The 59th Annual CMA Awards took place Wednesday night (November 19) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, which was solo hosted by Lainey Wilson – who went on to win the event’s biggest awards, Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Whirlwind.
The night got started with a raucous performance of “Back in the Saddle” by 2-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs. Wilson then sang a medley of the year’s biggest country hits to start her hosting duties, dancing and singing in the aisles with Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Shaboozey, and Little Big Town. High-profile celebrity couple Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley presented the night’s first CMA award, as Single of the Year went to Langley and Riley Green for their smash hit, “You Look Like You Love Me,” which also took home Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Brooks & Dunn won Vocal Duo of the Year for the 16th time, while Zach Top won his very first CMA award for Best New Artist, after a spirited rendition of his current hit song, “Guitar.”
The ceremony was filled with a series of memorable performances, as Chris Stapleton delivered a rousing rendition of his F1 single, “Bad as I Used to Be,” and later joined with Miranda Lambert for their recent duet, “A Song to Sing,” while Kelsea Ballerini performed her brand new single, “I Sit in Parks,” appropriately while barefoot and sitting on a swing. The Red Clay Strays – first-time winners for Vocal Group of the Year – delivered a fiery take on their hit, “People Hatin’,” while Stephen Wilson Jr. performed a deeply moving cover of the Ben E. King classic, “Stand By Me,” later joining Shaboozey for a stirring rendition of “Took a Walk.”
Four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year – and new inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame – Kenny Chesney paid touching tribute to his late collaborator, the distinguished songwriter Brett James, while performing his classic hits, “When the Sun Goes Down” and “American Kids.” Old Dominion delivered a medley of their hits, and host Wilson did triple-duty – in addition to hosting and being the night’s big winner – by also performing her Whirlwind standout, “Ring Finger,” in tribute to her fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
Vince Gill was presented the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award by the King of Country, George Strait, after Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless paid tribute to the music legend with a tender cover of his 1989 classic, “When I Call Your Name.” Cody Johnson won his first Male Vocalist of the Year CMA award, while steel guitar legend Paul Franklin was recognized as Musician of the Year, and Post Malone won his very first CMA Award, winning Musical Event of the Year for his collaboration with Blake Shelton, “Pour Me a Drink.”