Lainey Wilson Wins 5 CMA Awards, Including Entertainer Of The Year And Album Of The Year

On Wednesday night, Lainey Wilson won five awards, including Performer of the Year, at the Country Music Association Awards.

The 31-year-old Louisiana native was the undisputed star of the night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where she was also named female vocalist of the year, album of the year for “Bell Bottom Country,” and performed a fiery rendition of her song “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” that looked like it came from a classic Hollywood Western.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do; it’s the only thing I know how to do,” Wilson sobbed as she won the Entertainer of the Year award. “It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back.”

Wilson entered the night as the most nominated artist, with nine nominations, and had already won one award before the ABC program began, as she and HARDY were crowned winners in the musical event of the year category for “Wait in the Truck.”

It was another big night in Nashville for rapper-turned-singer Jelly Roll, who won the CMT Music Awards earlier this year.

He opened the program with surprise guest Wynonna Judd on his smash “Need a Favour,” then finished with a duet with K. Michelle on “Love Can Build A Bridge,” Judd’s iconic ballad with her late mother, Naomi.

In the interim, Jelly Roll was named best new artist.

“There’s something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year,” he said as he walked onto the stage. “What’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you.”

Lainey Wilson Wins 5 CMA Awards, Including Entertainer Of The Year And Album Of The Year

Luke Combs, who won Performer of the Year the previous two years, won Single of the Year Wednesday Night for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” which she wrote in 1988.

“I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs of all time,” the 33-year-old singer from North Carolina said as he took the award. “It’s the first favourite song I ever had.”

Chapman, who won two Grammys for “Fast Car” in 1989, was not present at the ceremony but stated that it is “truly an honor for my song to be recognized 35 years after its debut.”

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning presented the ceremony, including a musical homage to the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett with Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, and Mac McAnally, a longtime member of Buffett’s band.

Lainey Wilson Wins 5 CMA Awards, Including Entertainer Of The Year And Album Of The Year

The ensemble performed a medley of Buffett’s tunes on the beach, beginning with “A Pirate Looks at Forty” and concluding with “Margaritaville,” as Chesney shouted “Thank you Jimmy!” to Buffett, who is well-known among country performers.

Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year for the seventh time, Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the sixth time, and Brothers Osborne won duet of the year for the sixth time in what is becoming a series of CMA traditions.

“We’re shocked, honestly, every year this happens,” T.J. Osborne said.

SOURCE – (AP)