The 2024 CMA Awards LIVE Blog (+Winners)

Random Notes 99 Comments


Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the notorious Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog. As the presentation transpires, snark, keen observations, earned praise, and a few swear words and errant typos will be presented in real time. Yes, there will be some fun at other people’s expense, so bring a thick skin, but credit will also be given where credit is due. And everything is unscripted, and composed in real time.

YOUR feedback and observations are welcome as well, so get your refresh fingers ready, and feel free to pipe up in the comments section below.

To see all the 2024 CMA Awards nominees, CLICK HERE (and scroll to the bottom).

WARNING: Language
All Times Central Time.

WINNERS:

Entertainer of the Year – Morgan Wallen
Album of the Year – Cody Johnson’s Leather
Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year – Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse”
Song of the Year – Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse”
Duo of the Year- Brooks & Dunn
Group of the Year – Old Dominion
Video of the Year – Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”
New Artist of the Year – Megan Moroney
Musician of the Year – Charlie Worsham
Musical Event of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green)

10:18 – The real story of the 2024 CMA Awards is Chris Stapleton’s continued, mostly deserved, but stale dominance of the awards. Cody Johnson only won one, but it was massive win for Album of the Year. And though Morgan Wallen wasn’t even in attendance, he walks away as the big winner after overcoming strong headwinds, multiple mistakes, and two felony counts to take the top crown.

The biggest performance far and away was Ashley McBryde tributing Kris Kristofferson. The worst was Bailey Zimmerman throwing a Hail Mary for relevancy and having it batted down. Overall, it felt like a very mild to bad year, especially the first two hours. And this is after the CMAs had slowly been getting better and better throughout the years, the George Strait tribute and Dierks bluegrass performance notwithstanding.

Trust much of the rest of the media to draw parallels between Morgan Wallen’s win and Donald Trump’s, tie in Trent Willmon’s quote about Shaboozey, and mention how Beyonce wasn’t here, despite her not showing up for anything the entire year, even when she’s invited.

Country music continues to improve. The 2024 CMA Awards did not reflect that. I’s still holding up the mainstream country industry as the only option in country music.

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10:07 – Thanks everybody for stopping by! I am going to compose some final quick thoughts, run down all the winners, and get to work on delving deeper into some of the storylines presented tonight.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

10:02 – Welp, the CMA Awards were so were so lame in 2024, the cross-marketing actor giving away the biggest award of the night didn’t even know who he was giving it to, and the performer who won wasn’t there to receive it. Wouldn’t have been my pick, but Wallen (not Waylen) is the biggest artist in all of country music, and that’s what these awards are here for.

10:00 – I just heard the incomparable Jeff Bridges say “Waylon” won the CMA Entertainer of the Year, and I am going to accept that as the official result, and won’t hear anything else to the contrary.

9:57 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA Entertainer of the Year goes to Morgan Wallen.

9:56 – CMA Musician of the Year Charlie Worsham on the stage as well. Some of the greatest musicians in country on stage right now.

9:55 – BTW, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes isn’t just a member of Molly Tuttle’s Golden Highway band. She is a solo artist who just released a new album called I Built A World, and is the IMBA Fiddle Player of the Year. Incidentally, she’s also married to Jason Carter, the fiddler for Del McCoury’s band.

9:54 – Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes are on the damn CMA Awards. Super cool for Dierks and the CMAs to feature them to perform Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Would have been more cool if Molly could perform one of her own songs, but we’ll take it.

9:51 – If Jelly Roll wins Entertainer of the Year, I’m sacking the Capitol, Jan 6th style. Or, I’ll just yell into a pillow, and crank some Cody Jinks.

9:50 – I guess Toby Keith isn’t getting a proper tribute. But Tom Petty is? Love some Petty, but priorities folks! Priorities!

9:47 – Didn’t know Jelly Roll could possibly look more trashy. But that’s the power of an atomic mullet.

9:46 – Say what you want about about his music, but Jelly Roll is a true humanitarian. They recently used all his alligator tears to extinguish the fires in the Northeast.

9:44 – Lainey’s win was one of the few obvious wins of the night. Clearly the industry has embraced her as the future. Lainey also has some of the best acceptance speeches.

9:43 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson.

9:40 – 49 Winchester of on X: “[Red Clay] Strays got robbed smh.”

9:38 – The home stretch! Good news: Dierks Bentley will be featuring Molly Tuttle and Sierra Hull coming up. Bad news: Jelly Roll is also performing after the commercial break.

