Country Music’s Biggest Night: CMA Awards Review
While watching last night’s CMA’s, it came to my attention (via my family group chat) that there is some confusion about the different types of awards shows in Country music and if there’s a definitive “ranking.” So, before I dive in to my thoughts on the evening, let’s establish what we were watching for our less-inclined readers.
The three main award shows in country music are CMAs, ACMs, and CMTs. Also known as, the Country Music Association Awards, The Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Country Music Television Awards. While the CMAs and ACMs are voted on by members (much like the GRAMMYs, Oscars, etc.) The CMT Awards are fan voted. The CMAs are usually at the end of the year while the CMT’s fall during CMA fest in June, and the ACMs are typically in the Spring.
Whether I just confused you more or cleared things up, what remains is that today, we’re talking about the CMA Awards!
First off, CONGRATULATIONS are in order for our friend Kelly Paige of Bluff Agency, who designed an entire custom suit for Jay Allen last night. Kelly has been killing the designing game lately for multiple stars and any time her designs are featured on the red carpet, we just have to give her a shout out. Kelly has been a long-time supporter of Music on The Move and her custom tees & bandanas have been featured at our showcases many times! Congratulations Kelly!
The CMA’s started with a beautiful tribute to the legendary Loretta Lynn, performed by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba. The outfits were beautiful and while, Reba looked amazing in her own throwback fringe suit, Carrie Underwood definitely had our vote for best dressed. All three of them sounded amazing.
Then we were greeted by our hosts, Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. I’m not going to lie, I was actually pretty excited to have them as a team. Peyton Manning is notorious for his sense of humor and Luke Bryan does better when he has someone to feed off of. He tried last year but, I much preferred him on a hosting team than going solo.
The rest of the evening was your classic awards shows: some jokes, some performances, people won, people lost, the usual. Rather than recap the entire evening, I’m going to give you my highlights!
While there seemed to be more of an effort to make the male/female presenting/performing ratio tip in the scales towards “equal,” there were definitely some names left out I think deserved to be featured more. For example, Runaway June has been killing the game this last year and they weren’t nominated for a single award!
Wynonna Judd came out to honor her mother before presenting an award for Best Group (which Old Dominion won, deservedly so. Time, Tequila, & Therapy is a great album) however, that was the only tribute to Naomi. While the death of Jeff Cook received more air time. My point here being, I don’t think anyone would bat an eye at an “in memoriam” segment, rather than trying to fit in tributes randomly here and there.
While I still think there was more room for women to be featured, let’s talk about where women SHINED, and dang did they SHINE! Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert’s performances were quite literally on fire. I was HERE for it! Then we got the new powerhouse trio of Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce, and Kelly Clarkson. More fire. More sparkles. More beautiful harmonies. More collaborations from those three, PLEASE.
Lainey Wilson KILLED the night! Not only did she look great in every performance and appearance, she sounded great, and she DESERVEDLY won Female Vocalist of the Year, and New Artist of the Year. Her singles “Heart Like a Truck,” and “Things A Man Oughta Know,” are hands down some of the best vocal performances and well-written songs I’ve heard in a while. I couldn’t be happier for her!
Two collaborations I was not not expecting before tonight, but now I want all the time, were The War & Treaty with Brothers Osborne, and The Black Keys and Elle King. I mean COME ON. Both of those performances were so impressive vocally, musically, performatively (it’s not a word, but it is now.) Everyone involved truly left it all out there. You can watch Elle King & The Black Keys’ performance here, and The Brother’s Osborne & The War & Treaty Rolling Stones tribute here.
Luke Combs walked away with Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year to end the evening and honestly, I’m not mad about it. He’s a phenomenal songwriter, vocalist, and performer, so it was well earned.
Overall, it was a fun evening to watch! It will be interesting in the next few months as everyone gears up for the ACMs to see who pulls out what stops to clinch their award. Personally, we’ll be over here with our popcorn watching it all unfold.