Garth Brooks won Entertainer of the Year at the 53rd annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, giving the superstar performer a record seventh win in the category. During his acceptance speech, the “Dive Bar” singer paused to highlight earlier performances from Reba McEntire, Kelsea Ballerini, and Luke Combs. “This has got your name on it in the future, hoss,” he said to Combs.
Elsewhere, it was frequently a night of firsts. Kacey Musgraves picked up her first Female Vocalist of the Year win, having won the Album of the Year prize at the 2018 CMAs for Golden Hour.
“Words can’t express just how meaningful and truly unbelievable this past couple years have been,” Musgraves said.
Newly minted superstar Luke Combs had a big night, with his multi-week chart-topper “Beautiful Crazy” earning the singer and his co-writers the Song of the Year award. Later in the show, he nabbed his first Male Vocalist of the Year honor, and recalled watching the CMA Awards when he was a child. “This is pretty unbelievable stuff. I remember sitting on my parents porch when I was a little kid and watching Vince Gill come up here and win this same award,” he said.
Earning her first Album of the Year win was Maren Morris and her 2019 release Girl. She also took a portion of her speech to remember her collaborator Busbee, who died at 43 in late September. Dan + Shay and Ashley McBryde also came away first-time winners. Additionally, Blake Shelton won Single of the Year for “God’s Country,” while Old Dominion enjoyed a second consecutive win as Vocal Group of the Year.
In the pre-telecast ceremony, fiddler Jenee Fleanor was named Musician of the Year, making her both the first woman to win (as well as be nominated) in the category. Earlier in the day, Kacey Musgraves won the Video of the Year honor for “Rainbow,” while Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus claimed Musical Event of the Year for “Old Town Road (Remix).”
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks – WINNER
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Album of the Year
Center Point Road, Thomas Rhett
Cry Pretty, Carrie Underwood
Dan + Shay, Dan + Shay
Desperate Man, Eric Church
Girl, Maren Morris – WINNER
Single of the Year
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
“Girl,” Maren Morris
“God’s Country,” Blake Shelton – WINNER
“Millionaire,” Chris Stapleton
“Speechless,” Dan + Shay
Song of the Year
“Beautiful Crazy,” recorded by Luke Combs – WINNER
“Girl,” recorded by Maren Morris
“God’s Country,” recorded by Blake Shelton
“Rainbow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
“Tequila,” recorded by Dan + Shay
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs – WINNER
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year
Cody Johnson
Ashley McBryde – WINNER
Midland
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay – WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
Zac Brown Band
Music Video of the Year
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
“Girl,” Maren Morris
“God’s Country,” Blake Shelton
“Rainbow,” Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
“Some of It,” Eric Church
Musical Event of the Year
“All My Favorite People,” Maren Morris feat. Brothers Osborne
“Brand New Man,” Brooks & Dunn with Luke Combs
“Dive Bar,” Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton
“Old Town Road (Remix),” Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – WINNER
“What Happens in a Small Town,” Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell
Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor – WINNER
Paul Franklin
Mac McAnally
Ilya Toshinsky
Derek Wells
