Chris Stapleton walked away with the most trophies at the 2021 CMA Awards on Wednesday night, but Carly Pearce and Luke Combs also stole the show as well.
Stapleton won Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the annual event, held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Pearce delivered the most emotional speech of the night after winning Female Vocalist of the Year – in the same year where Carrie Underwood’s amazing 15-year nomination streak in the category was snapped – while Combs pulled off quite the surprise himself by winning the biggest award of the night, Entertainer of the Year.
Show stealer: Chris Stapleton walked away with the most trophies at the 2021 CMA Awards on Wednesday night, but Carly Pearce and Luke Combs also stole the show as well
Big winner: Stapleton won Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the annual event, held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
Emotional: Pearce delivered the most emotional speech of the night after winning Female Vocalist of the Year – in the same year where Carrie Underwood’s amazing 15-year nomination streak in the category was snapped
Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson won the first award of the night, presented by host Luke Bryan’s American Idol co-hosts Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
Stapleton and Henderson won for Starting Over, beating out “Forever After All” by Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford, “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick, “Hell Of A View” by Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell and “One Night Standards” by Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde.
Stapleton said in his speech, ‘Uh — wow, okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. So many wonderful songs in here, I’m going to give it over to one of my heroes, Mike Henderson, who I have written more songs with than anybody in Nashville, Tennessee. This man knows how to write songs.’
First winner: Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson won the first award of the night, presented by host Luke Bryan’s American Idol co-hosts Lionel Richie and Katy Perry
Henderson added, ‘When I first got to town, I’d never written a song in my life. And I was lucky. I had guys like Gary Nicholson, Wally Wilson, Kevin Welch and John Hadley, took me under their wings, showed me how to do it. So, guys, this — my part of this belongs to you, too.’
Brothers Osborne won Vocal Duo of the Year, beating out Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line and Maddie & Tae.
‘Oh, my god! I tell you, every time that we have won this award, it has never, ever ceased to be extremely shocking,’ said T.J. Osborne.
Harrison: Henderson added, ‘When I first got to town, I’d never written a song in my life. And I was lucky. I had guys like Gary Nicholson, Wally Wilson, Kevin Welch and John Hadley, took me under their wings, showed me how to do it. So, guys, this — my part of this belongs to you, too’
Brothers: Brothers Osborne won Vocal Duo of the Year, beating out Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line and Maddie & Tae
Shocking: ‘Oh, my god! I tell you, every time that we have won this award, it has never, ever ceased to be extremely shocking,’ said T.J. Osborne
‘And honestly, it is so incredible to be here. Thanks to everyone who voted for us. It’s been a crazy roller coaster of a year for us in so many ways, especially for me emotionally and to have you all support me — it really does feel like love wins tonight. Thank you,’ he added.
His brother John Osborne told the crowd to, ‘Give this boy a round of applause,’ adding, ‘Thank you so much. We love this genre, we love the people, we love all of you so much. Lucy, I love you to death. It’s an honor to know all of you. We love you. Thank you so much.’
Jimmie Allen won the coveted Best New Artist Award, beating out Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Mickey Guyton and HARDY, before delivering a heartfelt speech.
Applause: His brother John Osborne told the crowd to, ‘Give this boy a round of applause,’ adding, ‘Thank you so much. We love this genre, we love the people, we love all of you so much. Lucy, I love you to death. It’s an honor to know all of you. We love you. Thank you so much’
Jimmie’s speech: Jimmie Allen won the coveted Best New Artist Award, beating out Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Mickey Guyton and HARDY, before delivering a heartfelt speech
‘First, I want to thank my father, who is no longer with us, for introducing me to country music,’ Allen began.
‘Five years ago, I spent my last $100 and came to the CMA 50th to watch Charley pride perform on stage. And I got to perform with him last year,’ he added.
He went on to thank, ‘everyone who voted for me’ along with his wife, kids, mother and manager Ash Bowers, who found him, playing at a Puckett’s grocery store in Franklin, Tennessee, and signed him.
Introducing: ‘First, I want to thank my father, who is no longer with us, for introducing me to country music,’ Allen began
Five years: ‘Five years ago, I spent my last $100 and came to the CMA 50th to watch Charley pride perform on stage. And I got to perform with him last year,’ he added
‘After ten years of being here, living in my car, living in the trailer, working every job, this is amazing,’ he added, while thanking his label, PR company, management group, booking agency and his fellow nominees.
