The 58th Annual CMA Awards brought Jelly Roll and Brooks & Dunn together for an emotional rendition of “I Believe,” while Morgan Wallen took home Entertainer of the Year and Chris Stapleton led the winners with four awards. Hosted by Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the ceremony took place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024.
Why Jelly Roll and Brooks & Dunn brought the audience to tears
Jelly Roll joined Brooks & Dunn for “I Believe,” their 2005 song, in a gospel-style performance accompanied by a choir and strings. The Associated Press characterized the pairing as emotional, and MusicRow reported that many artists in the audience were moved to tears. It became the night’s emotional centerpiece: a collaboration that let the song’s reflective message, rather than spectacle, take focus.
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Jelly Roll also performed “Liar” with Keith Urban on guitar. The song, from Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken album, was staged with a choir and flames in the background, offering a more dramatic counterpoint to “I Believe.” ABC News’ recap covered the performance.
Who won the major 2024 CMA Awards?
Morgan Wallen won Entertainer of the Year for the first time, though he was absent from the ceremony. Chris Stapleton collected four awards, including Male Vocalist, Song and Single of the Year for “White Horse.” The Associated Press reported his Male Vocalist win was his eighth, extending his record.
#1 Best Overall
| Award | Winner | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainer of the Year | Morgan Wallen | First time winning; absent from the ceremony. |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Chris Stapleton | Eighth win, extending his record, according to the Associated Press. |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Lainey Wilson | She also won Music Video of the Year. |
| Album of the Year | Cody Johnson, Leather | |
| New Artist of the Year | Megan Moroney | |
| Vocal Group of the Year | Old Dominion | Seventh consecutive win, according to MusicRow. |
| Vocal Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn | Fifteenth win in the category, according to MusicRow. |
| Song and Single of the Year | Chris Stapleton, “White Horse” | Stapleton won both awards. |
| Music Video of the Year | Lainey Wilson, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” |
The CMA said winners were announced in 12 categories, with ballots tabulated by Deloitte. The results balanced major individual honors with records for established acts: Old Dominion continued its run in the group category, while Brooks & Dunn added another Vocal Duo win.
What were the other standout performances?
Chris Stapleton and Post Malone opened the show
Stapleton and Post Malone opened with “California Sober.” Malone later performed “Yours,” which the Associated Press said he dedicated to his young daughter.
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Shaboozey turned a hit into a crowd-raising moment
Shaboozey moved from “Highway” into “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” bringing the audience to its feet, according to the Associated Press.
George Strait received a career tribute
The George Strait tribute began with Lainey Wilson singing “Amarillo by Morning,” then brought Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum and Chris Stapleton to the stage with Strait. Strait received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Associated Press quoted him saying, “I’m so glad I got them before you.”
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Collaborations and a Kris Kristofferson cover
- Ashley McBryde performed Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
- Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan performed “Cowboys Cry Too.”
- Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood performed “I’m Gonna Love You.”
- Dierks Bentley performed Tom Petty’s “American Girl” with Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes.
Where to watch the full 2024 CMA Awards
The CMA’s official announcement said the complete telecast would be available on Hulu beginning November 21, 2024, the day after the ceremony. That is the announced post-show availability; current access to the 2024 telecast may depend on Hulu’s present catalogue and region. See the CMA’s 2024 Awards announcement for the original viewing information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the night’s biggest moments
- Emotional impact: Jelly Roll and Brooks & Dunn’s “I Believe” was the performance most associated with an audience reaction.
- Award significance: Wallen’s first Entertainer of the Year win and Stapleton’s four-award haul defined the results, while Wilson, Johnson and Moroney also took major honors.
- Collaboration and spectacle: The range ran from Stapleton and Malone’s opening duet to Jelly Roll and Urban’s fiery staging, the Strait tribute and Shaboozey’s hit medley.
The Associated Press also noted that Luke Combs and Eric Church’s hurricane-relief benefit concert had raised $24 million. That was a separate benefit effort, not an amount raised by the CMA Awards telecast.
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