The 56th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 9) night were filled with several tributes and surprises. And Reba McEntire was one of the artists that highlighted that theme.
Throwing it back to the ‘90s, the 67-year-old country music icon revived the outfit she wore during her 1995 Starting Over Tour, which launched in support of her studio album of the same name. That album featured various cover songs of female artists she admired.
Taking to Twitter, after the awards ceremony, McEntire shared a side-by-side image, featuring her wearing her vintage black and green suit in the ‘90s and then at the 2022 CMA Awards. Even though the images are spaced 20 years apart, it’s no doubt McEntire is ageless!
You know I love a #throwbackthursday!!! Sandi Spika designed this fringed green western suit for my 1995 tour and we pulled it out of the archives for last night’s #cmaawards #lorettalynn tribute! pic.twitter.com/XrxK9qZoC5
— Reba McEntire (@reba) November 10, 2022
“You know I love a #throwbackthursday!!!” the “Fancy” singer tweeted. “Sandi Spika designed this fringed green western suit for my 1995 tour, and we pulled it out of the archives for last night’s #cmaawards #lorettalynn tribute!”
McEntire debuted her out-of-the-vault look at the top of the three-hour broadcast, which saw her paying homage to the late Loretta Lynn alongside fellow artists Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert.
Following a clip of Lynn taking home the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1972 – a historical feat as she was the first woman to claim the top honor – Underwood kicked off the three-person collaboration with “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” Lambert then showed up to deliver a spot-on rendition of “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin.’” Last to step out was McEntire, who put her signature twang on Lynn’s “You’re Looking At Country,” while dazzling in her vintage apparel.
Although McEntire – who also presented an award later in the evening – was outfitted in a pantsuit that had been sewn together over a decade ago, her look paired nicely with Underwood’s and Lambert’s. For the special salute to Lynn, Underwood tossed a nod to the Coal Miner’s Daughter’s fancy wardrobe, wearing a glittered-up gown fit for a star. Lambert, meanwhile, opted to keep the western look going with a black dress featuring jewel-tone detailing and a pair of sparkly green cowgirl boots. The three powerhouse singers closed out their tribute medley with a cover of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which has long been Lynn’s signature hit.
And as previously stated, Country Music’s Biggest Night was heavy on tributes. McEntire, Lambert, and Underwood weren’t the only artists to pay homage to Lynn. Later in the evening, Carly Pearce took the stage to sing “Dear Miss Loretta” – a song featuring Patty Loveless. She performed the song alongside bluegrass musician Rickey Skaggs.
“I never met Loretta. I always wished I would’ve,” Pearce, a fellow Kentucky native, said ahead of her performance. “But I wrote this song in tribute to her because I so admire everything about her, especially the way that she wrote about her life unapologetically. Loretta, this is for you.”
Lynn passed away in her sleep at her Hurricane Mills, Tenn., ranch on Tuesday (Oct. 4). She was 90.
“Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills,” the family said in a statement.
Lynn was laid to rest on Friday (Oct. 7) at her ranch in a private ceremony. A public celebration honoring her life also took place at the Grand Ole Opry on Sunday (Oct. 30).
The 56th Annual CMA Awards, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone arena on ABC. For those who missed out, the show will be available to watch on Hulu beginning Thursday, (Nov. 10).