‘Thank you, country music. This is for my hometown in Delaware, I love y’all. Bless you,’ he concluded.
Chris Stapleton won Single of the Year for Starting Over, beating out “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown, “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett, “Hell Of A View” by Eric Church and “One Night Standards” by Ashley McBryde, presented by Susan Sarandon.
Hometown: ‘Thank you, country music. This is for my hometown in Delaware, I love y’all. Bless you,’ he concluded
Chris and Susan: Chris Stapleton won Single of the Year for Starting Over, beating out “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown, “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett, “Hell Of A View” by Eric Church and “One Night Standards” by Ashley McBryde, presented by Susan Sarandon
Stapleton began his speech by stating, ‘I really don’t know what to say. I want to thank the CMAs, my lovely wife, who is always in my corner and helps me get everywhere I need to be and these guys up here, Dave Cobb, Vance Powell, all the guys in the band.’
He also thanked, ‘ everybody at Red Line Management, at Universal that work so hard on these things,’ and ‘everybody out here.’
Old Dominion took home their fourth win for Best Vocal Group, beating out Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Zac Brown Band.
Old Dominion: Old Dominion took home their fourth win for Best Vocal Group, beating out Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Zac Brown Band
‘Isn’t this — isn’t this beautiful, it’s a room full of joy and talent and country music and it’s the arena that we want to be in and we are right here again somehow,’ began Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey.
‘Thank you for this. We have such an amazing team, our management, Morris Hayam, RCA at one point in this year. What is happening, I don’t know. The first time was — the first time was a shock — I don’t know,’ he added.
‘This is really special to be able to stand up here another year and be rewarded for what we absolutely love to do. I hope that at some point you out there believe in something and chase after it and are rewarded in the way that we have been. Thank you guys so much for this. Unbelievable,’ he concluded.
Beautiful: ‘Isn’t this — isn’t this beautiful, it’s a room full of joy and talent and country music and it’s the arena that we want to be in and we are right here again somehow,’ began Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey
Chris Stapleton took home his third award of the night by taking home Album of the Year for Starting Over.
He beat out 29 by Carly Pearce Dangerous: The Double Album by Morgan Wallen, Heart by Eric Church and Skeletons by Brothers Osborne.
‘Okay. I want to say thank you to my wife again, who we can’t do this, you know, I can’t do this without her, ever,’ Stapleton began.
Third: Chris Stapleton took home his third award of the night by taking home Album of the Year for Starting Over
‘And I want to say thank you to everybody that listened to the record. Everybody that listens to music, you know, like — country music fans and I want to thank everybody in this category, there was a lot of great records in this category and it’s always an honor to receive the album of the year,’ he added.
‘We work really hard to make — to make albums, we believe in albums and we like what that is. Thank you, CMAs, thank you, everybody. Thank you so much,’ he concluded.
For the first time in 15 years, Carrie Underwood wasn’t nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, with Carly Pearce taking home the award for the first time.
First win: For the first time in 15 years, Carrie Underwood wasn’t nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, with Carly Pearce taking home the award for the first time
She beat out Gabby Barrett, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris for the award, as she seemed stunned to win, barely moving when her name was announced.
When she took to the stage she was overcome with emotions, stating, ‘I really didn’t think this was going to happen’ as she broke down, while one of her fellow nominees Ashley McBryde took to the stage to help her out.
‘What she meant to say was — there’s a lot of love, respect and admiration in this category,’ McBryde said, before giving the stage back to Pearce.
Help: When she took to the stage she was overcome with emotions, stating, ‘I really didn’t think this was going to happen’ as she broke down, while one of her fellow nominees Ashley McBryde took to the stage to help her out
Stage: ‘What she meant to say was — there’s a lot of love, respect and admiration in this category,’ McBryde said, before giving the stage back to Pearce
‘I want to thank God. I want to thank my record label, Big Machine Records Clint, Kyle Quigley, Jake Bason, Holly Gleason, Mark, I know you’re out there,’ she added.
‘I’ve had just a crazy year and I want you to know that this means everything to me. Country music saved me at a time that I needed it and this is all I’ve ever wanted in the entire world and I just hope you know that country music is all I love, so thank you so much,’ she concluded.
