It may be fall in Nashville, but Old Dominion brought all the summer vibes to the 2021 CMA Awards with a performance of their carefree breakup anthem, “I Was on a Boat That Day.”
The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year took to the Bridgestone Arena stage with an energy-filled performance on an artificial boat dock.
The band’s Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi, Whit Sellers, and Geoff Sprung co-wrote the summertime hit with lauded songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. The track appears on the group’s fourth full-length album, Time, Tequila & Therapy.
Ahead of their performance, Old Dominion shared their excitement over the CMA Awards and reuniting with their peers.
“Performing here is just great at the CMAs because we always get to see all our peers, which we never get to see because we’re all busy at the same time flying all over the place,” they shared. “You know, it gives you a little extra nerves when you’re looking out there at all the greats and up and comers and in the middles and everything. They’re all watching you, and you’re just kind of thinking, ‘wow like we got chosen to be up here.’”
Following their performance, the band was just named Vocal Group of the Year.
Having a blast with @OldDominion tonight! 🚤 🎶 #CMAawards @CountryMusic pic.twitter.com/Lg56RlRVVp
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) November 11, 2021
This marked Old Dominion’s fourth consecutive win in the category
Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland, and Zac Brown Band were also nominated in the category.
According to the Country Music Association, the Vocal Group of the Year trophy is awarded to an act composed of three or more people, all of whom normally perform together and none of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist, and “is based on the musical performance of the group as a unit on a country single or album release, as well as the overall contribution to country music.”
The 55th Annual CMA Awards featured performances from Luke Combs, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Jennifer Hudson, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations by Chris Young and Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, BRELAND and HARDY.
Country singers Trace Adkins, Ingrid Andress, Kelsea Ballerini, Deana Carter, Russell Dickerson, Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, Lady A, Scotty McCreery, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood were on hand to present during the ceremony.
Lauren Daigle, Faith Fennidy, Freddie Freeman, Amy Grant, Dulé Hill, Elle King, Zachary Levi, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Susan Sarandon, Saycon Sengbloh and Kurt Warner also made special appearances throughout the broadcast.
Hosted by Luke Bryan, the 2021 CMA Awards broadcasted live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 8/7c on ABC.
