The 2022 CMA Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2022 installment of the notorious and explosive Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog. As the presentation transpires, snark, thoughts, pointed remarks, keen observations, and probably a few swear words and errant typos will be presented in real time, so get your refresh fingers ready. Yes, there will be some fun at other people’s expense, so bring a thick skin, but we’ll also give credit where credit is due.
And of course, YOUR feedback and observations are always welcome, so please feel free to pipe up in the comments section.
To see all the CMA Awards nominees, CLICK HERE.
WARNING: Language
All Times Central Time.
WINNERS:
Entertainer of the Year – Luke Combs
Female Vocalist of the Year – Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
Album of the Year – Luke Combs – Growin’ Up
Single of the Year – Cody Johnson – “Til You Can’t”
Song of the Year – Jordan Davis – “Buy Dirt”
Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year – Brothers Osborne
Musical Event of the Year – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde – “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”
Video of the Year – Cody Johnson – “Til You Can’t”
Musician of the Year – Jenee Fleenor
10:15 – Luke Combs said it best. The 2022 CMA Awards were the most country in years, and this continues a trend that started when Chris Stapleton shocked the CMA Awards in 2015. Yes, there’s still pop stuff and poor performances. But they’re now the exception, not the rule. I started doing these live bogs to help keep myself and others sane and to cope. Now there’s just as much to celebrate and be imp[ressed by as there is to complain about. Of course it’s not perfect. Of course the best of country music are still not even nominated. But the work true country fans have been doing since the apex of Bro-Country is paying off in ways we can see right in front of us. Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson were two of the biggest winners of the night. Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Jason Aldean, et all were nowhere to be found. It’s a new era in country music, not just in the independent world, but in the mainstream. Who thought we’d be seeing Patty Loveless sing “Never Leave Harlan Alive,” or have measured praise for Kelsea Ballerini?
And make no mistake, the media was salivating over the idea of Morgan Wallen winning. And he didn’t. But the country music community also signaled that they’re not just going to shun him forever, but offer a path to forgiveness and understanding, while also opening up the stage to artists like The War and Treaty and Marcus King, who we never thought we’d see on the CMA Awards.
There were some lame moments of course. But overall, it was a good night full of tributes of past greats, good performances by newcomers, and COUNTRY music.
10:05 – Thanks everybody for stopping by! Thanks for commenting and sharing. I’m going to compose some final thoughts, run down the winners, and call it a night!
10:03 – Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton are the safe picks for big awards that won’t get people too excited or incensed. Would have been cool to see Miranda or Carrie win on a kind of weak year, but if you weren’t going to give it to the biggest artists in country music right now (Morgan Wallen), Combs was who it fell to.
But I gotta say, the fact that the 2nd biggest artist in country (Zach Bryan) wasn’t even mentioned tonight was a big mistake the industry will pay for with relevancy toward younger audiences.
9:59 – …and 1000 think pieces written pre-written about the embarrassment of the CMA making Morgan Wallen the Entertainer of the Year are now worthless.
“Country sounded a lot more country than it has in a long time tonight,” says Luke Combs. And he’s right.
9:56 – WINNER – The CMA for Entertainer of the Year goes to Luke Combs.
9:52 – It’s hard to know if it’s emotion, Alan Jackson’s issues with CMT (a syndrome he’s dealing with), or both. But he seemed genuinely touched to receive this award. Of course we know Alan Jackson has had a love/hate relationship with these awards shows, protesting what they did to George Jones, telling his drummer to play without sticks to tip off they were using a backing track, to walking out on Beyonce. But he seems truly gracious here.
9:49 – “I came to Nashville with nothing. Carrie called it three chords and the truth. It was more like three chords and a prayer. I loved country music. I wanted to carry it on, the kind that I love.”
9:47 – We have to appreciate that with this Alan Jackson tribute, this presentation has probably been half to 2/3rds actual country music this year. Each year since about 2015, country music has become more country, and the CMAs have followed suit.
9:46 – Glad they’re letting Alan Jackson actually sing too. Lainey killed “Neon Rainbow.”
9:41 – Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson, and Jon Pardi singing “Chatahoochee.” Let’s see if somebody has the balls to sing “Murder on Music Row.”
9:40 – If you’ve been fighting through the last 2 hours and 40 minutes for the Alan Jackson tribute, you’ve made it.
9:34 – Elle King is a lot.
9:32 – Kind of surprised that Herman Munster-looking Patrick Carney of The Black Keys didn’t get cancelled. You cheat on the twice hot Michelle Branch while she’s pregnant so she slaps you, and SHE’S the one who ends up in the slammer?
9:30 – Chris Stapleton is the safe, easy pick, and probably means that Morgan Wallen has less of a chance to win Entertainer of the Year.
9:29 – WINNER – The CMA for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton.
9:27 – No bigger Stones fan than me, and I know they have a tribute album coming up. But it’s going to feel weird if we get this, and no tribute to Naomi Judd, or an In Memorian segment. Then again, this was just an opportunity to feature The War and Treaty, and that’s a pretty good excuse.
9:25 – I know The War & Treaty aren’t straight down the middle country, but they are also straight fire. If there was ever an Americana act worthy of crossing over to mainstream country, it would be them. And now that they’re signed to a major label, it just might happen.
