented during the live television broadcast:
Musical Event of the Year: “Wait in the Truck” by Hardy with Lainey Wilson
Music Video of the Year: “Wait in the Truck” by Hardy with Lainey Wilson
Musician of the Year: Jenee Fleenor