2024 CMA Awards performances ranked from worst to best

Post Malone is making a big push into country music this year with his work. F-1 trillion The album also featured hit duets with Morgan Wallen (Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “I Had Some Help”) and Blake Shelton (“Pour Me a Drink”). Although his F-1 trillion The album is filled with collaborations, with Post Malone often at his best on the record with his solo material. To that end, one of his two performances at the CMA Awards on Wednesday night was the solo ballad “Yours,” an ode to his daughter. He’s given some great vocal performances before, but here Post Malone’s usually velvety voice sounds rough and strained, somewhat distracting from the song’s sweet emotion.

Zimmerman immediately caught the audience’s attention as he descended from the ceiling to a large sign bearing his initials. Zimmerman performed his song “New to Country” wearing a sleeveless shirt and denim shorts. Confetti flew through the crowd as he sang a new cover, accompanied by his band. As always, Zimmerman delivers the performance with plenty of energy, but the song itself feels a bit dated given the genre’s recent tendency toward more traditional sounds.

In addition to co-hosting the CMA Awards, Luke Bryan performed his recent Top 5 hit “Love You, Miss You, Seriously” on the country show, and his performance showcased both His reputation as a hitmaker also showcases his easy-going, fun style.

Ballerini and Kahan gracefully performed their collaborative song “Cowboys Cry Too,” which appears on Ballerini’s latest album, pattern. Their vocals sounded sweet, and although Kahan is usually seen performing on stage with his guitar, he seemed a little uncomfortable. Still, the gentle rendering results in a solid performance.

Chris Stapleton and Post Malone launch this year’s show with Post Malone duet “California Sober” F-1 trillion. Their convivial vibe was a great start to the show, and each of them had a warm, happy, honky-tonk vibe. Still, Stapleton’s powerful vocals overwhelm Post Malone’s at times, although it would be difficult for any singer to resist Stapleton’s powerful voice.

Megan Moroney performed one of the show’s best moments, performing the title track from her latest album, “Am I OK?” She showed why her career has soared over the past year. Her performance continued the blue theme of the album cover, with giant screens, lasers and a platform stage glowing with blue lights. Moroney’s wit and charisma are on display as she strolls and twirls through the funky song, then gets down on one knee at the song’s bridge and sings the song’s flirty, love-filled verses with a wink and a smile. . Still, her voice seemed a little shaky at times, but the performance was still charming.

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has been a hit this year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 consecutive weeks. He brought star power to the CMA stage, opening the show with new song “Highway” before announcing his intention to “turn this place into the greatest dive bar in the world” and unveiling his breakthrough hit. Accompanied by dancers in Western attire, he displayed a laid-back charm that effortlessly brought the audience to their feet and thrilled his fellow artists.

Lainey Wilson, who co-hosted this year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, brought a dramatic flair to the love song “4x4xU.” Standing in front of a fire pit, with the screen in the background looking like stars in the night sky, Wilson sang upbeat songs about spending time with loved ones and finding respite from a long day. Wilson impressed the courtroom with experienced confidence.

Dierks Bentley joins three talented bluegrass luminaries and IBMA Award winners—Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes—to pay tribute to the late Tom Petty with a bluegrass version of “American Girl.” (Bentley recorded a version of this song for the tribute album small countryside.) Since the beginning of his career, Bentley has made no secret of his love for bluegrass music. Hosted by Bentley’s gritty twang, the show, filled with mandolin, fiddle and guitar, was particularly powerful because it brought out the musical talents of Tuttle, Hull and Keith Hines due attention.

Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims delivered a soulful and sexy rendition of TR’s “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Woman,” before segueing into Swims’ ” Lose Control”. The fusion of pop, soul, blues and country, coupled with dynamic melodies, perfectly highlighted the vocal skills of both artists, creating a moment that clearly resonated with the audience and brought them to their feet.

Eric Church wore dark clothing and his signature shades to perform a painfully elegant song, “Darkest Hour,” Church’s solo effort , all publishing royalties he receives from the song will be used to help those affected by Hurricane Helen. Accompanied by French horns, strings and choir, he powerfully and soulfully sings about the power of standing by your loved ones during difficult times. This energetic performance proved to be one of the most powerful performances of the night.

Ella Langley and Riley Green teamed up to perform “You Look Like You Love Me” in a performance that felt like a glorious return to old-school CMA Awards performance. Langley started singing the song while sitting in the audience, then stood up, strolled down the aisle, played to the cameras, and then walked up the steps to the CMA stage to perform the first number of “You Look Like You Love Me.” Festival. Green soon joined her, and their stage presence and vocal charisma were undeniable, earning an immediate standing ovation from the crowd. A solid showcase for these two talented artists.

Combs sang the rock-infused “No Love in Oklahoma,” his contribution to the film’s soundtrack. tornado Soundtrack. Combs continues to prove that he has one of the most authoritative voices in country music, and this roaring performance was no exception.

Accompanied by guitar, Ashley McBryde delivered a stunning tribute to the late Kris Kristofferson, delivering a majestic and tender rendition of “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” Kristofferson’s picture flashed on the screen. The straightforward, elegant performance earned a standing ovation and paid tribute to iconic singer-songwriter Christopherson.

This heartbreaking song embodies the pain of loss and is a classic for these two: reserved instrumentation highlights the soulful vocals and timeless message.

Texan Cody Johnson, who just played his first sold-out headlining stadium concert in Arlington, Texas, is known for his high-octane performances. But at the CMA Awards, he performed one of the night’s top ballads with Carrie Underwood on their collaboration “I’m Gonna Love You.” The song is a first-rate vessel for these two powerful singers and seasoned entertainers.

Musgraves delivers a simple guitar-vocal performance that puts the spotlight on this well-crafted tune, which is about contemplating free will, as well as the meaning, if any, of life’s chances and random turns. ). The straight-to-the-point performance was a powerful reminder of Musgraves’ love for top-notch songwriting.

When Jelly Roll and Keith Urban performed “Liar,” a song about confronting the lies that lead to and accompany addiction, they delivered an intense performance that was further heightened by their fiery performance on stage. With Urban showcasing his stellar guitar work and the vocal group backing him, Jelly Roll delivers the warm, soulful performance he’s known for.

Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll performed Brooks & Dunn’s gospel-influenced “Believe” mid-show in one of the most exciting and powerful performances of the night. Accompanied by Kix Brooks on piano and the stirring vocals of Ronnie Dunn, Jelly Roll sings a familiar song about a man who turns to a higher power after the death of a loved one. Stories that fill an emotional void. Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll reached the peak of the song during the soaring chorus, with Jelly Roll raising his hands, causing many in the audience to do the same, with some wiping away tears.

Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait was celebrated at the CMA Awards with several artists performing many of his hits.

Lainey Wilson opened the tribute with a version of “Amarillo By Morning” that made the most of her natural twang. “You’re a true inspiration to me,” Wilson told Street, who then took to the stage for a stunning performance of Street’s “Give It Away,” which Johnson co-wrote. Written.

Johnson was later joined by Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, who sang “Troubadour” as photos of Straits over the years flashed on the screen. From there, on another stage, Street himself joined Stapleton for a performance of their collaboration “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” which appears on Street’s latest album Cowboys and Dreamers. At 72 years old, Slater proves why he remains a benchmark that many artists in the genre look up to.