The 51st Annual CMA Awards lastnight (Wednesday, November 8th) were an award show that we will remember for a long time, and it will filled with emotion, politics, and family-like vibes. Country Music’s Biggest Night definitley did not fail to impress the hundreds of thousands watching live, in fact this show seemingly had some very great reviews and some of the best performances that has ever been seen before on the CMA Awards stage. Below we compiled a list of our favorite and most memorable moments from this year’s CMA Awards, Let us know your favorites!
1. The opening performance which began with Eric Church performing a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace,” continuing by adding in a star studded lineup of performers with him including: Tim McGraw, Kimberly Schlapman, Ronnie Dunn, Karen Fairchild, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Jimi Westbrook, Philip Sweet, Kix Brooks, and Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Darius Rucker. Continuing the performance with the perfect mix of vocals on Hootie and the Blowfish’s 1994 smash hit “Hold My Hand,” which fans were glad was recognized as a country song finally.
Couldn’t ask for a better way to open the 51st #CMAawards! Watch NOW on @ABCNetwork! pic.twitter.com/CnDKjpCdx6
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
2. Thomas Rhett’s “Unforgettable” performance of his smash hit No. 1 single “Unforgettable” off of his latest album that has been topping the charts since its release, Life Changes.
.@ThomasRhett with ‘Unforgettable’! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/YB4z3Lceg4
— Your Life In A Song (@LifeInASong_UK) November 9, 2017
3. The beautiful tear-jerking tribute to Troy Gentry which started out as Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts covering the Montgomery Gentry hit, “My Town,” before Eddie Montgomery joined in and told the crowd “Maybe T-Roy and I can show you around,” which made for instant tears from many of the fans and artists in attendance. Troy Gentry’s family (Wife & One of his daughters) were in attendance at this awards show in which his wife had tears of happiness and sadness pouring down her face throughout the entire performance keeping her husband’s memory alive. This was the first performance of the evening to earn a lengthy standing ovation.
What a moving performance from @DierksBentley and @RascalFlatts with @LuckymanEddie honoring the life of @T_RoyMG. #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/j7EEZMDTnD
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
4. Kelsea Ballerini‘s performance of her latest hit single “LEGENDS” off of her new album Unapologetically, with a legend herself, Reba. Ballerini’s soon to be husband Morgan Evans, kept a bright white smile on his face throughout her entire performance with Reba from the crowd as Ballerini & Reba’s voices blended together beyond perfectly.
The combination of @Reba & @KelseaBallerini‘s voices singing #Legends is INCREDIBLE! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/gEOFiAOd6s
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
5. Garth Brooks performance of his single “Ask Me How I Know” which he did end up admitting to lip-syncing to, however it was for a good reason of he has “been sick all week, so we decided to lip-sync it because my voice was just not there and we wanted to represent country music the best we can.” The performance did however end with a massive standing ovation as regardless of Brooks does on stage he has earned his sixth Entertainer of The Year award at this year’s CMA Awards.
.@GarthBrooks brought heart and soul to the #CMAawards stage in this iconic performance! pic.twitter.com/8QLHxNIt2w
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
6. Brothers Osborne‘s jammin’ performance, which had the entire audience on their feet dancing and hands up in the air clapping including the artists like Lauren Alaina, Keith Urban, and more which could be seen dancing and clapping along.
It is confirmed, @BrothersOsborne is the ultimate dynamic duo! Congrats on winning Vocal Duo of the Year! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/Dv5CLYWlr7
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
7. Keith Urban‘s performance of his new single “Female,” which is said to be a song that he has written due to him being “surrounded by females” his continued to tell Associated Press that he “grew up in a house with boys, no sisters. Now I am in a house that’s all girls. So this song speaks to me on a lot of levels.” The song was created in response to the recent flood of sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
What a powerful performance! We just love @KeithUrban‘s new song #Female. #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/Ek1LG8M2gI
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
8. Carrie Underwood‘s breathtaking tribute to honor the Las Vegas Victims of the horrible shooting that happened during the Route 91 festival. Underwood performing the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” as photos of the victims of this awful tragedy played as a slideshow throughout the room. Underwood sang while standing on a round stage in a beautiful white dress, in the middle of the audience, and was encircled by people holding lit candles which also illuminated from the entire crowd.
Moving tribute from @carrieunderwood and @CountryMusic Association to those lost in Las Vegas on October 1st. Rest in peace…#CMAawards pic.twitter.com/FwhautLfVe
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 9, 2017
9. P!nk’s extraordinarily haunting performance of “Barbies” as her daughter watched from the crowd. Check out that performance, here.
10. Niall Horan‘s performance with Maren Morris of their duet “Seein’ Blind” was awesome, check out the performance, here.
11. Brad Paisley and Kane Brown put on an incredible performance as well.
Can’t get enough of @BradPaisley & @KaneBrown‘s #HeavenSouth collab at the #CMAawards! ?? pic.twitter.com/qzdGV52okJ
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
Check out the full list of Nominees & Winners, HERE.
