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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The 2024 CMA Awards delivered standout collaborations and a star-studded tribute to George Strait—but ended on an awkward note when absent winner Morgan Wallen was announced as entertainer of the year. The strongest moments were the Ella Langley–Riley Green duet, a surprise Carrie Underwood appearance, and the Strait tribute; the closing exchange was the night’s clearest misfire.
The 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards took place November 20, 2024, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and aired live on ABC. Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson hosted. “Best” and “worst” are judgments, not official awards: the choices below weigh performance, surprise, and how smoothly each moment landed, drawing on contemporaneous coverage and the show’s results.
The best moments
Ella Langley and Riley Green make their winning duet count
Langley walked through the audience during “you look like you love me,” then joined Green onstage. The Washington Post singled out the performance, and the song went on to win musical event of the year. That combination of staging, chemistry, and a result tied directly to the performance makes it the night’s strongest all-around number.
Carrie Underwood’s surprise appearance with Cody Johnson
Johnson performed “I’m Gonna Love You” with Underwood, who had not been billed as a performer beforehand, according to the Washington Post. The CMA described her as a surprise guest, and the paper reported a thrilled audience. The reveal gave a familiar collaboration an extra jolt of occasion.
#1 Best Overall
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George Strait gets a tribute worthy of the award
Strait received the 2024 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The tribute connected his catalog to performers across the bill: Lainey Wilson sang “Amarillo by Morning,” Jamey Johnson performed “Give It Away,” and Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum teamed up on “Troubadour.” Chris Stapleton then joined Strait for “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”
Strait thanked the CMA for adding his name to “the incredible artists on this small list of recipients carrying the name of the icon, Willie Nelson,” as quoted by the Washington Post. The sequence worked as more than a medley: it placed Strait’s songs in other artists’ voices before bringing the honoree back into the performance.
Rank #2
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Luke Combs turns a soundtrack song into a big-room moment
Combs performed “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” from the Twisters soundtrack. The Washington Post praised the performance’s force and noted that it brought the night’s first onstage pyrotechnics. It was an effective burst of scale in a show that also made room for quieter performances.
Post Malone and Chris Stapleton open across genre lines
The Associated Press reported that Post Malone and Stapleton opened the telecast with “California Sober.” Later, Malone performed “Yours,” dedicating it to his daughter. The opening pairing set a collaborative, cross-genre tone without making the rest of the program depend on surprise alone.
Rank #3
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The acoustic performances give the show room to breathe
The Washington Post highlighted Kacey Musgraves singing “The Architect” and Ashley McBryde covering Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” as strong counterpoints to the louder numbers. That is the paper’s critical assessment, but the contrast is important: the show’s quieter stretch varied the pace rather than treating spectacle as the only way to hold attention.
The worst moment: an awkward ending after Wallen’s win
Morgan Wallen won entertainer of the year while absent. The Washington Post reported that presenter Jeff Bridges stumbled over Wallen’s surname, said, “Morgan’s not here, man!”, and improvised an acceptance before the trophy was handed to him. The Associated Press also confirmed Wallen’s absence and the mispronunciation.
Rank #4
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The result itself was not the problem; the announcement and handoff became awkward television. As the hosts closed the broadcast, Wilson joked, “I had fun with y’all. I mean, y’all a little bit awkward, but it’s alright,” according to the Washington Post. That closing exchange made the stumble the most conspicuous low point of the evening.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the awards said about the night
Chris Stapleton led the ceremony with four wins, according to the Associated Press. “White Horse” took both song of the year and single of the year, and Stapleton won male vocalist. Lainey Wilson won female vocalist and music video for “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
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| Category or result | Winner |
|---|---|
| Entertainer of the year | Morgan Wallen (absent) |
| Album of the year | Cody Johnson, Leather |
| New artist of the year | Megan Moroney |
| Vocal group of the year | Old Dominion |
| Vocal duo of the year | Brooks & Dunn |
| Musical event of the year | Ella Langley featuring Riley Green, “you look like you love me” |
AP reported that Brooks & Dunn’s vocal-duo win was their 15th in the category and first since 2006. ABC News has the complete category-by-category winner list.
How the hosting landed
The Washington Post judged that Bryan and Manning were finding their footing after hosting together since 2022, with Wilson balancing their established comic roles. That is one reviewer’s assessment, not a measure of universal reaction. The CMA also praised the trio’s chemistry in its own post-show release, a promotional characterization from the event’s organizer.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Country Music Association post-show recap
- Emily Yahr, The Washington Post, November 21, 2024
- Andrew Dalton, Associated Press, November 20, 2024
- ABC News, November 20, 2024
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