9:21 – Looks like Lainey Wilson might have a massive night after all. Winning Female Vocalist means you’re a top tier star. Hopefully folks now go and pay attention to her album, which debuted at #12. Along with Carly Pearce, country music has a new crop of top women, and they are country.
9:20 – Sorry folks, tons of load on the server at the moment. If the site goes down, we’ll get it back up shortly.
9:19 – WINNER – The CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson.
9:16 – Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie. What is this? Where is Ryan Seacrest?
9:15 – Got to tip your hat to the CMA for putting this into the presentation. Right now, it’s the revitalization of the sound from the Country Music Highway where Patty Loveless, Chris Stapleton, Childers, Sturgill, and so many more are from that is fueling the country music revolution, and it was ravaged in the floods. And this wasn’t a 90-second snippet. This was one of the longest performances of the evening.
It was also the best.
9:10 – Oh my word. Patty Loveless, Mrs. Coal herself, singing “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” with Chris Stapleton is just about as good as it gets. This is worth the 3-hour commitment to watching this show all unto itself.
9:09 – So they’re going to mention the Kentucky Rising benefit, but not mention Tyler Childers and Dwight Yoakam who also were a big part of it with Chris Stapleton? They’ll do everything to avoid Childers.
9:05 – Lainey Wilson has one of those accents you can’t fake, but many try.
8:59 – As much satisfaction as it gives me to think the political functionaries on Twitter are writhing like possessed demons in The Exorcist at the mere presence of Morgan Wallen on the CMA stage, “You Proof” is click track trash, and makes me wish he would get the party end of his mullet caught in a dangerous piece of industrial machinery.
8:57 – Big win for Lainey Wilson is a super strong field that should have also included Zach Bryan.
8:56 – “This one is for that 9 year old girl that wrote her first song, and knew this is what she wanted to do.”
“It’s for the ones who believed in me, and a little bit for the ones who didn’t.”
8:55 – WINNER – The CMA for New Artist of the Year goes to Lainey Wilson.
8:54 – Kelly Clarkson can make a country album any time. Instead we get Nelly and Diplo trying to cross over.
8:52 – This Kealsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce, Kelly Clarkson collab at bad. Great three-part harmonies, some steel guitar in the background.
8:50 – Bring back Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley as hosts. Not one of these Peyton/Luke jokes have landed.
8:47 – Important to note that the camera found Maren Morris, who was up for Album of the Year. She had said a couple of months ago that she did not feel comfortable going to the CMA Awards. Apparently they coaxed her into the room.
8:45 – Again, Luke Combs is hard to not root for, but Growin’ Up felt flat to me. Album of the Year? It was an extremely weak field this year. I guess someone had to win it. I would have probably picked Miranda Lambert or Lainey Wilson.
8:44 – WINNER – The CMA for Album of the Year goes to Luke Combs for Growin’ Up.
8:43 – What is it about Keith Urban these days that makes me fear he wants to eat my soul?
8:40 – The worst part of Hardy is Hardy. The Clark Kent sunglasses and the bad radio singles. And the fact that he knows better and can write great songs if/when he wants to, like “Wait in the Truck.” Yeah, the story is pretty implausible. But it actually has a story, and is a hit song on radio featuring an incredible collaborator in Lainey Wilson. I just can’t hate on this.
8:38 – Good on Luke Bryan for mentioning the passing of Jeff Cook. I still want an In Memorian segment though.
8:36 – Thanks to everyone commenting below. I’m reading when I can. We’re halfway through!
8:32 – Katy Perry and Thomas Rhett need to take the lite R&B shit back to the adult contemporary side of the dial.
8:31 – Doesn’t Katy Perry have an inflatable shark to hump somewhere? What the hell is she doing on a country awards show?
8:31 – Thomas Rhett is the most normcore, nondescript human in history. You might as well have a slice of Wonder bread with the crust cut off by your mommy up there singing right now.
8:29 – Huge win for Cody Johnson, and for a deserving song. Johnson could have a huge night here.
8:28 – WINNER: The CMA for Single of the Year goes to Cody Johnson for “Til You Can’t.”
8:27 – This is the way I like my Tyler Hubbard: Presenting, not singing. What a fall from grace for Florida Georgia Line.
8:26 – Holy shit! Marcus King! He just made me pull my hammy playing air guitar on the top of my couch.
8:24 – Man, Zac Brown Band still can slap whenever they want. But ever since he was rapping about Patrick Swayze and Veyron whips over drum loops, it’s just hard to take him too seriously.
8:22 – The CMAs love their behind-the-scenes executives barely anybody knows or cares about. The Country Music Hall of Fame is full of them, while Dwight Yoakam and Tanya Tucker are on the outside looking in.
8:21 – Carly Pearce may have the performance of the night so far.
8:18 – Dude, they literally gave Breland the opportunity to introduce/star in a fucking Chevy truck commercial. How demeaning. I honestly feel sorry for him.
8:16 – This Urkel-looking dude Breland has about as much chance of becoming an actual country star as Beto O’Rourke has of being Texas Governor after he promised to come for your guns. Quit trying to make him a thing.
8:16 – Sonya Isaacs too.
8:15 – Damn, we got a Ricky Skaggs guitar solo on this thing.
