A Look Back at “The 55th Annual CMA Awards”
By Cindy Watts
Gratitude, hope and the diversity of Country Music were themes at “The 55th CMA Awards,” which were celebrated Nov. 10 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
“Whatever makes you Country, you are welcome here tonight,” host Luke Bryan said in the show’s opening monologue. “Tonight is all about the music and the dreamers.”
Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton were the biggest winners, with Combs taking his first Entertainer of the Year trophy and Stapleton winning the most categories. Combs quipped that he didn’t typically write awards show speeches and that the practice wasn’t serving him well. Alan Jackson, who presented the trophy, left him speechless.
“I’m really at a loss for words,” Combs said, holding his award. “Alan Jackson just said my name twice right now. I want to thank every artist in this room. Every single person that was nominated for this award this year and every year before deserves to win it. I don’t deserve to win it, but I’m sure as hell glad that I did.”
With four category wins — Album of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Single and Song of the Year — Stapleton just ran out of things to say. Between his two performances and four wins, he spent almost as much time onstage as show host Luke Bryan.
“(This is) incredible for a number of reasons,” Stapleton told media after the show. “To be recognized as a songwriter and from the single standpoint, those are two things that are pretty hard to get because there are a lot of great songs and a lot of great singles out there. But what’s most special to me is I won (Song of the Year) with my dear friend and co-writer and hero Mike Henderson. I’ve probably written more songs with Mike than anyone I’ve ever written with.”
Bryan was the CMA Awards’ first solo host in almost two decades, but he didn’t carry the load alone. Stars such as Elle King, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie pitched in — often hilariously — to help. But the “American Idol” judge was sincere in his excitement over his hosting gig. Bryan grew up watching the CMA Awards, and 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of when he packed his pickup truck and moved from Georgia to Nashville.
Country Music’s Biggest Night™ had a couple of Country Music’s biggest surprises — at least for the artists. Brothers Osborne took Vocal Duo of the Year for the first time since 2018, which TJ Osborne called “extremely shocking.” Osborne made history in Country Music in 2021 when he came out as gay.
“It’s been a crazy roller coaster of a year in so many ways,” he said. “To have you all support me, it really does feel like love wins.”
His brother John Osborne added, “Give this boy a round of applause.”
Jimmie Allen wept onstage as he accepted the trophy for New Artist of the Year. Allen said that five years ago, he spent his last $100 to attend “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” to watch Charley Pride perform. Last year, he got to sing with Pride on the show.
“After 10 years of being here, living in my car, living in a trailer, working every job, this is amazing,” Allen said. “I want to thank my father, who’s no longer with us, for introducing me to Country Music.”
When Carly Pearce heard her name called as Female Vocalist of the Year, she looked stunned — and then dropped her head in her hands. She tried to compose herself and make her way to the stage, but was overcome by emotion again and dropped to her knees onstage before reaching the microphone.
“I really didn’t think this was going to happen,” she sobbed as people cheered. “Help,” she choked out.
Her friend and duet partner Ashley McBryde joined her in the spotlight.
“What she really meant to say was there’s a lot of love, respect and admiration in this category,” McBryde explained, fighting emotion, before taking her seat.
“I want to thank God,” Pearce said through tears. “I’ve had just a crazy year, and I want you guys to know that this means everything to me. Country Music saved me in a time that I needed it, and I just want you guys to know that this is all I’ve ever wanted in the entire world. I hope you know that Country Music is all I love.”
As much as the night was dedicated to recognizing the industry-voted highlights of the last year, it was also about reuniting the Country Music community after more than 18 months of pandemic-related restrictions. Safety precautions were still in place, but artists could share tables with their spouses, friends and fellow artists at the show. When someone’s name was called, their Country Music colleagues lined up for hugs and handshakes.
Gabby Barrett, Mickey Guyton and Pearce introduced the night’s opening performer, Miranda Lambert, who celebrated her 38th birthday the same night. The Texas native ignited the CMA Awards with a fountain of sparks and a wagon of hits with her medley of “Kerosene,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “Bluebird,” “Little Red Wagon” and “Gunpowder & Lead.” The long red fringe from her Western jumpsuit flitted around her body as she strutted across the stage. Fellow female artists Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris and Brittney Spencer sang along from the audience.
Flames lined the stage’s periphery during Eric Church’s fervid delivery of “Heart on Fire.” A haze of smoke surrounded him and backup singer Joanna Cotten as they seethed attitude, singing in each other’s faces.
Gabby Barrett swapped the flames for a string section on her “The Good Ones.” Swathed in a cape and dripping pearls, the four-time nominee cast frequent sideways glances at her husband on guitar as she sang about finding an upstanding man.
Stapleton also opted for a string section on his “Cold” but dramatically changed pace when joining Jennifer Hudson for their roof-raising tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Instead of raising the roof, Dan + Shay raised the stage. The Duo of the Year nominees performed on a stage shaped like a plus sign, the center of which lifted them to tower over the audience.
Brothers Osborne brought their universal message of hope.
“For many years, I watched this show year after year, and I always thought how incredible it would be to be up here on this stage,” TJ Osborne said before their performance of “Younger Me.” “There were so many hurdles for me, and I truthfully felt it would never be possible because of my sexuality to be here. I just wish my younger me could see me now.”
Other memorable duets throughout the night included Chris Young and Kane Brown with their multiweek No. 1 song “Famous Friends,” which earned multiple nominations; Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood with their chart-topper “If I Didn’t Love You”; and Pearce and McBryde with “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” their modern-day version of Linda Davis and Reba McEntire’s “Does He Love You.”
Introduced by Faith Fennidy, a young Black girl who, in 2018, left her sixth grade classroom in tears after school officials complained that her hairstyle violated school policy, Guyton joined forces with Spencer and Madeline Edwards for another collaborative showstopper. Buoyed by her friends, Guyton celebrated Black culture with “Love My Hair,” a song inspired by Fennidy’s experience. Clad in white gowns and wearing natural Black headdresses, the women sang: “I used to think/ What God gave me wasn’t fair/ I’d braid it all/ Just to hide the curls up there/ I found my freedom/ When I learned not to care.”
Blake Shelton brought a little bit of his native Oklahoma to Nashville with his defiant “Come Back as a Country Boy.” Keith Urban rallied dreamers with his “Wild Hearts,” Bryan took a break from hosting duties to sing his “Up,” Thomas Rhett performed his “Country Again,” Old Dominion took the stage for “I Was On a Boat That Day,” and Combs declared his dedication to Country Music when he debuted his new song “Doin’ This.”
“I’m just trying to figure out how to feel, just to be honest with you,” Combs said, holding his Entertainer of the Year trophy after the show. Just four years out from the release of his debut album, he is set to embark on his first stadium tour in 2022. “It doesn’t feel real. When I started out, I was the same guy that my parents raised, and I was before I won this trophy, and I still am now.”
To view all the CMA Awards performances, click HERE
