00:00 ♪ So who the hell am I ♪
00:04 Tonight you held onto Jelly Roll for that performance.
00:06 I did.
00:07 I'm just gonna come clean with y'all.
00:09 I was so freaking nervous.
00:12 Wynonna, who opened the show with Jelly Roll,
00:14 held on tight to his arm
00:16 for nearly all of their surprise duet.
00:18 Many were worried for her health,
00:19 calling it bizarre and a death grip.
00:22 I've read the comments.
00:24 Two hours later, Wynonna was on a jet to Texas
00:26 and reassuring fans.
00:28 I got out there and I looked at Jelly Roll.
00:30 I wanted it to be so good for him.
00:33 I could cry right now, but I'm not going to.
00:35 I got out there and I was so nervous
00:38 that I just held on for dear life.
00:41 Nerves aside, Wynonna, who is currently on tour,
00:43 is also still grieving the loss of her mother, Naomi,
00:46 to suicide last year.
00:48 I have my ups and my downs, and that's life.
00:51 And I'm just telling the fans,
00:53 like the other night I got really emotional.
00:55 I felt mom, and I got a little bit overcome,
00:58 and I just said, "I need some water.
01:00 "I need somebody to just hold on to me for a second
01:03 "while I take a deep breath and cry."
01:05 And I just do it because that's the way life is.
01:08 Let's party, Nashville!
01:10 It was a wild night for Jelly Roll.
01:12 Within minutes of winning New Artist of the Year,
01:14 he dropped his award backstage and it shattered.
01:17 You were the opener, the closer, the best new artist,
01:21 and now you're the breakthrough artist, too.
01:24 I was so excited.
01:25 I was swinging around, let somebody hold it.
01:27 I've been passing it around like a bag of popcorn.
01:29 I feel bad, oh God.
01:31 They gotta fix it now, Jelly Roll.
01:32 I'm gonna get the one with tape.
01:33 (laughing)
01:35 As for the night's biggest winner.
01:36 ♪ Old horses ♪
01:38 ♪ Entertainer of the year ♪
01:40 Is Lainey Wilson.
01:41 ♪ I'm making overtime ♪
01:44 Yeah, all that work in overtime paid off.
01:47 Lainey in a black strapless Carolina Herrera jumpsuit
01:50 with ruffled bell bottoms took home five awards,
01:52 including the coveted Entertainer of the Year.
01:55 ♪ I'm feeling this rush ♪
01:57 She gave boyfriend Devlin Hodges a kiss,
01:59 then delivered this emotional speech.
02:02 It finally feels like country music
02:03 is starting to love me back.
02:05 Other CMA couples, Chris Tableton and wife Morgan.
02:08 And check out a Barbie pink Kelsey Ballerini
02:10 introducing boyfriend Chase Stokes on the carpet.
02:13 It's baby's first CMAs.
02:14 (crowd gasping)
02:16 ♪ I hope I never leave me ♪
02:18 Behind the scenes, Chase stood by as Kelsey warmed up
02:21 for her performance in the bathroom.
02:23 Presenter Keith Urban also had a Hollywood cheerleader,
02:26 wife Nicole Kidman, who he cuddled in the audience.
02:29 I saw your wife around here.
02:31 Yeah, she's floating around somewhere.
02:32 Meanwhile, hip hop star Post Malone
02:34 was clearly loving his country music moment.
02:37 ♪ I never knew you were a pick up man ♪
02:40 I caught up with Posty backstage
02:42 just after performing a tribute to the late Joe Diffie
02:44 with Morgan Wallen in "Party."
02:46 I didn't know you were this into country.
02:48 Absolutely, I was so, so, so, so excited
02:51 'cause me and my mom, Joe Diffie all the time.
02:54 I mean.
02:55 So, yes, rock me up.
02:57 Yes, we do.
02:58 ♪ Yeah, that's my kind of night ♪
03:00 Luke Bryan's kind of night included a performance medley
03:03 and returning to host
03:05 alongside former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.
03:08 So you know I had to ask.
03:10 I'm expecting a Swellsea joke tonight,
03:12 probably thrown into the mix.
03:14 Oh. Swellsea, that's--
03:15 So what, Swifton and Kelsey.
03:18 Oh.
03:19 Oh my gosh.
03:20 And you're hosting this, whatever.
03:22 I'm selling Bradgelina.
03:24 (upbeat music)
03:26 you
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