8:13 – Carly Pearce is saving country music. Here she’s singing her Loretta Lynn tribute, “Dear Miss Loretta,” and with Kentuckian Ricky Skaggs backing her. Pretty sure that’s Jeneee Fleenor on fiddle too.
8:12 – I mess with some Carly Pearce.
8:06 – HINT Luke Bryan: If you got to tell everyone how country you are, you’re probably not country. And that wasn’t patriotism welling up inside of me when I was watching that performance, it was bile.
8:04 – Will give Old Dominion credit for mentioning Jeff Cook and Alabama, who were probably the most successful country group in history. May be the only hat tip Jeff Cook gets tonight.
8:03 – Just appreciate we live in a country music world with Mike and the Moonpies, Turnpike Troubadours, Whiskey Myers out their setting the world on fire and a group of dudes who look like Crypto-selling douche creeps in Old Dominon just won the CMA Vocal Group of the Year.
8:01 – WINNER – The CMA for Vocal Group of the Year goes to Old Dominion.
7:55 – So apparently Wynonna thought she was at the CMT Awards. No wonder she looked so unhappy.
7:53 – Luke Combs is always not bad, sometimes okay, occasionally good, and never great. He’s hard to not root for with his everyman thing. But you always want more from him. This song and performance is fine. I will forget about it five minutes from now.
7:51 – Nothing says country like a pyrotechnics show. We knew the first 20 minutes of this thing was a mirage.
7:49 – Watching Carrie Underwood perform in an evening gown in tribute to Loretta was good. But it’s not an awards show if she doesn’t show off her gams that can crush bowling balls.
Don’t care for this performance though. She does best live with ballads. Not rehashed hair metal.
7:44 – At this point Vocal Duo is Brothers Osborne’s to lose indefinitely, kind of like how Brooks & Dunn was for a decade-plus. Dan + Shay who?
7:42 – WINNER – Brothers Osborne wins for Vocal Duo of the Year
7:40 – Goodness. Wynonna’s frown face says it all. What an awkward moment as festive music plays behind her. Someone didn’t read the room here on the production crew.
7:37 – I don’t know who Geraldine is, but I would watch out. Miranda comes across as one who will throw your tossed salad in your face and hit the pavement before the po-po roll up.
7:36 – Cool to see Jeannie Seely get some pub introducing a Miranda Lambert performance. Would be even more cool if they let her sing.
7:34 – No joke, the internet is EXPLODING right now with tons of late teens, early 20s country fans wondering why the hell Zach Bryan is not on this thing. Not booking him at least as a presenter or something was a catastrophic move by the CMAs.
7:31 – They should have bailed out on the Cole Swindell song, and launched into Jo Dee Messina’s, “My Give a Damn’s Busted.”
7:30 – If the girl in this Cole Swindell song is a 90s country fan, what the fuck is she doing hanging out with Cole Swindell’s weak ass?
7:29 – My general countenance watching Cole Swindell:
7:28 – This Cole Swindell “Heads Carolina” performance would be the perfect time for Will Smith and his spring-loaded slapper to randomly dart out of the crowd and rip someone across the crooner.
7:27 – I’ll say this. “Buy Dirt” is not as bad as I want it to be. Would have much preferred “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” or “Things A Man Oughta Know.” But this was a surprisingly strong field.
7:26 – WINNER – The CMA for Song of the Year goes to Jordan Davis for “Buy Dirt”
7:23 – Damn Cody. Dude knows how to deliver a song.
7:22 – Cody Johnson is a sleeper to have a huge night. He’s also up for New Artist of the Year and Single of the Year. Before Zach Bryan started blowing up, he was really the guy blowing up in country this year, esp. off the power of “Til You Can’t.”
7:20 – Damn, a real cowboy hat on the CMA Awards stage. And another real country song with steel guitar and fiddle in Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t,” which already won Video of the Year. Yeah, it’s not Merle Haggard, but it’s hard to not root for Cody Johnson.
7:15 – 15 minutes in, and all we’ve heard so far is classic country music, and at the very start of the show. This isn’t the 2013 CMA Awards. Things are truly changing.
7:14 – I want to like the Pillbox Patti bit, but the electronic garbage on her record was a turn off.
7:13 – Super awesome Ashley McBryde and her new Lindeville project gets prime time placement here, but slightly lame they’re playing the one cover from the project. Still, with Brandy Clark, Brothers Osborne, Hammack, Pillbox Patti, and Brothers Osborne, this is some of the best of the mainstream on display.
7:11 – None of these monologue jokes are landing. The comp % is worse than Eli Manning in an NFC Championship game.
7:10 – Gotta love that Alan Jackson didn’t even bother to shave for this thing.
7:09 – Since we’re doing football analogies, Peyton Manning can blame CTE and concussions for being slow. What’s Luke Bryan’s?
7:08 – Wait, so our generation’s Gomer Pyle and the dude who made out with Papa John at mid field when his defense won him a Super Bowl are the ones hosting the CMA Awards? This is going to be a longer night than waiting for Midterm results.
7:05 – Now Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba are singing a full version of “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” You really can’t complain about this start to the CMAs. Classic country music goodness here.
