Pop star and actor Justin Timberlake wasn’t nominated for any awards at the CMAs on Wednesday night, but he sure did steal the show alongside country singer Chris Stapleton.
The pair teamed up for a raucous duet of Stapleton’s hit “Tennessee Whiskey” before transitioning into Timberlake’s jam “Drink You Away” from “The 20/20 Experience.”
The smooth performances brought the delighted crowd to their feet, including Memphis-born wife of Timberlake, Jessica Biel, who was spotted cheering from her seat.
Before they even left the stage, fans stormed social media to gush about the double act. “Wow @jtimberlake killed #CMAAwards2015 with @ChrisStapleton The guy literally can do it all!” Justin Turner of the L.A. Dodgers wrote on Twitter.
“I’ll never get over that performance,” Miranda Lambert wrote, after impressing the crowd herself — and bagging the award for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Actress Jessica Capshaw wrote that the pair “just slayed their set. Goosebumps all over, singing along, and a little dancing. So happy.”
Stapleton also took home three awards, for Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley hosted the 49th Annual CMA Awards, which were held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and aired live on ABC.
See the tweets below.
https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/662152207689646080
@jtimberlake @ChrisStapleton I'll never get over that performance. #CMAs
— Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) November 5, 2015
Honored to share the stage with this BADASS. Wed night. Memphis x Nashville. @ChrisStapleton #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/IfIDSbHqNy
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) November 2, 2015
wow… @ChrisStapleton & @jtimberlake were GREAT #CMAAwards2015
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) November 5, 2015
#CMAAwards2015 @jtimberlake and @ChrisStapleton just slayed their set. Goosebumps all over, singing along, and a little dancing. So happy.
— Jessica Capshaw (@JessicaCapshaw) November 5, 2015
@ChrisStapleton and @jtimberlake just crushed that performance at the @cmaaward(s)!
— Eric Decker (@EricDecker87) November 5, 2015
The @jtimberlake and @ChrisStapleton performance on the CMA awards was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. JAW DROPPING!!
— Chris Jamison (@iamchrisjamison) November 5, 2015
Pretty sure @jtimberlake is the highest paid backup singer in #CMAAwards2015 history, killing it with @ChrisStapleton.
— Dale Arnold (@DaleEArnold) November 5, 2015