The Sound Cafe
Country Music’s Biggest Night keeps getting bigger as the Country Music Association announced presenters for “The 57th Annual CMA Awards.” Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, “The 57th Annual CMA Awards” was broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
This year’s CMA Awards presenters included singer/songwriter, dancer, renowned choreographer and TV personality Paula Abdul; Country Music Hall of Fame member and entertainment titan Bill Anderson; GRAMMY®-nominated comedian, podcaster, director and producer Nate Bargatze; Tony® Award-nominated actor currently starring in the hit Broadway musical “Shucked,” Kevin Cahoon; reigning CMA Song of the Year winner and three-time nominee this year Jordan Davis; Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning and Oscar®-nominated actress, singer, author and producer Cynthia Erivo; multiplatinum CMA Awards winner and Grand Ole Opry member Sara Evans; diamond-selling artist and four-time CMA Awards winner Brian Kelley; three-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady A; four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner and 30-time CMA Awards nominee Martina McBride; two-time CMA Awards nominee Parker McCollum; Country Music hitmaker, author and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan; diamond-certified superstar and this year’s CMA Foundation Humanitarian of the Year recipient Darius Rucker; 2023 World Series MVP Corey Seager; “The Golden Bachelor” Gerry Turner; two-time Entertainer of the Year and 12-time CMA Awards winner Keith Urban; first-time CMA Awards nominee Hailey Whitters; and multiplatinum entertainer and Grand Ole Opry member Chris Young.
With unforgettable solo performances, never-before-seen collaborations and special tributes from some of the biggest names in music, “The 57th Annual CMA Awards” was a must-see event. Artists taking the CMA Awards stage included Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, HARDY, Alan Jackson, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Post Malone, K. Michelle, Chris Stapleton, Tanya Tucker, The War And Treaty, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Zac Brown Band.
Winners below in BOLD
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 Engineers: 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
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
Director: Justin Clough
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Zach Bryan
– Jelly Roll – WINNER
– Parker McCollum
– Megan Moroney
– Hailey Whitters