1 of 12 | Luke Combs is awarded Single of the Year for his hit song “Fast Car,” during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The 57th annual Country Music Association Awards got underway Wednesday night in Nashville, with country music singer and two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan teaming up with retired football legend Peyton Manning to co-host for the second straight year, as early awards went to Luke Combs, Tracy Chapman and Lainey Wilson.
Jelly Roll, who has five nominations including New Artist of the Year, opened the show at Bridgestone Arena with his hit song “Need a Favor” and a surprise appearance by country music legend Wynonna Judd. Advertisement
The first award of the night went to Luke Combs for Single of the Year for his hit “Fast Car.” This is Combs’ first win in the category.
Tracy Chapman won Song of the Year, also for “Fast Car,” which was first released in 1988 on Chapman’s self-titled debut studio album. Combs re-recorded it as a cover for his 2023 album Gettin Old. Advertisement
“It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut. Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of ‘Fast Car,'” Chapman, who was not in attendance, wrote in a message.
And, the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year went to T.J. Osborne and John Osborne of Brothers Osborne, which is their sixth win in the category.
Before the show began, awards were already being handed out with Jenee Fleenor winning Musician of the Year during the CMA’s pre-show ceremony. It is Fleenor’s fifth consecutive win in that category.
Lainey Wilson, who leads this year’s nominees with nine nominations, also took home two early prizes with HARDY, winning Musical Event of the Year and Musical Video of the Year on Wednesday morning.
“Well y’all … this is some exciting news to wake up to. It’s meant a lot to me to be on this ride with ya brother,” Wilson wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Well y’all…this is some exciting news to wake up to.❤️It’s meant a lot to me to be on this ride with ya brother @HardyMusic. Thank you @CountryMusic! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/d7LRAiRbHG— Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson) November 8, 2023
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Among Wilson’s other nominations are Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country.
Combs and HARDY have four nominations each. Combs is one of five artists nominated for Entertainer of the Year, which is the highest honor at the CMA Awards, along with Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Waller and Lainey Wilson. Combs has won the award for the past two years.
Among the many anticipated performances during Wednesday’s show will be a musical tribute to the late singer Jimmy Buffett, who died in September at the age of 76. Buffett, whose final album Equal Strain on All Parts was released Friday, will be honored with a performance by Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band.
Earlier in the show, Bryan performed a medley of his biggest hits, including “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “One Margarita,” “Play It Again,” and “Country Girl.”
Combs performed “Where the Wild Things Are” from his album Gettin’ Old, while Chris Stapleton took to the stage to perform “White Horse” from his album Higher, which is scheduled for release Friday. Advertisement
Kelsea Ballerini, Post Malone, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Wallen, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town, Chris Stapleton are also performing during Wednesday night’s show.
The CMA Awards are airing live on ABC. The show will be available to stream Thursday on Hulu.
CMA Awards: Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson arrive on the red carpet
Chris Stapleton (R),and his wife, Morgane Stapleton, arrive on the red carpet at the 57th Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2023. Chris Stapleton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for his song with Carly Pearce titled “We Don’t Fight Anymore.” Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
