Country music’s biggest night shone the spotlight on the genre’s best and biggest talents of the year.
The 2021 Country Music Awards were held on November 10 (Wednesday), returning to the Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee’s capital city after being held last year at Nashville’s Music City Center. The 55th annual awards show was hosted by superstar Luke Bryan, who took on hosting duties for the event for the first time.
Luke is the first solo CMA Award host in 18 years, and said in a press release following the announcement in October:
“Being asked to host the CMA Awards was definitely something I put a lot of thought into before answering. The pressure that comes along with that can be overwhelming, but knowing I get to help honor and celebrate so many of my friends, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down.”
The awards honored both country music mainstays and ushered in a new generation of artists. Prior to the event, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said of the list of nominees:
“These nominees exemplify the creativity, passion and heart that make our Country Music community unlike any other genre.”
Taking to the stage that evening for incredible performances were artists like Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Jimmy Allen, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Hudson, Blake Shelton and more.
Presenters included Keslea Ballerini, Florida Georgia Line, Dule Hiill, Amy Grant, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Scott MeCreery, and Zachary Levi.
The 2021 CMA Awards aired on ABC.
Here is the complete winners list for the 2021 Country Music Awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
-Eric Church
-Luke Combs – WINNER
-Miranda Lambert
-Chris Stapleton
-Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
-“Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown (Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young; Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt)
-“The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett (Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale; Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin)
-“Hell Of A View” – Eric Church (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
-“One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
-“Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton (Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell) – WINNER
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
-“29” – Carly Pearce (Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore)
-“Dangerous: The Double Album” – Morgan Wallen (Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi; Mix Engineer: Joey Moi)
-“Heart” – Eric Church (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
-“Skeletons” – Brothers Osborne (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
-“Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton (Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell) – WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR
-“Forever After All” – Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
-“The Good Ones” – Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
-“Hell Of A View” – Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
-“One Night Standards” – Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
-“Starting Over” – Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – WINNER
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
-Gabby Barrett
-Miranda Lambert
-Ashley McBryde
-Maren Morris
-Carly Pearce – WINNER
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
-Dierks Bentley
-Eric Church
-Luke Combs
-Thomas Rhett
-Chris Stapleton – WINNER
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
-Florida Georgia Line
-Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
-“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan, Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
-“Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris, Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer
-“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert, Producer: Martin Johnson
-“Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown, Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
-“Half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney), Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins – WINNER
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
-Jenee Fleenor, fiddle – WINNER
-Paul Franklin, steel guitar
-Aaron Sterling, drums
-Ilya Toshinskiy, banjo
-Derek Wells, guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
-“Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris, Director: TK McKamy
-“Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown, Director: Peter Zavadil
-“Gone” – Dierks Bentley, Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
-“Half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney), Director: Patrick Tracy – WINNER
-“Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne, Director: Reid Long
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
-Jimmie Allen – WINNER
-Ingrid Andress
-Gabby Barrett
-Mickey Guyton
-HARDY
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