7:03 – As great as this Loretta Lynn tribute is, I would prefer one or two heartfelt full song performances as opposed to the medley of hits.
7:02 – Holy butt, the CMA Awards start with an actual country song (“You Ain’t Woman”), and a bona-fide steel guitar on stage. Miranda Lambert now singing “Don’t Com Home ‘A Drinkin'” … and the folks who tuned in to see Morgan Wallen tractor rapping are wondering what the hell is going on with this bumpkin’ shit.
7:01 – The presentation starts with vintage footage of Loretta Lynn accepting the CMA Entertainer of the Year. This is the 50th anniversary of Loretta Lynn becoming the first woman to win the CMA for Entertainer of the Year in 1972.
7:00 – And here we go!
6:49 – WINNER – Musician of the Year – Jenee Fleenor (fiddle)
This is Jenee Fleenor’s fourth consecutive win going back to 2019. Steel guitarist Paul Franklin has now been officially nominated 30 times, and never won.
6:45 – Early winners include:
Musical Event of the Year – Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce – “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”
Video of the Year – Cody Johnson – “Til You Can’t”
A couple of wins for the good guys here to prime the pump.
6:40 – Some of what to expect:
The presentation will start off with a tribute to Loretta Lynn. There will also be tributes to Jerry Lee Lewis, Alan Jackson, and The Rolling Stones. Though it’s easy to cast off the CMAs as only pandering to pop country audiences, with the way the younger generation ignores television entirely, they’ve been trying to appeal to older audiences more and more over the last few years. So far though, there’s no word on a tribute to Naomi Judd. Let’s see if we even get an In Memoriam segment, which the CMAs have preempted in recent years.
Along with the usual suspects performing, there are some folks from the more independent/Americana side of music performing as well, including Marcus King, The War and Treaty (who just released an EP), and The Black Keys.
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 6:05 pm
With any luck either Carrie or Miranda wins entertainer of the year tonight
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 6:19 pm
No clear cut winner this year, so it could be either of them. If Miranda Lambert wins Album of the Year, it will be a good sign for her.
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 6:05 pm
Only watching cuz you are !
Woogeroo
November 9, 2022 @ 6:06 pm
Ya got 2020 I. The opening paragraph up there, fyi, carry on.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 6:20 pm
Gotcha.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 6:10 pm
One minute into the Manning and Bryan Comedy Yuk-Yuk Hour, and I already want to change the channel.
Jack
November 9, 2022 @ 6:10 pm
I wonder why they didn’t ask Crystal Gayle to be a part of the Loretta tribute. She’s won a few CMAs herself so I feel like it was a huge missed opportunity.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 6:45 pm
Good point.
Sam Sanchez
November 9, 2022 @ 10:22 pm
Or even Patty Loveless as she is a relative to Loretta and Crystal, albeit distant.
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 6:12 pm
I call him Goober
wayne
November 9, 2022 @ 6:12 pm
“…and the folks who tuned in to see Morgan Wallen tractor rapping…”
Trigger, dude get some help. Two minutes into the show and you are already on your anti-Wallen rant. Man, give it a rest for awhile. At least until he performs.
Cap’n B
November 9, 2022 @ 10:03 pm
Well, Trigger was a little early, but the Morgan Wallen tractor rapping did inevitably happen during the latter half of the show.
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 6:13 pm
So Luke Bryan just admitted he doesn’t like country music on live TV.
That’s okay. We don’t like him either.
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 6:15 pm
Can’t complain about any of the performances yet. Wonder how long that’ll last
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 6:18 pm
What the hell is a Pillbox Patti?
Derek Sullivan
November 9, 2022 @ 7:55 pm
You guys can make fun of Pillbox Patti but damn if Girl in the Picture from Lindeville isn’t an amazing song. I have no idea why she didn’t put it on her own album.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
Pillbox Patti has her moments. But it’s hit and miss for me.
Ryan
November 9, 2022 @ 6:18 pm
Man love Peyton Manning but wish it was Brad Paisley other than luke Bryan. There humor would be natural and easy. Opening monologue felt forced with luke, his stick just gets old really fast.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 6:24 pm
As corny as it could be, the Brad and Carrie dynamic was incredible. It’s a shame they went in another direction.
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 6:19 pm
That McBryde and friends cover of Ronstadt was awesome
Erik North
November 9, 2022 @ 9:41 pm
Ashley and friends’ brief honoring of Linda is a high point of the show for sure, and a sure sign that her influence endures to this latest generation of women.
Linda herself probably didn’t watch it (she doesn’t have a TV in her house, which will probably shock the hell out of some on the dais); and in any case, she’s more concerned with her health, which isn’t particularly good. Her feelings about what passes for country music these days are also kind of well known and fairly but characteristically blunt. But the CMA’s have done worse than this (and, judging by some of the comments here, they’re once more living DOWN to that reputation).
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 6:20 pm
I’m up with y’all until Chris Stapleton and Patty Loveless perform “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”
RB
November 9, 2022 @ 9:44 pm
This has been surprisingly vomit-free. That Hardy – Lainey performance scorched the paint off the walls.
DA
November 9, 2022 @ 6:23 pm
The first modern song of the night is by Cody Johnson. Damn this is a strong start performance -wise
Tracy
November 9, 2022 @ 6:23 pm
I will be watching tomorrow on Hulu and I am using this blog as a guide to tell me what to skip through… or if I should even bother at all!
