CMA Awards: Chris Stapleton big winner at 55th annual ceremony
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was a big night for Chris Stapleton at the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards ceremony Wednesday night.
This year’s event at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, was a full-blown event, compared to last year’s show, which was pared down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luke Bryan hosted the event for the first time.
Stapleton, who was nominated in five categories, won in four of them: Best Male Vocalist of the Year (for the fifth time), Album of the Year for “Starting Over,” Song of the Year (”Starting Over”) and Single of the Year (”Starting Over”). He also won a trophy as a producer.
Luke Combs bested Stapleton for Entertainer of the Year honors.
Here is the list of nominees and winners:
Entertainer of the Year
WINNER: Luke Combs
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
WINNER: Carly Pearce
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Male Vocalist of the Year
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Vocal Group of the Year
WINNER: Old Dominion
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
WINNER: Brothers Osborne
Brooks & Dunn
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
WINNER: Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
Album of the Year
WINNER: “Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton
“29,” Carly Pearce
“Dangerous: The Double Album,” Morgan Wallen
“Heart,” Eric Church
“Skeletons,” Brothers Osborne
Single of the Year
WINNER: “Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
”The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett
”Hell Of A View,” Eric Church
”One Night Standards,” Ashley McBryde
Song of the Year
WINNER: “Starting Over,” Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
“Forever After All,” Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
”The Good Ones,” Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
”Hell Of A View,” Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
”One Night Standards,” Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
Musical Event of the Year
WINNER: “Half of My Hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan
”Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
”Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” Elle King, Miranda Lambert
”Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
Music Video of the Year
WINNER: “Half of My Hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
“Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris
”Famous Friends,” Chris Young, Kane Brown
”Gone,” Dierks Bentley
”Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne
Musician of the Year
WINNER: Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Aaron Sterling
Ilya Toshinskiy
Derek Wells
Eric Church performs during the 55th annual CMA Awards show in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mike Henderson, left, and Chris Stapleton accept the song of the year award for "Starting Over."
Breland performs during the 55th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday.,
Carly Pearce, left, and Ashley McBryde perform at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Gabby Barrett performs "The Good Ones" at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Coy Bowles, left, and Zac Brown perform at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Carrie Underwood performs "If I Didn’t Love You" at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Jimmie Allen accepts the new artist of the year award at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Jason Aldean, left, and Carrie Underwood perform "If I Didn’t Love You" at the 55th annual CMA Awards .
Blake Shelton performs "Come Back as a Country Boy" at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Kane Brown, left, and Chris Young perform "Famous Friends" at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Elle King, left, and Luke Bryan appeared at the 55th annual CMA Awards. Bryan hosted the show for the first time.
Trace Adkins, left, and Susan Sarandon speak during the 55th annual CMA Awards show in Nashville.
Carrie Underwood attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jennifer Hudson attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kelsea Ballerini attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Brendan McLoughlin and Miranda Lambert arrive at the 55th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Katy Perry attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Carly Pearce attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ashley McBryde attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Whit Sellers, Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi and Geoff Sprung of Old Dominion attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Caroline Boyer and Luke Bryan attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rachel Smith attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Chris Young attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Alecia Davis attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Freddie Freeman and Chelsea Freeman attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Russell Dickerson and Kailey Dickerson attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Darius Rucker attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dierks Bentley and Cassidy Black attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Gabi Dugal McCreery and Scotty McCreery attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hayley Orrantia attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley of Lady A attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jason Aldean attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lisa Parigi and Lionel Richie attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mickey Guyton attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cade Foehner and Gabby Barrett attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Zachary Levi attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Emma Slater attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dulé Hill attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Amy Grant arrives at the 55th annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Breland attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lainey Wilson attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Thomas Rhett attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hardy and Caleigh Ryan attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kane Brown attends the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nicole Hocking and Luke Combs attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dan Tooker and Elle King attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hayley Hubbard and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jimmie Allen and Alexis Gale attend the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
