Luke Bryan hosted the CMAs for the first time, after previously having co-hosted the ACM Awards. Country music saved me at a time when I needed it.” Her recent album, “29: Written in Stone,” has been one of the most acclaimed albums of the years, and chronicles her recent divorce in song. Pearce was clearly the most shocked winner of the night, with a long pause as she was at a loss for words until friend Ashley McBryd stepped in to joke, “What she meant to say was…” Eventually Pearce was able to find words, saying, “I’ve had a crazy year and this means everything to me. Susan Sarandon was a co-presenter of the album of the year award, so an opportunity to see the look on the face of one of Hollywood’s most famously progressive figures if she’d had to announce a Wallen triumph was lost.Ĭarly Pearce poses in the press room with the female vocalist of the year award at the 55th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov.
The possibility that Wallen could have won was underscored by the huge fan cheers that greeted the mention of his name when album of the year nominees were being announced, sounding much louder in the feed from Bridgestone Arena than those for any other nominee. The CMA board had decided that, due to the scandal over his being caught saying a racial slur, Wallen would not be eligible for any awards except for those that also included other nominees - in other words, he couldn’t compete for entertainer or male vocalist, but anything else was fair game. There had been some anticipation that Morgan Wallen might win the award for “Dangerous: The Double Album,” which would have led to some uncomfortable media scrutiny and questioning headlines, since Wallen had been barred from performing on or even attending the ceremony. Stapleton’s win for album of the year for “Starting Over” came as a relief to some - but certainly not all - of the Nashville community. 10, 2021, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Osborne, left, and John Osborne, of Brothers Osborne, pose in the press room with the award for best vocal duo of the year at the 55th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. “I Love My Hair” was introduced by Faith Fennidy, a Black student in Louisiana who was sent home from school after being told her braids violated school policy, an incident that inspired Guyton to write the song. And I just wish, I wish, my younger me could see me now.” The song that followed was written by Osborne after he came out as gay early in 2021, still a rarity in the mainstream country realm.Īlso making a statement was Mickey Guyton, who sang her recent album track “I Love My Hair,” joined in a trio by fellow Black artists Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, who together ensured that country music was having one of its best hair days ever. And I always truthfully felt like it would never be possible because of my sexuality.
Introducing the song “Younger Me,” singer TJ Osborne said it has been his dream growing up to be at the CMAs, but “there were so many hurdles for me. He was a double-winner in two of those categories for being a producer as well as artist and songwriter.Īlong with Stapleton, several others were making repeat trips to the podium, like Old Dominion, picking up the band’s fourth win for group of the year, and Brothers Osborne, also getting a fourth trophy for vocal duo of the year.īut it wasn’t just business-as-usual all night for Brothers Osborne and others. Despite missing out in the entertainer category, Stapleton otherwise swept the awards, winning honors for male vocalist as well as album, single and song, all for his “Starting Over” album and its title track.