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 6:30 pm
As long as the keep the shitty music off the mainstage…
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 6:30 pm
JO DEE MESSINA WHAT
KathyP
November 9, 2022 @ 6:31 pm
Hard to find any snark worthy to say except Luke and Payton bombing it so far. Really liking it so far.
Tom
November 9, 2022 @ 6:32 pm
Buy Dirt is an okay song, but it was easily the worst song nominated for Song Of The Year
Sand In My Boots, Never Wanted To Be That Girl, You Should Probably Leave, and Things A Man Oughta Know are all amazing and much more deserving songs
Captain Bellmeyer
November 9, 2022 @ 6:34 pm
Hopefully they get Luke Bryan to sing the Marine Corp Hymn like the character he owes his career to https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcd4b3T8SAc (note I said character and not actor because Jim Nabors had a gorgeous singing voice when he wasn’t doing Pyle albums)
Garrett
November 9, 2022 @ 6:35 pm
Well, country went out the window when Cole took the stage, Jodi brought it back a bit
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 6:37 pm
Hell yeah Jeannie Seely sighting
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 6:41 pm
With regards to Zach Bryan, he probably declined an invitation after he received zero nomination
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 6:47 pm
The CMAs find no value in Zach Bryan. His label is not located on Music Row. If it was, he’d get a 3-minute performance and multiple nominations.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 6:57 pm
These are the same people that let a TikTok clogger have a performance slot but not Jeannie Seely, sooo…
Sam
November 9, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
I hope The Rolling Stone tribute part was a joke because REALLY?? Especially in the same sentence with Loretta, Jerry Lee, & AJ….”my heart ain’t ready”
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 6:49 pm
It’s promo for a Rolling Stones tribute album that will be released next March. The songs are performed by mainstream country singers
Sam
November 9, 2022 @ 7:28 pm
😑 Ironically, when my non Country favs go Country or do a Country flavored song I’m usually very impressed (ie Elvis, Jerry Lee, The Beach Boys’ Cottonfields, The Eagles’ Midnight Flyer, The Band etc). Absolute opposite with my Country Heroes. It’s like total disappointment. A cop out. Because at the end of the day (real) Country > everything else
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 6:51 pm
If they do a Stones tribute BlackBerry Smoke should do it.
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 6:44 pm
Not Wynonna calling this the cmt awards.
Karen
November 9, 2022 @ 7:51 pm
Is she unable to walk unassisted?
Garrett
November 9, 2022 @ 6:50 pm
Good evening folks welcome to the Pop portion of our show….. The beginning of the end is continuing
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 6:51 pm
Unpopular opinion.
Miranda rocked that, Messina was a nice surprise, and Wynonna looked fabulous.
Samuel
November 9, 2022 @ 7:08 pm
When have you ever criticized Miranda though? Seriously I’ve seen her a few times and was never blown away. Ashley and Lainey on the other hand.
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 7:16 pm
Pay attention.
I have criticized Miranda after many of her phoned in medley performances.
Ashley and Lainey are awesome.
So is Miranda when she isn’t phoning it in.
And not for nothing, but there would be no Ashley or Lainey without Miranda and Carrie
Truth Teller
November 9, 2022 @ 9:22 pm
Samuel, Agree with you about Miranda. Never been that impressed with her or understood the hype about her. Now Lainey on the other hand is so good.
Country Charley Crockett's Butter
November 10, 2022 @ 5:55 am
Don’t you have a Twitter account? You friends with that shelfani account Susan and Fran within the community?
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 6:57 pm
Maybe I’m in the minority but Luke Combs sounds better in the studio than live, this performance was boring and it seemed like he was yelling.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 7:05 pm
He is so painfully generic, and he has no clue how to engage and energize a crowd. At least he managed to do one performance without a red Solo cup in his hand.
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Y’all…
Could be a lot worse.
/Just sayin’
Of course, when Luke Bryan performs, I will be lighting matches along with the rest of you.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 7:10 pm
Has not been a terrible show so far. And we still have an Alan Jackson tribute, Stapleton and Patty Loveless performance to look forward to. Hopefully this middle portion is the soft patch of the show.
Country Charley Crockett's Butter
November 9, 2022 @ 7:01 pm
Remember when “Hey Arnold” use to pretend to “drunk comment” on the CMA blog post each year….
Hey Arnold
November 9, 2022 @ 7:04 pm
Have I been summoned?
Let’s GOOOOOOO
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 7:03 pm
How in the fuck does Old Dominion keep winning awards? One of the most blah acts in all of music
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 7:11 pm
I’m a professional country music writer. I make a living doing this crap. I can’t name you one Old Dominion song off the top of my head.
Country Charley Crockett's Butter
November 9, 2022 @ 9:47 pm
That’s a song for another time 😉
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 7:03 pm
It makes zero sense why Old Dominion keeps winning vocal group especially when Midland is in the same category.
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 7:06 pm
I can’t name one Old Dominion song, but they earned that award with the Jeff Cook tribute in their acceptance speech.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 7:08 pm
Old Dominion memorialized Jeff Cook before the rest of the CMAs could say a word about him; at least they did one useful thing!
