Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and others emerge winners at the 55th Annual CMA Awards in 2021.
The Country Music Association Awards 2021 saw Luke Bryan as its first-ever solo host, along with many other highlights, as you will see in the rest of this article.
On Wednesday, 10 October 2021, the 55th Annual CMA Awards ceremony took place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to celebrate a year filled with memorable hits from their beloved country performers. Eric Church and Chris Stapleton had the most nominations and the biggest wins of the night.
The award night, tagged ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night,’ went off to a stellar start with Miranda Lambert opening with a medley of her hit songs over the years. There were also other powerful performances from artists like Jennifer Hudson (giving an Aretha Franklin tribute), Chris Stapleton, and Luke Combs.
During the CMA Awards 2021, Carly Pearce was awarded the trophy for Female Vocalist of the Yea” and, her acceptance speech left everyone scrambling to find a box of tissues. The “Next Girl” singer could hardly contain her emotions as she accepted her award. She was literally speechless with lots of tears until fellow nominee Ashley McBryde joined her on stage to offer some support and comedic relief.
Related article: BET Hip Hop Awards 2021: see full winners list.
When she finally spoke, she said: “Country music saved me in a time that I needed it and I just wanted to let you guys know that this is all I’ve ever wanted in the entire world and I just wanted you to know that country music is all I love. Thank you so much.“
View this post on Instagram
But she wasn’t the only one who got the audience scrambling for a box of tissues. Jimmy Allen also delivered an overly emotional acceptance speech. He had just gotten eliminated from Dancing With the Stars a few days earlier and winning the CMA’s Best New Artist of the Year got him so emotional.
After a wave of emotions, he composed himself and began his acceptance speech by first thanking his late father who introduced him to country music, his wife, kids, and of course, his manager who discovered him singing at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant in Franklin, Tennessee.
View this post on Instagram
Despite the many difficulties in his career, Jimmie got his well-deserved recognition. Then, after his big win, he wowed fans with a performance of his hit single “Freedom Was a Highway.” It was such a grand avenue to show off the talent that his fans always saw in him.
Chris won awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year. While accepting the award for Album of the Year for Starting Over, he said: “I want to say thank you to everybody that listened to the record, everybody that listens to music—country music fans,” he said. It’s always an [honor] to receive the album award. We work really hard to make albums—we believe in albums, and we like what that is.”
Stream his album Chris Stapleton album Starting Over here:
See also: Travis Scott Astroworld festival and other music concerts with fatalities.
Here is a full list of the winners below:
Full list of CMA Awards 2021 winners
Entertainer of the Year
- Eric Church
- WINNER: Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Gabby Barrett
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- WINNER: Carly Pearce
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Dierks Bentley
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- WINNER: Old Dominion
- Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- WINNER: Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
- WINNER: Jimmie Allen
- Ingrid Andress
- Gabby Barrett
- Mickey Guyton
- HARDY
Album of the Year
- 29, Carly Pearce
- Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen.
- Heart, Eric Church
- Skeletons, Brothers Osborne
- WINNER: Starting Over, Chris Stapleton.
Single of the Year
- “Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
- “The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett
- “Hell Of A View,” Eric Church
- “One Night Standards,” Ashley McBryde
- WINNER: “Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton
Song of the Year
- “Forever After All,” Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
- “The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
- “Hell Of A View,” Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
- “One Night Standards,” Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
- WINNER: “Starting Over,” Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
Musical Event of the Year
- “Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan
- “Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
- “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” Elle King, Miranda Lambert
- “Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
- WINNER: “half of my hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney
See More: 2021 IHeartRadio Music Awards: The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, BTS, Roddy Ricch And Other Winners
Music Video of the Year
- “Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
- “Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
- “Gone,” Dierks Bentley
- “Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne
- WINNER: “half of my hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney
Musician of the Year
- WINNER: Jenee Fleenor
- Paul Franklin
- Aaron Sterling
- Ilya Toshinskiy
- Derek Wells
You may also like our latest articles, Is Veterans Day a federal holiday? See 5 Facts about Veteran day and Red Notice reviews: see what critics and fans are saying.