CMA Awards night served as a coronation of a new queen of country – Lainey Wilson. The Louisiana native entered the show as the most nominated artist (nine), and she walked out of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with five wins including Entertainer of the Year. In fact, her one-year turnaround from winning last year’s New Artist to this year’s top prize has only been done by one other artist – Garth Brooks.
Lainey was named Female Vocalist for the second consecutive year. Plus, her latest album Bell Bottom Country took home honors as Album of the Year. Additionally, “wait in the truck” delivered wins in the categories of Musical Event and Music Video. Those trophies mark the first CMA wins for HARDY.
Chris Stapleton collected his seventh win for Male Vocalist. Also extending their win streaks were Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne with their sixth wins as Vocal Group and Vocal Duo respectively. Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 hit “Fast Car,” which was a five-week number one for Luke, swept Single and Song of the Year. First-time winner Jelly Roll was named New Artist of the Year and laid down the most memorable speech of the evening as he preached the power of perseverance. Hallelujah!
Check out the full list of nominations with winners in each category noted. And, you can relive the night’s performances on YouTube.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson — WINNER
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s)
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs — WINNER
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Producer: Austin Nivarel
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s)
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
Producers: John Osborne, John Peets
Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson — WINNER
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineer: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery
Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
“Fast Car” — WINNER
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like A Truck”
Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know”
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange”
Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck”
Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson — WINNER
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion — WINNER
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne — WINNER
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
Producer: Zach Crowell
“Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
Producer: Dann Huff
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) — WINNER (Announced prior to the show)
Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor — WINNER
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
“Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde
Director: Reid Long
“Memory Lane” – Old Dominion
Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Director: Patrick Tohill
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Director: Running Bear
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) — WINNER (Announced prior to the show)
Director: Justin Clough
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan
Jelly Roll — WINNER
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
Images: Lainey Wilson (screenshot) / CMA Awards logo (CMA)