Chris Stapleton continued his amazing run with his fourth CMA win of the night by taking home Male Vocalist of the Year, beating out Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett.
Thanks: ‘I want to thank God. I want to thank my record label, Big Machine Records Clint, Kyle Quigley, Jake Bason, Holly Gleason, Mark, I know you’re out there,’ she added
Crazy year: ‘I’ve had just a crazy year and I want you to know that this means everything to me. Country music saved me at a time that I needed it and this is all I’ve ever wanted in the entire world and I just hope you know that country music is all I love, so thank you so much,’ she concluded
‘Well, man, amazing. Amazing. I — all the guys in this category, you know, they — a lot of them took me on the road and some of them — Luke, I loved that song you just played, man, it was killer,’ Stapleton began.
‘I — I don’t know what to say. I’m running out of words. What an amazing night. How great it is to see all your faces. Thank you to the fans. Thank you to all the crew, I’m going to run out of time, I guess, but all the folks that carry us on the road and keep us there safe and I want to thank my mom, my brother and my sister and my kids who have to put up with me being gone a little bit. So, this is for my kids. Thank you,’ Stapleton concluded.
Luke Combs surprised practically all of Nashville, with his first win of the night the biggest, taking home Entertainer of the Year over Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood, presented by country legend Alan Jackson.
Amazing: ‘Well, man, amazing. Amazing. I — all the guys in this category, you know, they — a lot of them took me on the road and some of them — Luke, I loved that song you just played, man, it was killer,’ Stapleton began
Surprise: Luke Combs surprised practically all of Nashville, with his first win of the night the biggest, taking home Entertainer of the Year over Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood, presented by country legend Alan Jackson
‘I’m really kinda at a loss for words. Alan Jackson said my name twice just now, but I honestly don’t know what to say. I have never written a speech for something like this, which is not serving me very well right now. I just want to thank everybody in this room – the fans, every artist in this room. Every single person who has been nominated for this award deserves to win this. I don’t deserve to win it, but I’m sure as hell glad that I did.’
Two of the awards were announced before the live telecast started from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year, both won by Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney.
Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney won Musical Event of the Year for their song “half of my hometown,” beating out “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan, “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” by Elle King and Miranda Lambert and “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown.
Ballerini and Chesney beat out “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown, “Gone” by Dierks Bentley and “Younger Me” by Brothers Osborne.
Loss: ‘I’m really kinda at a loss for words. Alan Jackson said my name twice just now, but I honestly don’t know what to say
Two wins: Two of the awards were announced before the live telecast started from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year, both won by Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney
Dual wins: Ballerini and Chesney beat out “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, “Famous Friends” by Chris Young and Kane Brown, “Gone” by Dierks Bentley and “Younger Me” by Brothers Osborne
2021 Country Music Awards: WINNERS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs – WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Eric Church has five nominations
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Chris Stapleton is up for five
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Brooks & Dunn is up for Vocal Duo Of The Year
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
29, Carly Pearce
Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen
Heart, Eric Church
Skeletons, Brothers Osborne
Starting Over, Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Carly Pearce is nominated for Album Of The Year and for Female Vocalist Of The Year
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan
“Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” Elle King, Miranda Lambert
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
WINNER: “half of my hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney
Fiddle player Jenee Fleenor is up for Musician Of The Year
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor – WINNER
Paul Franklin
Aaron Sterling
Ilya Toshinskiy
Derek Wells
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce – WINNER
Miranda Lambert earned four nods
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
Zac Brown Band
Old Dominion is nominated for Vocal Group Of The Year
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie Allen – WINNER
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
Jimmie Allen is nominated for Best New Artist
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
“The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett
“Hell Of A View,” Eric Church
“One Night Standards,” Ashley McBryde
“Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Kane Brown and Chris Young’s collab Famous Friends is up for Single Of The Year, Music Video Of The Year, and Musical Event Of The Year
Song of the Year
“Forever After All,” Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
“The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
“Hell Of A View,” Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
“One Night Standards,” Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
“Starting Over,” Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney’s half of my hometown won Music Video Of The Year and Musical Event Of The Year
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
“Gone,” Dierks Bentley
“Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne
WINNER: “half of my hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney