The 2024 CMA Awards took over Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 20) to honor country’s brightest stars, from fresh talent like new artist of the year winner Megan Moroney to CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award honoree George Strait.
The awards show — hosted by Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning — was packed with performances, from Shaboozey playing his 18-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” alongside his single “Highway” to Brooks & Dunn joining forces with Jelly Roll for a come-to-Jesus performance of “Believe.”
Post Malone pulled double duty, kicking off the show with Chris Stapleton for the F-1 Trillion standout “California Sober” and then showing his sensitive side with the song “Yours,” inspired by his 2-year-old daughter. Stapleton has also hit the stage a few times — with his 2023 single “White Horse” picking up two early awards (not to mention a win for male vocalist of the year) and joining wife Morgane Stapleton for a gloriously harmonized performance of “What Am I Gonna Do.”
Stapleton was also part of the musical tribute to Strait, performing “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” alongside the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Their duet was preceded by tribute performances from Wilson, Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum.
The winners on Wednesday night included Cody Johnson’s Leather taking home album of the year; Old Dominion winning vocal group of the year for a seventh time; Brooks & Dunn taking home vocal duo of the year for a 15th time; Ella Langley and Riley Green winning musical event of the year for “you look like you love me”; and Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” being named video of the year.
Below, find the best photos from the 2024 CMA Awards, from performances to crowd shots to the night’s biggest winners.