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 7:12 pm
Agreed.
Howard
November 9, 2022 @ 7:47 pm
Luke Bryan just said a few words about Jeff before Hardy and Lainey went on. This whole show has tugged me in so many directions. It’s like Nashville really has no idea how to deal with the traditional/roots movement, or whether to deal with it at all. So we have a show full of stiff corny jokes, arena country rock, traditional country, country hip-hop (not yet, but Wallen’s going to sing the awful “You Proof”), decent commercial country, awful commercial country and god knows what else. Parker McCollum’s on but doesn’t sing. Combs is on and sings a song that’s just gone recurrent when his current song is superior and ought to be front and center. Something’s happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. It’s your guess how this all shakes out.
Keli
November 9, 2022 @ 7:13 pm
So excited to read this, the BEST part about the awards show
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 7:15 pm
Carly Peirce doing a great song in tribute to Loretta. The most original country song I’ve heard so far.
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 7:16 pm
And now RICKY SKAGGS. Damn tonight has mostly been a pleasant surprise and this performance is awesome
MJ
November 9, 2022 @ 7:17 pm
RICKY SKAGGS.
I died a little.
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 7:18 pm
I’m not crying, you are crying. Carly Pearce is really one to watch. Imagine if Patty Loveless had somehow shown up to harmonize with her considering she’s in the building. I guess she’s only gonna do the Chris Stapleton collaboration alone.
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 7:19 pm
I don’t why they felt the need to have this black guy Acapella a Alan Jackson song or basically do a commercial here. What the heck.
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 7:19 pm
Lol I was thinking Urkel too.
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 7:42 pm
URKEL
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:19 pm
Wow. Luckily just started watching and caught he Carly Pearce Loretta tune. That was awesome.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:22 pm
*the*
Joe Mama
November 9, 2022 @ 7:20 pm
Nashville, stop trying to make Breland happen. It’s not going to happen.
Garrett
November 9, 2022 @ 7:21 pm
Carly Pierce,that was pure country……old style CMA’s Unfortunately you know that it will crash and burn shortly, they don’t have enough talent to keep that up.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:24 pm
Wow. From gold to garbage. Wtf Zack Brown.
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 7:25 pm
You got ZBB and Marcus King performing and it’s not Stubborn Pride? What a waste
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:26 pm
Is it just me or is this Zack Brown song horrible
TO
November 9, 2022 @ 7:34 pm
It’s a Jonathan Singleton/Luke Combs cast off song they wrote but Luke passed on. For real.
Howard
November 9, 2022 @ 7:52 pm
It’s horrible. I watched it do nothing on the charts for months in glee, hoping it would curl up and die. But apparently someone powerful wants this to be a hit and son of a gun it’s shooting to the top. Why couldn’t someone have done the same for “Longneck Way to Go” or even my personal guilty pleasure, Brett Eldredge’s “Songs About You”?
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 8:38 pm
Yeah it just isn’t good.
Deb Johnson
November 9, 2022 @ 7:26 pm
Not sure who is advising Carrie Underwood to show so much leg, and sing loudly. Can’t understand one word. She has a beautiful face. Focus on that and wear a skirt or pants. She has a beautiful voice if singing a real song. There’s only one Tina Turner.
TMH
November 9, 2022 @ 7:27 pm
Love Carly’s new album. Probably favorite country disc of the year. Actually thought the Loretta track was one of the weakest. But now having seen it performed live . . . WTF was I thinking. Magical.
DDB
November 9, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
Marcus King playing with ZBB? Has he sold out?
Ddb538
November 9, 2022 @ 7:33 pm
Marcus King playing with ZBB? Has he sold out?
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 7:34 pm
Good for Cody. Love that song. Almost went down to Tennessee to see him but Alan Jackson got my money instead. Funny he is actually where I live tomorrow night but funds elude me this time of year.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:36 pm
Yay Cody!!! Congrats!!!!!!!
Daniel Cooper
November 9, 2022 @ 7:37 pm
So we have Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in the building. American Idol this ain’t. Please no Ryan Seacrest appearance 🙄
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:38 pm
My feeling about that Katy Perry song is that if I’m going to listen to pop music, then I’ll listen to good pop music. Why would I listen to that soulless watered down crap?
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 7:42 pm
Props to the CMA set designers for somehow getting an entire small house on the stage with lights, blinds, and a satellite dish!
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 7:44 pm
Good performance by hardy n Lainey wilson . I’m not a big fan of hardy but that was fine.
Bobby
November 9, 2022 @ 7:46 pm
HARDY’s “Wait in the Truck” and “Homeboy” by Eric Church is going to be my cover bands latest greates mashup.
MJ
November 9, 2022 @ 7:47 pm
That Hardy/Lainey Wilson thing was awesome, I just have to admit.
But Lainey oughta be winning things.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 7:50 pm
Yes, she was the most nominated artist. If she walks away with a goose egg, it won’t be good. She’s trying to build momentum behind her new album and “Yellowstone” appearances.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:48 pm
Wow that performance of “Wait in the Truck” was great.
Lainey was awesome.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 7:56 pm
Thanks for doing this Trigger! I wasn’t going to watch this but this thread makes it tolerable. It’s the only way to watch it.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 8:02 pm
Thanks for reading!
