Carrie Underwood made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards, capping off an incredible evening of country music.
Carrie, who is also preparing for the launch of American Idol, joined Cody to sing "I'm Gonna Love You", and the singer, who just wrapped her final Las Vegas dates of 2024 wore a gorgeous lace bodycon dress with tan leather corset, and she wore her hair loose in waves for the performance, which saw her come out midway through the song.
© Michael Buckner
© Theo WargoThe event kicked off with a gorgeous red carpet but all eyes soon turned to the ceremony, with Megan Moroney winning Best New Artist and giving an emotional speech in which she praised the fans for their support.
Morgan Wallen picked up the coveted Entertainer of the Year awards, although presenter Jeff Bridges had some trouble with his name.
© Theo WargoLainey Wilson won Music Video of the Year for "Wild Horses and Wildflowers," and Female Vocalist of the Year and she thanked the "community" of Nashville who have "lifted me up from the beginning".
Old Dominion made CMA history by winning their seventh Vocal Group of the Year award, and Brooks and Dunn won Vocal Duo of the Year for the 15th time - their first award in 18 years.
© Scott Kirkland"People have asked, what do we want to be remembered by? And it's the music," Ronnie Dunn told press, before Kix joked that they were always trying to do "something stupider than Garth Brooks".
"We started chasing that stuff out of necessity to an extent, it was new to us, so like Kix said, 'We were shooting ourselves out of cannons'," quipped Ronnie, "but we hope you digged the music."
© Michael BucknerElla Langley and Riley Green won off-screen for Best Musical Event of the Year, for their hit duet "You Look Like You Love Me," and the pair wowed viewers with a gorgeous performance that saw them begin in the audience.
"It's really validating," Riley told press later in the evening, "I don't think either of us thought [the song] would be this big."
Ella added: "I am at a loss for word. This is the first award I've ever won."
© Theo WargoChris Stapleton won Single of the Year for "White Horse", the first award handed out on stage, and he later accepted the award for Song of the Year, and said: "I really am taken back... a lot of my music I owe to [my wife] so I want to thank her."
"I am out of things to say... I am honored to be in this category with all the guys," he said as also picked up Male Vocalist of the Year, beating the likes of Morgan Wallen and Jelly Roll.
© Theo WargoLainey Wilson, Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan hosted, and kicked the night off with some jokes about G.O.A.Ts – Simone Biles, who is in the audience and will present – and though Jelly Roll didn't appear to take photos at the red carpet, it didn't take long for the hosts to comment on his good looks and 100lbs weight loss, with the three all giving him a shout out on stage.
Jamey Johnson, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton, Miranda and Lainey also joined forces for a special tribute performance to honor George Strait with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Single of the Year
"A Bar Song (Tipsy)" – Shaboozey
"Dirt Cheap" – Cody Johnson
"I Had Some Help" – Post Malone (feat. Morgan Wallen)
"Watermelon Moonshine" – Lainey Wilson
"White Horse" – Chris Stapleton WINNER
Song of the Year
"Burn It Down" – Parker McCollum
"Dirt Cheap" – Cody Johnson
"I Had Some Help" – Post Malone (feat. Morgan Wallen)
"The Painter" – Cody Johnson
"White Horse" – Chris Stapleton
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen - WINNER
Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year
Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
Fathers & Sons – Luke Combs
Higher – Chris Stapleton
Leather – Cody Johnson - WINNER
Whitsitt Chapel – Jelly Roll
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson - WINNER
Male Vocalist of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton - WINNER
Morgan Wallen
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion - WINNER
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn - WINNER
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War and Treaty
Musical Event of the Year
"Cowboys Cry Too" – Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan)
"I Had Some Help" – Post Malone (feat. Morgan Wallen)
"I Remember Everything" – Zach Bryan (feat. Kacey Musgraves)
"Man Made a Bar" – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church)
"You Look Like You Love Me" – Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green) - WINNER
Music Video of the Year
"Dirt Cheap" – Cody Johnson
"I Had Some Help" – Post Malone (feat. Morgan Wallen)
"I'm Not Pretty" – Megan Moroney
"The Painter" – Cody Johnson
"Wildflowers and Wild Horses" – Lainey Wilson - WINNER
New Artist of the Year
Megan Moroney - WINNER
Shaboozey
Nate Smith
Mitchell Tenpenny
Zach Top
Bailey Zimmerman