9:36 – We can all tip our hat to what Eric Church has done for disaster relief. And he done more than perhaps anyone else. But this song does nothing for me.

9:35 – North Carolina native Eric Church comes out to perform “In Your Darkest Hour”—a song whose proceeds go to hurricane relief.

9:33 – Luke Combs comes out to draw attention to the devastation that happened in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and mention the 24 MILLION he and others were able to raise through a massive concert and other initiatives.

9:31- We can’t put Luke Bryan out to pasture yet? I can’t wait to detox with some Zach Top and Emily Nenni after this mess.

9:26 – That Bailey Zimmerman shit really, really sucked.

9:22 – Chris Stapleton is a generational talent, no doubt. Jelly Roll could have won, mind you. But a strong case can be made Stapleton was the weakest in the field that included Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, and Morgan Wallen as well. You’re not angry at Chris Stapleton winning everything. It just feels incredibly safe.

9:21– Chris Stapleton never has much for us in his acceptance speeches. You can’t say he’s taken by surprise by winning.

9:20 – Luke Combs said it all. “Eighth ?!?”

9:19 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year is Chris Stapleton.

9:18 – Maybe Ashley McBryde should get tattoos all over her damn face so she can get some heat in this dumb industry.

What a talent.

9:16 – Yes! Ashley McBryde comes out to tribute Kris Kristofferson, singing an acoustic version of “Help Me Make It Through The Night.”

Pay attention Post Malone and everyone else. THIS is how you do an intimate acoustic performance on an awards show, hush the crowd, and make a “moment” we’ll all remember.

9:14 – Just taking this free moment to underscore just how much Bailey Zimmerman sucked. I think he thought he was going to make a big splash. But if folks want to see Morgan Wallen, they’re not going to settle for the store brand version.

9:12 – We’ll take 12 minutes of George Strait music and tribute, and be happy with it.

But this CMAs has a lot of ground to make up to get on the same level as previous years that felt they were generally going in a better direction.

9:10 – Stapleton introduces Strait who takes the mic. He thanks all the folks performing his songs. “I’m so glad I got them before you.”

9:08 – Not sure wading through all the other excrement was worth it. But I’m happier than a wine mom in Target watching this George Strait tribute.

9:07 – Hey, turn up that steel guitar! Who’s on that mixing board, Shaboozey?!?

9:06 – The “King” George Strait himself comes out to sing his new duet with Chris Stapleton “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”

Love this song!

9:04 – A couple of fellow Texans in Miranda Lambert and Parker McCoullum take the stage to perform “Troubadour.”

Good that were getting full songs as opposed to a medley for this George Strait tribute.

9:03 – Jamey Johnson totally in the feels with this one.

…and potentially, high. 🙂

9:02 – Jamey Johnson comes out to sing Strait’s “Give It Away.” And yeah. He might be holding.

9:00 – Lainey Wilson starts the George Strait tribute off by singing “Amarillo By Morning.”

8:58 – Did not see the Brooks & Dunn win coming at all. This award has been the dominion of Dan + Shat and Brothers Osborne for years. But it’s also deserved. They truly are the most popular duo out there, despite their age.

8:57 – This win for Brooks & Dunn is huge! It’s their first Duo of the Year win in 17 years.

8:53 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Brooks & Dunn.

8:52 – Whoa, Mr. Zimmerman, take your white jorts and your bad Morgan Wallen impression, and refried Bro-Country back to 2014.

8:50 – Bailey Zimmerman doesn’t have the cred yet to ride down from the ceiling on his initials. 99% of America couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. Fake it ’til you make it I guess, Bailey.

8:48 – PS: The think pieces about Trent Willmon’s comments are being written as we speak. That might be the biggest thing that happened at the 2024 CMA Awards so far.

8:46 – Like Cody Johnson, I had a feeling Jelly Roll was going to win Album of the Year. I personally felt that Luke Combs “Fathers & Sons” was the superior project, if only because it featured more Combs original writing. But we’ll take the win for Cody, who radio continues to mostly ignore, but has built a massive audience off of real country music.

8:44 – This Lainey Wilson performance is fine I guess. “4X4XU” just doesn’t have a lot of heft behind it. Where are all the great songs, and great performances?

8:42 – Yes, Cody Johnson’s producer Trent Willmon just said that Cody Johnson has been “kicking Shaboozey for a lot of years” after Johnson won Album of the Year. You have to believe that was intentional.

8:39 – “There’s a few moments in a career when Ric Flair feels appropriate. ‘Woow!'” says Cody Johnson.

