It is a night honoring the biggest stars in country music.
And the 2017 Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville kicked off on a serious note as it paid tribute to those lost in recent mass shootings and the devastating hurricanes.
The opening number transitioned from Amazing Grace into a surprise appearance by Darius Rucker performing the Hootie & The Blowfish song Hold My Hand, which brought the audience to its feet.
Then Carrie Underwood, co-hosting for the tenth time with Brad Paisley, told the audience: ‘This has been a year marked by tragedy impacting countless lives…so tonight we’re going to do what families do – come together, pray together, cry together and sing together, too.’
Brad, 45, added: ‘This show is dedicated to all those we’ve lost and those who are still healing. We will never forget you. We love you.’
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley began CMAs in Nashville by telling the audience: ,’This has been a year marked by tragedy impacting countless lives…so tonight we’re going to do what families do – come together, pray together, cry together and sing together, too’
The awards show opened with Eric Church accompanying himself on the guitar with a soulful rendition of Amazing Grace as the artists dedicated the telecast to the victims of this year’s mass shootings and hurricanes
Then there was a surprise appearance by Darius Rucker performing the Hootie & The Blowfish song Hold My Hand with guests including Keith Urban
Urban won the first award of the night – Single Of The Year for Blue Ain’t Your Color.
The Song Of The year Award went to Better Man, written by Taylor Swift and performed by little Big Town.
The group collected the award explaining that Swift couldn’t attend the show.
In their opening, Brad and Carrie also poked fun at attempts by the CMA to keep politics out of the show… asking if that meant they couldn’t sing ‘Stand By Your Manafort’ or ‘Hold Me Closer Bernie Sanders’
Keith Urban won the first award of the night – Single Of The Year for Blue Ain’t Your Color
The Australian country music star was presented with his award by actress and fellow Aussie Ruby Rose
Little Big Town picked up the award for Song Of The Year for better man, written by Taylor Swift who was a no show
Nominees for Male Vocalist Of The Year joined Urban and Church in performing early on in proceedings.
Dierks Bentley and Thomas Rhett each took to the stage to perform and were followed by Female Vocalist Of The Year nominees Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini doing a duet of Legends.
Miranda Lambert, who has the most nominations of any artist, gave a moving rendition of her song To Learn her.
Dierks Bentley, left, and Thomas Rhett, right, both nominated for Male Vocalist Of The Year, each took to the stage to perform
Female Vocalist Of The Year nominees Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini did a duet of Legends
Miranda Lambert, who has the most nominations of any artist this year, put on quite a show as she sang To learn her
The 33-year-old was nominated has nods in single, song, video, album and the coveted female vocalist of the year categories.
Jon Pardi took home the gong for New Artist of The Year and the 22-year-old’s voice trembled with emotion as he thanked the CMA for the prize.
Next up, fan favorite Garth Brooks came on to perform his brand new song Ask Me How I Know.
The veteran star, 55, is nominated for Entertainer Of The Year, a category he won at the 2016 CMAs.
Fan favorite Garth Brooks came on to perform his brand new song Ask Me How I Know
The veteran star, 55, is nominated for Entertainer Of The Year, a category he won at the 2016 CMAs
Brad and Carrie came back for a little more humor – this time they explained they were addicted to Nashville’s latest workout craze – goat yoga!
They showed video of a black and white goat clambering over Carrie’s back in her dressing room.
‘Those are not chocolate covered raisins,’ Carrie pointed out. ‘You want to keep your shoes on in there.’
Brad and Carrie came back for a little more humor – this time they explained they were addicted to Nashville’s latest workout craze – goat yoga! And they showed a clip of a black and white goat clambering over Carrie’s back in her dressing room
The next big winner was Chris Stapleton who picked up Album Of The Year for From A Room: Volume 1.
He was presented with his trophy by Tyler Perry who used the occasion to make a plea for greater understanding between the races.
‘We should spend some time finding some common ground, spend some time listening to each other, the actor, writer and director said. ‘ We need to remember that we are more alike than not alike.’
Pink made her CMA debut with a soulful performance of her song Barbies In My Room.
She was followed by New Artist nominees Old Dominion who sang their number one hit No Such Thing As A Broken Heart.
Little Big Town paid tribute to the late country music icon Glen Campbell.
Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet did a powerful cover of Campbell’s classic Wichita Lineman.
Miranda Lambert leads the entire field with five nominations on the night.
The 33-year-old singer has nods in single, song, video, album, and the coveted female vocalist of the year categories.
Coming in tied for second most nominations are Keith Urban and Little Big Town as they are tied with four each.
The top honor of the night Entertainer of the Year will no doubt be contentious as Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban are up for the prize.
With Taylor Swift set to release her latest album Reputation on Friday, many have wondered if she will be making an appearance on Wednesday night’s show.
The previous year she presented the Entertainer of the Year prize and may have even more incentive to show up to this one as she earned her first nod since 2014 as a songwriter for Little Big Town’s Better Man which is in contention for Song Of The Year.
The performances at the event are also highly-anticipated as One Direction member Niall Horan will leaping genres to perform with Maren Morris. Pink is another pop star who will join in the festivities.
Perhaps the most exciting partnership will be between Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini who are set to duet.
It wouldn’t be a country showcase without the legendary acts taking the stage as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are all set to perform.
More contemporary stars like Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Lauren Alaina, and Kane Brown are also set to take the stage.
The event also marks the very first time the country music community has come together since the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy in Las Vegas.
On October 1, Stephen Paddock fired onto a crowd of approximately 22K during Jason Aldean’s set killing 58 and leaving another 546 injured.