By Demi Pappas
The 56th Annual Country Music Awards were everything country music’s biggest night should be: sparkly cowboy boots, charming country singers, and breathtaking performances.
Airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the 2022 CMA Awards boasted a jam-packed celebrity lineup full of A-list performers and rising stars. Among the night’s 15 performers were Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry (a duo performance), Reba McEntire, and Zac Brown Band. It was amazing in and of itself that the show was able to elapse only 180 minutes.
The much anticipated hosting duo of football icon Peyton Manning and country music veteran Luke Bryan did not disappoint. The easygoing Bryan played perfectly off of Manning, who’s clever humor and hilarity makes him a beloved broadcaster on “Monday Night Football.”
The show opened with a special tribute to the late Loretta Lynn, the songwriter who helped lay the foundation for women in the country music industry. Fittingly, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert sang “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to honor the country music icon.
Music Video of the Year went to singer Cody Johnson – and the video’s director Dustin Haney– for his song“Til You Can’t.” Johnson notably beat out Taylor Swift’s beloved video for “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault).”
Collaborators Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, and Matt Jenkins won the covetable Song of the Year and Single of the Year categories with “Buy Dirt.” Album of the Year went to North Carolina native Luke Combs for Growin’ Up. His third studio album, Growin’ Up is an intimate portrait of an artist maturing in both life and in his career.
New Artist of the Year was Hardy, who began his career behind the scenes, co-writing hit songs such as Florida Georgia Line’s “Simple” and Morgan Wallen’s “Up Down.” In October of 2018, Hardy began his meteoric rise as a performer with his debut EP, This Ole Boy.
Vocal duo of the year went to Brothers Osborne, while Vocal Group of the Year went to the charismatic crooners Old Dominion in what is their fifth consecutive win in this category. The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer Chris Stapleton won Male Vocalist of the Year, and Lainey Wilson won Female Vocalist of the Year.
The standout performance of the show, though, was undeniably Carrie Underwood. The singer premiered her new single “Hate My Heart” in a glittery, bejeweled fringe leather one piece. Yes, you read that right.