No stranger to the PopCountry Stain
November 9, 2022 @ 7:50 pm
Call me crazy, but that was Cowboy Knows How, Flatland Cavalry going to commercial just now right?
Daniel Cooper
November 9, 2022 @ 7:52 pm
I find it surprising Cody Johnson didn’t pick up an Album of the Year nomination for Human. If he did, that likely would have won. That being said, Growing Up likely feels incomplete because of the inevitable deluxe edition next year
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 8:09 pm
I wouldn’t mind if he took a break next year to get inspired because his music is becoming one tone.
Sr,Jones,Haggard,Strait,Whitley,Randy Travis
November 9, 2022 @ 7:54 pm
Kelsey is damn cute
Derek Sullivan
November 9, 2022 @ 7:59 pm
Nothing says men still rule country music like not allowing the new artist of the year who also has the most nominations not sing a song off her brand new album because there is only time to have her sing a song off a male artist’s album. How the F did the CMA not let Wilson sing Heart Like A Truck!
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 8:00 pm
Lainey definitely earned New Artist of the Year. She seems completely genuine and totally herself, and it’s obvious the award means a lot to her.
Daniel Cooper
November 9, 2022 @ 8:00 pm
Trigger,
I know you like to knock on Kelsea Ballerini a lot, but you should give Subject to Change a listen. Lot of surprisingly country songs on there from her.
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 8:02 pm
Yes, I need to spend some more time with it, but when I breezed through it, it sounded like an improvement from her.
Proofreeder
November 9, 2022 @ 8:01 pm
Lainey said, “It’s for the ones who believed in me, and a little bit for the ones who didn’t.” She should have added, “This pointy end is for the ones who didn’t.”
KathyP
November 9, 2022 @ 8:02 pm
Was that a lip synch obey Wallen? Lousy song to boot.
Howard
November 9, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
Half of me wants to hear Morgan sing half of his hits, the other half doesn’t want to hear him sing the other half. You Proof, ugh — Thought You Should Know would have brought down the house, I mean if they were allowed to give him anything more than a mild round of applause.
That said, some great talent lined up for the next part of the show. Hopeful again. Bring on Loveless/Stapleton.
Lil
November 9, 2022 @ 8:23 pm
I agree. Thought You Should Know would have been a much better performance.
Jim L.
November 9, 2022 @ 8:05 pm
Anxiously waiting for Patty Loveless. Also for War & Treaty who always blow me away even though I don’t quite consider them country.
glendel
November 9, 2022 @ 8:05 pm
how was walker hayes in the running for best new artist in 2022, when he was on the bill for the country throwdown festival 12 years ago?
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:06 pm
Unlike a lot on here, I enjoy Morgan wallen. U proof is just an ok song though. I find his little mannerisms on stage funny though.
NLS
November 9, 2022 @ 8:07 pm
I honestly do not understand the hullabaloo about Morgan Wallen. He brings nothing
Clark
November 9, 2022 @ 8:08 pm
You went too far: “As much satisfaction as it gives me to think the political functionaries on Twitter are writhing like possessed demons in The Exorcist at the mere presence of Morgan Wallen on the CMA stage, “You Proof” is click track trash, and makes me wish he would get the party end of his mullet caught in a dangerous piece of industrial machinery.”
I know you hate Morgan Wallen, but I would hope you’d be a bit more respectful. I don’t get the hate for Morgan Wallen. Yes, he is genre bending, but he does have a Country sound. You can’t really deny that.
Kevin Davis
November 9, 2022 @ 9:37 pm
The problem is consistency. “Sand in My Boots” is country. “You Proof” is garbage r&b with a Southern accent. He should have performed the song he was nominated for, which did well at radio too, not his terrible current single. I like Morgan…when he does country music.
MJ
November 9, 2022 @ 8:13 pm
Patty Loveless is giving me chills. This performance just stole the night.
Bill
November 9, 2022 @ 8:20 pm
Think I got somethin in my eye after that
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 8:14 pm
I love Chris but he tends to oversing when he doesn’t need to. I’d kill to hear Steeldrivers era Stapleton cover this
wayne
November 9, 2022 @ 8:18 pm
Clark,
It’s just the way it is. However, he loves Zach Bryan. I mean, REALLY LOVES him.
But yes, “You Proof” isn’t a song I like from him.
Howard
November 9, 2022 @ 8:20 pm
Carrie’s face when Lainey won Female Artist — from “Baby What a Big Surprise” to “If Looks Could Kill” in half a second.
wayne
November 9, 2022 @ 8:25 pm
Carrie is a look-at-me diva. Glad for Lainey.
CountryKnight
November 10, 2022 @ 7:52 am
Older women always hate when the new generation arises to replace them.
JB-Chicago
November 9, 2022 @ 8:20 pm
I know I know we all bag on HARDLY….err..I mean HARDY but he and Lainey knocked this one out of the park. A great song is a great song I just wonder how much less I’d like it if it wasn’t Lainey? A+ performance.
Good for Cody Johnson though, he paid his dues and the Combs album still gets spins around here. It seems like Lainey’s album came out eons ago but yes it was Feb. I obviously wouldn’t of had a problem with that.
