Some of the biggest names in country music were honored at the 57th annual Country Music Association Awards! The night had many memorable moments and was hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
The biggest surprise of the night was Lainey Wilson, who walked home with the top award, Entertainer of the Year. During the night Wilson also won female vocalist and album of the year. She added another two wins before the show with her hit song ‘Wait in the Truck’ with HARDY, bringing her win total to five on the night. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s the only thing I know how to do,” she said. “It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart,” the Watermelon Moonshine singer said.
Morgan Wallen Award Drama
Many fans were quick to call the award show ‘rigged.’ Coming into the CMA’s Morgan Wallen was seen as the favorite for Entertainer of the Year due to the success of his ‘One Thing At A Time’ album and tour. The tour is considered one of the biggest in the world, next to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted. Fans tweeted their outraged voices after claiming Wallen was rigged of multiple wins at this year’s CMA’s.
Truly unfortunate that the CMA awards are rigged against @MorganWallen for everything he was nominated for. Everyone knows Morgan Wallen has had the most successful year, and they continue to show I’m throughout the awards because they know he brings up the ratings of the show.
— Sydney Radloff (@sydney_radloff) November 9, 2023
@MorganWallen was robbed at the @CountryMusic Awards. He should have won entertainer of the year and album of the year!!! CMA is rigged!!!!! #justiceformorganwallen
— Abby Belingon (@therealabbygale) November 9, 2023
How @MorganWallen didn’t win not one award at the cma’s still blows my mind
— Jenna Carson (@jennaacarson) November 12, 2023
A day later news broke that Wallen wasn’t nominated for any Grammy’s this year. A shocking headline after the success of his hot single ‘Last Night’ was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 22 weeks and was number one for 13 weeks. Wallen went home with no awards at the 2023 CMA’s. He posted a message on his Instagram story in response to outrage by fans, “Walked in tonight as a winner, didn’t leave no different.”
Morgan Wallen’s IG story following the CMA Awards. pic.twitter.com/MZwG7Uoc2k
— Country Central (@_CountryCentral) November 9, 2023
Highlights of the 2023 CMA Awards
Other highlights from the night were Chris Stapleton winning the award for Male Vocalist of the Year, while Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne won Vocal Group of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year. Luke Combs won Single of the Year with ‘Fast Car.’ New Artist of the Year went to Jelly Roll and the artist gave one of the most memorable speeches to date at the CMA’s.
Notable Performances
The rest of the night was filled with notable performances including a moving tribute performance for the late country music legend Jimmy Buffet. Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally embodied Buffet’s free spirit in “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson picked up where they left off, singing Buffet’s classic song “Margaritaville.”
You can watch the 57th annual CMA Awards now on Hulu.
