Singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson has taken home five trophies, including entertainer of the year, at the Country Music Association Awards.
Key points:
- Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Luke Combs were among the big winners at the 57th annual CMA Awards in Tennessee
- Combs won single of the year for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car, a song she wrote in 1988
- The night also included a star-studded tribute to late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett
The 31-year-old Louisiana native was the undisputed star of the night in Nashville, where she also was named female vocalist of the year, won album of the year for Bell Bottom Country, and gave a fiery rendition of her song Wildflowers and Wild Horses.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do — it’s the only thing I know how to do,” Wilson said through tears as she accepted the award for entertainer of the year.
“It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back.”
Wilson came into the night the top nominee with nine nods, and had won one award before the televised portion of the show even started, as she and HARDY won musical event of the year for Wait in the Truck.
It was also another major Nashville night for rapper-turned-singer Jelly Roll, who earlier this year topped the video-focused CMT Music Awards.
He opened the show with a performance of his hit Need a Favor, along with surprise guest Wynonna Judd, then closed it in a duet with K Michelle on Love Can Build A Bridge, Judd’s classic song with her late mother Naomi.
In between, Jelly Roll won best new artist.
“There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year,” he said.
“What’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you.”
Luke Combs, who won entertainer of the year the previous two years, took home single of the year, for his cover of Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, who became the unlikely winner of song of the year for a tune she wrote in 1988.
“I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs of all time,” the 33-year-old North Carolina singer said as he accepted award.
“It’s the first favourite song I ever had.”
Chapman, who won two Grammys for Fast Car in 1989, was not at the ceremony, but said it was “truly an honour for my song to be recognised 35 years after its debut”.
Singer Luke Bryan and former NFL star Peyton Manning hosted the ceremony, which featured a musical tribute to the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett that included Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Mac McAnally, a longtime member of Buffett’s band.
The group made a beach party of a medley of Buffett’s hits, beginning with A Pirate Looks at Forty and ending with Margaritaville as Chesney shouted “Thank you Jimmy!” to Buffett, who was always beloved among country artists.
In what is becoming a series of CMA traditions, Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year for the seventh time, Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the sixth time, and Brothers Osborne won duo of the year for their sixth time.
“We’re shocked, honestly, every year this happens,” TJ Osborne said.
AP