8:38 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA for Album of the Year goes to Cody Johnson for Leather.

8:37 – Post Malone has some good songs on that country album. That was a disappointment.

8:36 – I know we’re supposed to be moved by Post Malone’s “Yours,” but it’s mawkish Hardy-written schlock, and creepily possessive. Also, Post Malone is not singing this good AT ALL. He’s screaming what’s supposed to be an intimate performance. And he’s pitchy.

8:33 – Best news of the night so far? The Saving Country Music server is holding up despite insane traffic! Shout out to my web team, and thanks to everyone for following along!

8:31 – WINNER – Video of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”

Announced during the commercial break, just like Musician of the Year was.

8:30 – Ronnie Dunn with the performance of the night so far. Powerful stuff, and a good song.

If we’re being fair, Jelly Roll could’ve gotten in the way more than he actually did.

8:28 – I take it all back. Jelly Roll makes me want to give all my money to a megachurch.

8:26 – Ronnie Dunn’s still got it.

Not sure Jelly Roll ever did.

8:24 – Watching Brooks & Dunn performing with Jelly Roll is like bagging a threesome, and then your mom walks in.

8:23 – Hey, who wants to meet downtown and flip cars over the fact that Old Dominion just won a SEVENTH Group of the Year CMA, and most Americans can’t even name you one of their songs?

8:21- WINNER – The 2024 CMA for Vocal Group of the Year goes to Old Dominion. It’s their 7th win in a row.

8:20 – The Oak Ridge Boys take the stage and take a moment to remember Joe Bonsall before awarding Vocal Group of the Year.

8:19 – No gripes about the Kacey Musgraves performance. Solid moment and a decent song. But it’s more Spacey Kacey musings as opposed to a true intimate acoustic moment like these awards can lend to.

8:17 – Interesting to note, this song “The Architect” is the only song on the new Kacey Musgraves album co-written with Shane McAnally who was behind Kacey’s early success. Also interesting that she’s performing on the CMAs at all. At times she has turned down performance slots. It appears unlike Maren Morris who burned every bridge going pop, Musgraves still knows where her roots are.

8:15 – The first half of the 2024 CMA Awards in a nutshell.


8:10 – Was going to complain that Chris Stapleton is performing “What Am I Gonna Do?” as opposed to “White Horse,” but I believe he performed that last year. This song just has no pulse for a live TV performance.

8:08 – Jackson Laux is only 9. And even he knows Luke Bryan is a chode.

8:06 – Not especially thrilled with this song, “I’m Gonna Love You.” But Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood do well with it. Tolerable country pop, especially compared to what we got for the first hour.

8:05 – Cody Johnson. Carrie Underwood. For the love of all things holy. Save this sinking ship.

8:03 – Bring back Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood as hosts. My God.

8:00 – An hour in, and not really anything for us to be positive about aside from Shaboozey getting shut out so far.

7:58 – What do you know about songwriting, Dustin Lynch? Your last single straight up ripped off Mentor Williams and Doobie Gray. Arshole.

7:57 – Of course they use Dustin Lynch to present an embedded commercial during the actual live presentation. What a whore.

7:56 – Dustin Lynch’s career is such a disaster, it’s visible from space.

7:54 – I keep wanting to love the more mature Kelsea Ballerini, but it just doesn’t stick. It’s still only guilty of being country by association. Noah Kahan is the pop fan’s version of Zach Bryan.

7:51 – Love Megan Moroney the songwriter. Megan Moroney the performer needs more time on court. Happy she won it over pretty much everyone else except Zach Top.

7:50 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA New Artist of the Year is Megan Moroney.

7:49 – Nothing says country music like Flamethrowers, spark showers, and lighting bolts. George Jones sure would be proud.

7:47 – 15-year-old Luke Combs looking at the the 34-year-old Luke Combs like…


7:46 – Yep. Luke Combs released the best album of his career in “Fathers & Sons.” It’s nominated for Album of the Year … and he performs a rock song from a movie soundtrack.

7:45 – Not a very good first 45 minutes at all. We’ll have to see what the rest of the night has in store.

7:42 – Boy, the producers are severely second guessing putting George Strait just a few chairs down from Post Malone. Every time they show Posty getting down, King George has a the most horrified, ghastly look on his face, symbolizing how 80% of actual country fans feel as this sit at home wishing Teddy Swims would be thrown in the Cumberland with some cinder block shoes to see if he floats.

7:39 – Wait, now this dickhead with tattoos on his eyelids gets to perform his own pop song while Carly Pearce was relegated to the “Presenters” list and Zach Top is on the bench? What is this bullshit?