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:22 pm
Patty loveless with an amazing performance with Chris Stapleton. That was greatness indeed.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 8:22 pm
“You’ll never leave Harlan alive”… – wait, am I watching a Country Music Awards show?
The_trouble_with_the_truth
November 9, 2022 @ 8:24 pm
Patty Loveless just shamed over half the CMA performers. That is how you age and sing gracefully. Such power and restrain from someone who deserves to be in the cmhof.
Robert
November 9, 2022 @ 8:26 pm
You all need to listen to Frank Ray’s song “somebody else whiskey “ which is on his new album Getcha some!
DS
November 9, 2022 @ 8:30 pm
That wasn’t a country song but it was easily one of the best performances of the night. Damn I love The War and Treaty and it’s awesome that they’re getting mainstream exposure
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:31 pm
I’m not the biggest fan of Stapleton but he isn’t bad.
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 8:31 pm
I watched the YouTube clip of Stapleton and Loveless performing “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” from Kentucky Rising probably 20x since it was posted and it was just amazing watching them do it again on the CMA’s. That night they also did Loveless’ “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am” and killed it.
6-7 years ago (maybe more) Miranda Lambert was trying to get Loveless in the studio again after they performed together at CMA Fest. Loveless said she wasn’t interested in recording again. I’m hoping being around Stapleton the last few weeks she’s inspired to do something (maybe with Stapleton). That was amazing and right up there with one of the best CMA performances ever.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 8:33 pm
I am super happy for Lainey Wilson, but why the phuck did Lionel Ritchie present the award and not an awesome tomato.🍅
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:53 pm
Got to see Alan so I don’t need to watch anymore. Some good performances though
MitchB
November 9, 2022 @ 8:33 pm
Loveless/Stapleton: A competing country-music live blog reported that “the song is called “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” and it’s not well-known — well, it wasn’t before this night.” >> I had to laugh. In my house, it’s a *very* well-known song, from the excellent Patty Loveless roots album Mountain Soul (2001).
hoptowntiger94
November 9, 2022 @ 8:39 pm
Brad Paisley recorded it too at the height of his career on his second album (Part ll).
Howard
November 10, 2022 @ 8:32 am
Kathy Mattea on “Coal” (2008) as well.
hoptowntiger94
November 10, 2022 @ 8:45 am
I forgot about that one, Howard.
I saw her at The Ark in Ann Arbor in 08 and she played the whole album (then some hits as an encore). I haven’t listened to that album in a decade. I’m putting it on now.
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:34 pm
Now we are getting some rockabilly here with a tribute to Jerry Lee lewis. Pretty cool.
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 8:34 pm
I just find it really odd that they were able to pull a Jerry Lee Lewis tribute in such a short time but not one for Naomi Judd
Trigger
November 9, 2022 @ 8:38 pm
Maybe Wynonna requested they not. Maybe Wynonna’s appearance was supposed to dub for it, though they kind of screwed that up. They should have not played any music at all when she appeared, and just let the crowd tribute her and her mother. Maybe one’s coming up, though time is running out. They have toasted a lot of passed greats tonight.
Jack
November 9, 2022 @ 8:57 pm
Reba was originally announced for a “special performance” alongside her Loretta tribute so I assumed she’d be doing an in memoriam segment but it seems not.
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 8:38 pm
Everything about Elle King, from her facial expressions to her neck tattoo to her tongue hanging out like a thirsty Golden Retriever, makes me slightly nauseous… much like her dad, Rob Schneider.
Truth Teller
November 9, 2022 @ 9:17 pm
Agree with you 💯 about Elle King👍.
Country Charley Crockett's Butter
November 10, 2022 @ 5:52 am
Where’s Blake? 😉
Truth Teller
November 9, 2022 @ 8:47 pm
Best performances of the night so far were from Lainey Wilson and Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde. Lainey sure deserves all the recognition and awards . She can sing. Nice to see the new cm females doing so well and being promoted. Finally.
David: The Duke of Everything
November 9, 2022 @ 8:50 pm
Nice to see Alan get to sing.. I love that guy. It’s hard to see your radio heroes get old. God bless you Alan.
Justin
November 9, 2022 @ 8:56 pm
They should’ve honored Mickey Gilley, and included George Strait in the Alan Jackson honor
NPC
November 9, 2022 @ 9:01 pm
Bro, you’re so right; not a single word about Mickey Gilley. How sad.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 8:57 pm
Great speech from Alan. Wow this awards show has actually not sucked this year.
Orgirl1
November 9, 2022 @ 9:01 pm
I was really hoping for Carrie or Miranda. C’mon cmas how bout a woman one of these days….
Gabe
November 9, 2022 @ 9:01 pm
I guess you were right when you said last year that it would be hard for Luke Combs to lose entertainer of the year after he won his first
CeeCeeBee
November 9, 2022 @ 9:05 pm
Last thoughts:
Elle King IS *a lot*
Thank God for Alan Jackson
Could have been A LOT worse than it was.
Big Red
November 9, 2022 @ 9:08 pm
Followed along. Always appreciate these liveblogs. Thanks, sir!
Deborah
November 9, 2022 @ 9:20 pm
I enjoyed the performances but I was really disappointed there was no “in memoriam” segment.