Lainey Wilson took a brief break from her co-hosting duties at the 2024 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 20) to perform her latest single, “4X4XU.”
The 32-year-old singer/songwriter was introduced by her co-hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning before entering the awards show stage, donning an all black ensemble complete with a cowboy hat and turquoise jewelry, for her impressive performance of the chart-climbing hit. Joined by her full band and a string section, Wilson delivered a stunning rendition of the track while sitting in the back of a pickup truck next to a campfire beneath the glow of a beautiful night sky scene.
The country superstar brought her signature Bell Bottom Country flair to the CMA Awards as her boyfriend, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, and her family watched on from the star-studded audience. Wilson belted out the lyrics to the romantic ballad, allowing her powerhouse vocals to shine vibrantly, during the memorable performance that further proved why she is the 2023 CMA Entertainer of the Year.
“In a 4×4 by you, babe/ From the bayou to Kentucky/ City to the country/ From here to Timbuktu/ Boy, after a long day/ You know there ain’t no wrong way/ To drive my crazy crazy/ In a 4×4 by you,” the Baskin, Louisiana native sang on the tune’s chorus.
Co-written by Lainey Wilson alongside Jon Decious and Aaron Raitiere, “4X4XU” appears on Wilson’s latest album, Whirlwind, produced by Jay Joyce.
“The song is very special to me. I wrote it about my good-hearted man. He’s my biggest cheerleader, and I’m excited to be able to sing the song to the world,” the 2023 CMA Entertainer Of The Year shared with the Country Music Association (CMA) ahead of the show.
Lainey Wilson received four nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“Watermelon Moonshine”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Wildflowers and Wild Horses”). The two-time Female Vocalist of the Year winner was not only among the most-nominated artists, but she was also the leading female nominee at the event.
2024 CMA Awards
The 2024 CMA Awards also featured performances from Luke Bryan, 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.