7:38 – Someone tell this turkey Teddy Swims that Halloween was last month, and we’re done with the cosplay.

7:37 – Now Teddy Swims is someone I have to interface with as a country music fan? How many of these face-tattooed fu-ks are we expected to tolerate? This angers the blood.

7:35 – If you missed it earlier, “You Look Like You Love Me” won Musical Event of the Year before the broadcast.

7:33 – This Ella Langley / Riley Green song really did find a lot of organic appeal. I think it’s a little boring, but it’s cool to see a couple of relative outsiders have a earned moment on the CMAs

7:32 – Alright, now we can complain about all the awards going to Chris Stapleton. He co-wrote the song with Dan Wilson, who shares the trophy.

7:31 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA Song of the Year goes to “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton.

7:29 – Charlie Worsham is definitely a favorite among his fellow musicians, and hard to argue with. He breaks the Jenee Fleenor streak, and this means Paul Franklin has been nominated 32 times, and never won.

7:28 – WINNER – Charlie Worsham has been named the 2024 CMA Musician of the Year.

7:24 – Wait, that was the biggest song in all of music in all of 2024 we just witnessed? I’m not even that offended by “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” but that has to be the most deflating, limp dick performance possible from Shaboozey. That’s what happens when you put a digital studio performer on a big stage. Shaboozey is not a singer or a performer. He’s a digital music project creator.

7:23 – LOL, the dejected look on George Strait’s face when they cut to him during this Shaboozey performance was worth the entire 3-hour commitment to watch this thing. Hail King George.

7:21 – How about we do more than “toast” Toby Keith, Luke? We can’t get him a proper tribute? I’d trade that for a Shabooey performance and plate of pancakes all day.

7:20 – Moroney needed to spend less time in wardrobe, and more time in the practice room. This Taylor Swift 2.0 just isn’t doing it for me. Be the songwriter you are.

7:18 – I love Megan Moroney. But she’s very consistently flat during her live performances. She seems to lack confidence behind her delivery, and her nervousness affects her tone. Own it girl!

7:17 – Randomly, those who don’t know, Billy Bob Thorton is a musician himself. Check out his band The Boxmasters, which Unknown Hinson was also in.

7:15 – Sure, Chris Stapleton is the default winner for any category he’s nominated in, and it’s a little anti-climactic to see him win another. But “White Horse’ might be my favorite single of his. He really knocks it out of the park and it showcases his strengths. It also means Shaboozey, Post Malone, and Morgan Wallen DON’T win.

7:12 – Stapleton doesn’t say much. Dave Cobb shouts out Morgane Stapleton as Chris’s secret weapon.

7:10 – WINNER – The 2024 CMA for Single of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton for “White Horse.”

7:09 – Not sure about Billy Bob Thorton’s look here. Looks like he should be crouching in a Jack in the Box.

7:08 – Just saw Zach Top in the audience. How ’bout we scrap this opening monologue and have him come up on stage a rip through “Freeborn Man”?

7:07 – These jokes are bombing harder than Tony Hinchcliffe on a sortie over Dresden.

7:06 – Jerry Jones is going to put out a professional hit on Peyton for that joke. Darth Vader don’t play.

7:05 – Luke Bryan’s career is diminishing even quicker than Lainey Wilson’s ass.

7:04 – As you can see, tonight’s presentation is being hosted by Lainey Wilson, Peyton Manning, and Jim Nabors.

7:03 – Post Malone’s got more bling in his left molar than Stapleton’s entire closet.

7:01 – Jamey Johnson would have made a better duet partner for Post Malone’s “California Sober.”

7:00 – Here we go!

6:55 – Strange we have not received word on Video of the Year or Musician of the Year yet, which is usually announced before the telecast. Doubtful they will do Musician during the presentation, but Video of the Year might be going to someone who might have their only opportunity at the podium with the trophy. Sometimes they do New Artist of the Year early too.

6:50 – Early winners include:

Musical Event of the Year – “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green)

6:48 – Some things to look forward to: There is going to be a tribute to George Strait ahead of Strait receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson are reportedly set to tribute Strait. Also, Dierks Bentley will be performing with Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, which will be cool.

6:45 – Just a heads up: If you’ve followed along with these live blogs in the past, you know sometimes the traffic gets so nuts, the server can crash. Each year, Everything is done to make sure this doesn’t happen, but it’s a 50/50 prospect at best. If the site does crash, we’ll do everything we can to get it back up and running.

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