Music: CMA 2015 Winners & Highlights

One of the biggests nights in the country music calendar is the County Music Association awards which took place on November 4th with hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. There was a lot of love for dark horse Chris Stapleton who released his debut LP Traveller earlier this year, as well having written some of contemporary country’s biggest hits (Thomas Rhett’s Crash & Burn and George Strait’s Love’s Gonna Make It Alright).

Sadly there wasn’t much love for Rhett himself or other Culture Fix favourites Sam Hunt and Kacey Musgraves – despite all three shining in strong performances. Some surprising absences from the nominations including Brett Eldredge and Reba – the latter of which soared in a performance with Brooks & Dunn.

Check out the big winners and performance highlights below. 

Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert

New Artist of the Year
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Kelsea Ballerini

Album of the Year
Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean
Pageant Material, Kacey Musgraves
Pain Killer, Little Big Town
The Big Revival, Kenny Chesney
Traveller, Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert — WINNER
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
Kelsea Ballerini

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton — WINNER

Single of the Year
“American Kids” Kenny Chesney
“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town — WINNER
“I Don’t Dance,” Lee Brice
“Take Your Time,” Sam Hunt
“Talladega,” Eric Church

Music Video of the Year
“Biscuits,” Kacey Musgraves
“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town
“Girl in a Country Song,” Maddie & Tae — WINNER
“Little Red Wagon,” Miranda Lambert
“Something In The Water,” Carrie Underwood

Song of the Year
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town — WINNER
“Like A Cowboy,” Randy Houser
“Like A Wrecking Ball,” Eric Church
“Take Your Time,” Sam Hunt

Musical Event of the Year
Django and Jimmie, Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
“Lonely Tonight,” Blake Shelton & Ashley Monroe
“Raise ‘Em Up,” Keith Urban & Eric Church — WINNER
“Smokin’ And Drinkin’,” Miranda Lambert & Little Big Town
“Wild Child,” Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter

Musician of the Year
Sam Bush, Mandolin
Jerry Douglas, Dobro
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Dann Huff, Guitar
Mac McAnally, Guitar — WINNER

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line — WINNER
Maddie & Tae
Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town — WINNER
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Highlights