The biggest names and brightest talent in country music were celebrated at the CMA Awards Wednesday, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley for the eighth straight year.
The 49th Annual CMA Awards were held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and aired live on ABC.
Coming into the night, Eric Church and Kenny Chesney both had five nominations each, including Entertainer of the Year, while Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and Florida Georgia Line all scooped up awards.
“Girl Crush” by Little Big Town won both Song of the Year and Single of the Year, and the band rewarded fans with a stellar performance of the hit.
Justin Timberlake and rising country star Chris Stapleton stole the show, however, as Memphis native JT returned to his Southern roots for a duet of Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Along with winning, co-hosting and performing, Underwood also had time for a comedy skit with Paisley and William Shatner, who came out on stage dressed as a Stormtrooper from “Star Wars.”
The co-hosts also pulled off a light-hearted joke about Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s divorce by comparing them to Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog. Lambert went on to have the last laugh by winning Female Vocalist of the Year.
Also among the top performances were the Zac Brown Band tantalizing the crowd with a psychedelic show for “Beautiful Drug.”
See the full list of nominees below, winners are in bold.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan (WINNER)
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Old Boots, New Dirt” – Jason Aldean
“Pageant Material” – Kacey Musgraves
“Pain Killer” – Little Big Town
“The Big Revival” – Kenny Chesney
“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert (WINNER)
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
LeAnn Womack
Kelsea Ballerini
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town (WINNER)
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
SONG OF THE YEAR
“American Kids” – Kenny Chesney
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (WINNER)
“Like a Cowboy” – Randy Houser
“Like a Wrecking Ball” – Eric Church
“Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan and Shay
Florida Georgia Line (WINNER)
Maddie and Tae
Thompson Square
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
Kelsea Ballerini
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“American Kids” – Kenny Chesney
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (WINNER)
“I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
“Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt
“Talladega” – Eric Church
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Django and Jimmie” – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
“Lonely Tonight” – Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe
“Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban feat. Eric Church (WINNER)
“Smokin’ and Drinkin’” – Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town
“Wild Child” – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Biscuits” – Kacey Musgraves
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town
“Girl in a Country Song” – Maddie & Tae (WINNER)
“Little Red Wagon” – Miranda Lambert
“Something in the Water” – Carrie Underwood
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bus
Jerry Douglas
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Mac McAnally (WINNER)