See the 54th CMA Awards timeline
It was hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker
Last updated 12th May 2021
This year's CMA awards was an uplifting, unforgettable and unique show with some great performances, a lot of fine tributes and big wins for Eric Church, Luke Combs and Maren Morris.
See the full list of CMA Award winners here
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the CMA Awards were held inside the Nashville Music City Center and without the usual audience of country fans.
The awards too place on the 11th November, with the big winners including Maren Morris who won Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year ('Bones'), and Single of the Year ('Bones').
Now take a look through the CMA Awards from start to finish...
00:00
Cold start. Dierks Bentley in a spotlight on an otherwise dark stage, kicks off a nine minute, pure country tribute to the legendary Charlie Daniels who passed away earlier this year.
Extracts from several of his songs performed by Dierks, Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBryde and then Jason Alden with 'The Devil Went Down The Georgia'.
00:09
Titles. The set looks great but quite different from any previous CMA Awards, except perhaps the first CMAs in 1967 when it was a banquet. There are two stages facing a club-like setting where country star nominees and a few music biz folk are sitting socially distanced around small tables. In the centre is a small circular stage where artists will come to accept awards.
Our hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker welcome everyone and tell some corny jokes. Darius says he remembers Reba hosting the CMA Awards when he was 'this high' (points to his knees) and she says she doesn’t want to know how high he was. Then more seriously, "It’s so good to be here all together in a year when too many of us have been pulled apart."
00:13
Country DJ Bobby Bones presents Single of the Year to Maren Morris for 'Bones'. She says, "This is very weird but I like this set up where we can all be together and see each other."
00:16 Break
00:20
Morgan Wallen from tiny Sneedtown, Tennessee sings 'More Than My Hometown' with a road sign to his hometown in the background.
00:26
Supermodel Taylor Hill presents Song Of The Year (awarded to songwriters) to Maren Morris for 'Bones'.
00:27
Gabby Barrett performs 'I Hope' with Charlie Puth.
00:30 Break
00:35
Eric Church performs 'Hell Of A View'.
00:38
Darius Rucker performs 'Beers And Sunshine'.
00:42 Break
00:47
Ashley McByde performs 'One Night Standards'.
00:50
Lauren Akins, the author and wife of Thomas Rhett, presents New Artist of the Year Award to Morgan Wallen.
Short break in transmission
00:54
Transfer to the completely empty Hollywood Bowl for Dan + Shay with special guest Justin Bieber for a world premier performance of '10,000 Hours'. Justin perches on a stool wearing a woolly hat.
00:57 Break
01:03
Luke Combs performs 'Cold As You' wearing a Brooks & Dunn hat.
01.06
A brief tribute to the hard working support network of country stars who have had a tough year. John Pardi’s security man Chris is surprised with a Chevy Truck (Chevy are a CMA Awards sponsor).
01.07
Tribute to Joe Diffie, another country star who passed this year, John Pardi sings Joe’s hit 'Pick Up Man'. John is one of the very few artists wearing a cowboy hat tonight.
01:10 Break
01:15
Carly Pearce performs with Charles Kelley from Lady A, 'I Hope You’re Happy Now' (her duet partner on the hit version, Lee Brice, is absent having tested positive for COVID-19). The video for this song was named Video of the Year before the broadcast.
01:19
Dierks Bentley announces Dan + Shay have been voted Duo of the Year for the second time. They accept from the Hollywood Bowl.
01:21
Gospel legend CeCe Winans introduces Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker's performance of 'In The Ghetto'. Another tribute to a country star who died this year, Mac Davis. CeCe says, "In times of need, turning our heads and looking away is not the answer."
01.25 Break
01:30
Miranda Lambert performs her new single 'Settling Down' with just two musicians. 'Bluebird' won the award for Video of the Year (announced before the broadcast).
01:33
The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, begins with Jimmie Allen performing part of his hit 'Best Shot' and then thanks the great Charley Pride for his inspiration and tells his story.
Charley joins him and they sing the classic 'Kiss An Angel Good Morning'. Everyone stands up and joins in the song. Charley thanks Nashville people like Jack Clement who helped him.
01:42 Break
01:47
Chris Stapleton performs ’Starting Over', his new song. Chris with just an acoustic guitar singing with his wife Morgane.
01:50
Lauren Alaina and actor Patrick Schwarzenegger present Best Group Award to Old Dominion for the third time.
01:53
Ingrid Andress performs a stripped back 'More Hearts Than Mine'.
01.57 Break
02:02
Thomas Rhett, Reba and Chris Tomlin perform the uplifting 'Be A Light'. They get a standing ovation. The audience is warming up more.
02:05
Singer Jake Owen presents the award for Album of the Year to Luke Combs for 'What You See Is What You Get'. He thanks the fans who make it all possible. His beard is impressive.
02:07
A musical tribute to Kenny Rogers, who we also lost this year, as Little Big Town perform lovely version of 'Sing Your Song Sweet Music Man'
02:11 Break
02:16
The Brothers Osborne perform 'All Night'.
02:20
Sponsor tribute for Kathleen Edwards of the Crowne Royal Purple Bag Project for US Veterans.
02:22
Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee are in the audience for a 40 years on tribute to the hugely successful movie Urban Cowboy as Old Dominion sing Johnny’s hit 'Looking For Love'
02:26 Break
02:31
Maren Morris performs the double award winning 'The Bones'.
02:35
Reba introduces Keith Urban who is 'down-under' in Australia. He is solo with acoustic guitar and says, "Here we are, we made it to 11th November 2020. This song is about finding the light and about hope but really about not going it alone. I want to dedicate it to all the frontline workers." Sings 'God Whispered Your Name'. The stripped back performances tonight have really stood out.
02:39
Charles Eston (from Nashville) presents Female Vocalist of the Year to Maren Morris (her first win as female vocalist). What a night she has had. "I’m tying not to curse," She pays tribute to black women who inspire her, including Rhiannon Giddens, Yola and Mickey Guyton. And she doesn’t curse.
02:43 Break
02:48 ‘90s country star Sara Evans presents the Male Vocalists of the Year to Luke Combs and gets one of the few hugs of the evening. He thanks his wife, grandma and his fellow nominees.
02:50
Kelsea Ballerina (a last minute addition to the bill) performs 'Hole In The Bottle'.
02:52 Break
02:56
Reba says, "Let’s pray for the day we can all get out and play again". Reba and Darius then present Entertainer of the Year to Eric Church for the first time. He then made the most brilliant acceptance speech,
"If ever there was a year not to win this award . . . .the loss of this year, the loss of live performance and playing shows, the loss of freedom, kids not at school. The win is that this has brought us all together, the country community here in person and not on Zoom.
"I think music is going to help bring us out of this. Politicians are about division but music can unite us all."
03:00
"Great speech" says Reba, "Goodnight and thanks for watching".
So well done Reba and Darius and all the performers. A less is more CMA Awards, inevitably somewhat subdued because of how hard this year has been for many in the music community and also because of so many great musicians who have passed, so it was well suited to the several stripped back performances from the likes of Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton and soft performances by the likes of Little Big Town.
But the rousing Charlie Daniels tribute was well placed at the start to get musicians (not used to being the audience) in the mood. Massive congratulations to producer Robert Deaton and his team and all at the CMA. You really pulled it off.