CMA Awards: Lainey Wilson wins top awards including Entertainer of the Year

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The 57th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, teamed up country music singer Luke Bryan and retired football legend Peyton Manning as co-hosts Wednesday night for the second straight year, as Lainey Wilson took home top awards including Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

"This is all I've ever wanted to do. It's the only thing I know how to do," Wilson said as she accepted the award for CMAs' top honor, Entertainer of the Year. "It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart."

Wilson beat out fellow nominees Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton, who won the CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

"Thank you CMAs," Stapleton said as he accepted his award. "I've won a couple of these, and I'm always shocked that I win one."

Jelly Roll, who won the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year and had a total of five nominations, opened the show at Bridgestone Arena with his hit song "Need a Favor" and a surprise appearance by country music legend Wynonna Judd.

"There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning New Artist of the Year," Jelly Roll said as he accepted the award. "I don't know where you're at in your life, or what you're going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby."

"What's in front of you is so much more important than what's behind you," he added.

The night started with Luke Combs winning Single of the Year for his hit "Fast Car." This is Combs' first win in the category.

Tracy Chapman won Song of the Year, also for "Fast Car," which was first released in 1988 on Chapman's self-titled debut studio album. Combs re-recorded it as a cover for his 2023 album Gettin Old.

"It's truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut. Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of 'Fast Car,'" Chapman, who was not in attendance, wrote in a message.

Old Dominion won Vocal Group of the Year for the sixth year in a row.

And, the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year went to T.J. Osborne and John Osborne of Brothers Osborne, which is also their sixth win in the category.

Before the show began, awards were already being handed out with Jenee Fleenor winning Musician of the Year during the CMA's pre-show ceremony. It is Fleenor's fifth consecutive win in that category.

Lainey Wilson, who led this year's nominees with nine nominations, also took home two early prizes with HARDY, winning Musical Event of the Year and Musical Video of the Year on Wednesday morning.

"Well y'all ... this is some exciting news to wake up to. It's meant a lot to me to be on this ride with ya brother," Wilson wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Among the many anticipated performances during Wednesday's show was a musical tribute to the late singer Jimmy Buffett, who died in September at the age of 76. Buffett, whose final album Equal Strain on All Parts was released Friday, was honored by Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band who sang a medley of Buffett's biggest hits including "A Pirate Looks at Forty" and "Margaritaville."

Earlier in the show, Bryan performed a medley of his biggest hits, including "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day," "One Margarita," "Play It Again," and "Country Girl."

Combs performed "Where the Wild Things Are" from his album Gettin' Old, while Stapleton took to the stage to perform "White Horse" from his album Higher, which is scheduled for release Friday.

Wilson performed "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" from her winning album Bell Bottom Country.

Kelsea Ballerini, Post Malone, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Wallen, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town and Tanya Tucker also performed during Wednesday night's show.

The CMA Awards aired live on ABC. The show will be available to stream Thursday on Hulu.