Bailey Zimmerman brought a rowdy tailgate party to the 2024 CMA Awards stage with a performance of his catchy song, “New To Country.”
Live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the country superstar took “Country Music’s Biggest Night” to the next level as he descended onto the stage from the rafters on a massive BZ dressed in all white. Joined by his full band, who were also dressed in all white, Zimmerman belted out the lyrics to the country anthem as eruptions of smoke shot out of the stage, which was complete with beer pong tables, guys in flannel shirts, an ATV and a flatbed truck.
Throughout Zimmerman’s energy-filled performance, he made his way around the stage and joined in on some country fun with the boys. Zimmerman enlisted several of his viral friends to join him onstage during his performance, including country singer and TikTok star Caden McGuire, comedian Justin Danger Nunley, Paul Wight (“The Big Show”) dressed as his character from The Waterboy: Captain Insano, as well as Caleb Pressley and Glenny Balls of Barstool Sports.
“Ain’t a thing changed ’round here but the money/ You try to mix it up, but let me tell you something/ Same liquor in my Dixie, same rowdy bunch with me/ I’ll be laid up in the dirt before you еver take it from me/ So takе the boy out the truck, take the boy out the mud/ Put him up in a PJ, he’ll still try to get them 40s stuck/ So line ’em up, turn it up and keep it runnin’/ Say whatever you want, but I’m anything but new to country,” Zimmerman sang on the chorus of the track.
His performance wrapped up with a burst of red and white confetti showered down on the star-studded crowd, as he smiled from ear to ear while riding on the shoulders of a professional wrestler.
Ahead of the 2024 CMA Awards, Bailey Zimmerman sat down with us to tease his performance. “It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be sick. I’ve had a hand in the creative with it all, and they’ve really let me be a part of that a lot. So it’s got the BZ touch on it,” Zimmerman explained during an exclusive interview with Music Mayhem on Thursday (Nov. 14). “I’m excited. We’ve got some crazy cool things that I don’t think people are going to be expecting, so it’s going to be one of the biggest of the night. I’m pretty stoked.”
He arrived to the 58th Annual CMA Awards red carpet with his mother, Kristi, by his side as his date for the evening. Zimmerman and his mom stole the spotlight on the red carpet in classy western-themed ensembles. Styled by Cherie Kilchrist, Zimmerman donned an all black suit with cream-colored accents with a suede cream-colored Stetson cowboy hat, and he completed his look with a silver Montana belt buckle and Happy Jewelers accessories. His mom, Kristi, wore a matching suit with black heels.
Zimmerman, who recently extended his management deal with The Core, was also nominated for New Artist Of The Year at the coveted awards show. Fellow nominees in this category include Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Zach Top.
2024 CMA Awards
The 2024 CMA Awards featured memorable performances from Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves and more.
The three-hour broadcast showcased a star-studded lineup of one-of-a-kind collaborations and unforgettable moments. Ella Langley and Riley Green delivered their chart-climbing viral hit, “You Look Like You Love Me,” while Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, along with Post Malone and Chris Stapleton, debuted their fan-favorite duets, “Cowboys Cry Too” and “California Sober,” respectively.
Additionally, Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes paid tribute to the late Tom Petty with a rendition of “American Girl.” Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims combined their current singles, “Somethin’ Bout A Woman” and “Lose Control,” in a dynamic mashup, and Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll performed “Believe,” a standout track from Brooks & Dunn’s latest release, Reboot II.
An impressive lineup of presenters were also on hand to give out the awards and introduce performances, including Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, The Oak Ridges Boys, Mitchell Tenpenny, Dustin Lynch, Caleb Pressley, Freddie Freeman, Little Big Town, Carly Pearce, Katharine McPhee, and Billy Bob Thornton, among others.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson, the 58th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 20, on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu starting November 21.
