November 8, 2017
It was a moving night of music during the 51st annual CMA Awards. Broadcast live from Nashville, the show included several poignant performances and career-making wins. Hosted for the tenth year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the show began with a stellar acapella performance of “Amazing Grace” by country outsider Eric Church. But the opening number then morphed into a joyous and inspiring ensemble performance of “Hold My Hand” with Darius Rucker, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Kix Brooks, Church, Ronnie Dunn, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, and Keith Urban.
There were other mesmerizing performances including a special tribute to Troy Gentry (of country duo Montgomery Gentry) by his bandmate Eddie, Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley. Gentry died in a helicopter crash earlier this year. Later, the arena came to a hushed silence as Carrie Underwood sang the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” while a video screen remembered both the country stars we lost in 2017 and the 59 victims gunned down during the Route 91 Harvest country festival in Las Vegas. (Watch a video of her performance at the bottom of this story).
Country music superstar Garth Brooks extended his reign as entertainer of the year by racking up his sixth such honor. Chris Stapleton took home two CMA awards including his second album of the year award and his third male vocalist of the year award. Brothers Osborne also took home two awards for duo and video of the year.
Miranda Lambert took home her seventh female vocalist of the year award while newcomer Jon Pardi was named new artist of the year.
Check out the complete list of winners below and see photos from the show.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks - WINNER
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))
“Better Man” - Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban -WINNER
Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban
Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge
“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell
“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf
Mix Engineer: Eric Masse
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
The Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton - WINNER
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Heart Break – Lady Antebellum
Producer: busbee
The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Producer: Dave Cobb
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Better Man” – WINNER
Songwriter: Taylor Swift
“Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen
“Body Like A Back Road”
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Dirt On My Boots”
Songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
“Tin Man”
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert -WINNER
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton - WINNER
Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town - WINNER
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne -WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson - WINNER
“Kill A Word” - Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire” - Kenny Chesney with P!nk
“Speak to a Girl” - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar) - WINNER
Derek Wells (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director(s))
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
Directors: Becky Fluke and Reid Long
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
Director: Carter Smith
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
Director: TK McKamy
“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne - WINNER
Directors: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi - WINNER
Brett Young
