CMA Awards 2022 Returns: Luke Combs Wins Highly Coveted Entertainer of the Year Award | See the Full List of Winners

The annual CMA Awards returned after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic. The country music's biggest night was aired live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday.

According to CMA chief executive officer Sarah Trahern, the show "without a doubt" lived up to its expectation this year. Luke Bryan hosted the show for a second consecutive year, but this time Peyton Manning will join him as a co-host for the 56th annual CMA Awards, Parade reported.

Rob Mills, the executive vice president of Walt Disney Television's unscripted and alternative entertainment division, said the powerful chemistry and magnetic friendship between Bryan and Manning made them the ideal anchors for this year's star-studded show.

Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson Perform at the CMA Awards 2022

Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert do not often perform on stage together, but when they do, they are amazing. Opening the awards presentation on Wednesday night, the three country music stars, who have won over 30 CMA awards between them, paid tribute to the late country legend Loretta Lynn, who passed away on October 4 at 90.

According to American Songwriter, the trio represents several eras in country music, showing how resilient country music has been through the years, which is a beautiful way to commemorate Lynn's life.

In the opening medley, Underwood performed "You Ain't Woman Enough," Lambert sang "Do not Come Home A Drinkin'," and McEntire offered "You're Looking At Country." They ended their performance with "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Chris Stapleton performed with five-time CMA winner Patty Loveless for a moving duet on "You Will Never Leave Harlan Alive." The performance was meant to cheer up the state of Kentucky and bring attention to the problems of the state that had previously experienced flooding. Stapleton and Loveless both grew up in Kentucky.

The performance began subduedly with only softly performed instruments before Loveless' commanding voice took control, Rolling Stone reported.

Her voice became stronger with the song, adding weight and sadness to the message about coal mining communities' human costs and economic struggles. Stapleton howled and growled here and there, but for the most part, he let a genuine country legend take center stage.

According to Rolling Stone, Hardy and Lainey Wilson performed "Wait in the Truck," which is currently just outside the Top 25 on country radio. It brought a harrowing tale of domestic violence and vigilante justice.

Wilson played the troubled woman to Hardy's vengeful hero in the song, which will appear on Hardy's upcoming album "The Mockingbird & the Crow." The song was performed on a fog-covered stage in front of a cabin's wall. The truck from the song's title was also parked nearby.

Winners of CMA Awards 2022

Luke Combs won the prestigious entertainer of the year award. He also won album of the year for his third studio album, "Growin' Up."

Lainey Wilson, who had the most nominations this year with six, won both the new artist of the year and the female vocalist of the year awards. Stapleton won the award for best male vocalist, ABC News reported.

Below is the full list of winners of the CMA Awards 2022:

• Entertainer of the year: Luke Combs
• New artist of the year: Lainey Wilson
• Female vocalist of the year: Lainey Wilson
• Male vocalist of the year: Chris Stapleton
• Album of the year: "Growin' Up" -- Luke Combs (Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Mix Engineers: Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews)
• Single of the year: "'Til You Can't" -- Cody Johnson (Producer: Trent Willmon, Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke)
• Song of the year: "Buy Dirt" - Songwriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
• Vocal duo of the year: Brothers Osborne
• Music video of the year: "'Til You Can't" -- Cody Johnson (Director: Dustin Haney)
• Musical event of the year: "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" -- Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde (Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
• Vocal group of the year: Old Dominion
• Musician of the year: Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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