2021 CMA Awards: Complete winners list
Luke Bryan hosted the 55th annual CMA Awards.
Chris Stapleton was the big winner at the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night.
The artist went into the night tied for most nominations with Eric Church, with five each in major categories, including entertainer of the year, single of the year, album of the year, male vocalist of the year and song of the year.
Stapleton claimed the awards for male vocalist of the year, song of the year, single of the year and album of the year for "Starting Over."
Luke Combs won one of the biggest awards of the night -- entertainer of the year.
"I just want to thank everybody in this room -- the fans, every artist in this room," Combs said while accepting the award. "Every single person that was nominated for this award this year and every year before deserves to win this. I don't deserve to win it, but I'm sure as hell glad that I did."
Carly Pearce won the coveted female vocalist of the year award and was overcome with emotion as she delivered her acceptance speech.
"I've had just a crazy year and I want you guys to know that this means everything to me," she said. "Country music saved me at a time that I needed it, and I just want you guys to know that this is all I've ever wanted in the entire world."
The vocal duo of the year award went to Brothers Osborne, and Old Dominion took home the vocal group of the year award.
Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney won two CMA awards for their duet, "Half of My Hometown": musical event of the year and music video of the year.
Luke Bryan hosted the show from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. In order to attend, audience members had to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the show. According to guidelines, face coverings were also required for audience members at the show.
Performers, presenters, nominees and all other members in the production were required to undergo testing and were seated in an area separated from the audience by a barrier.
Check out the full list of winners from the biggest night in country music.
Entertainer of the year
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs – WINNER
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
Male vocalist of the year
- Dierks Bentley
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Female vocalist of the year
- Gabby Barrett
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- Carly Pearce – WINNER
Single of the year
- "Famous Friends" – Chris Young with Kane Brown (Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young; Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt)
- "The Good Ones" – Gabby Barrett (Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale; Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin)
- "Hell Of A View" – Eric Church (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
- "One Night Standards" – Ashley McBryde (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
- "Starting Over" – Chris Stapleton (Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell) – WINNER
New artist of the year
- Jimmie Allen – WINNER
- Ingrid Andress
- Gabby Barrett
- Mickey Guyton
- HARDY
Musical event of the year
- "Buy Dirt" – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan, Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
- "Chasing After You" – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris, Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer
- "Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)" – Elle King & Miranda Lambert, Producer: Martin Johnson
- "Famous Friends" – Chris Young with Kane Brown, Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
- "Half of my hometown" – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney), Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins – WINNER
Music video of the year
- "Chasing After You" – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris, Director: TK McKamy
- "Famous Friends" – Chris Young with Kane Brown, Director: Peter Zavadil
- "Gone" – Dierks Bentley, Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
- "Half of my hometown" – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney), Director: Patrick Tracy – WINNER
- "Younger Me" – Brothers Osborne, Director: Reid Long
Album of the year
- "29" – Carly Pearce (Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore)
- "Dangerous: The Double Album" – Morgan Wallen (Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi; Mix Engineer: Joey Moi)
- "Heart" – Eric Church (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
- "Skeletons" – Brothers Osborne (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
- "Starting Over" – Chris Stapleton (Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell) – WINNER
Song of the year
- "Forever After All" – Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
- "The Good Ones" – Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
- "Hell Of A View" – Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
- "One Night Standards" – Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
- "Starting Over" – Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Vocal group of the year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion – WINNER
- Zac Brown Band
Vocal duo of the year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne – WINNER
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
Musician of the year
- Jenee Fleenor, fiddle – WINNER
- Paul Franklin, steel guitar
- Aaron Sterling, drums
- Ilya Toshinskiy, banjo
- Derek Wells, guitar
