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From heartfelt tributes to shocking controversies, the CMAs have delivered countless memorable moments! Join us as we count down the most unforgettable scenes from country music's biggest night. Our list spans decades of history-making performances, emotional speeches, groundbreaking wins, and even a few wardrobe malfunctions that left audiences speechless!
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest moments in the
00:10long history of the Country Music Association Awards.
00:23Number 30. Lainey Wilson's musical monologue. For her first time hosting the CMA's solo,
00:30Lainey Wilson kicked off the night with a bang. After delivering a folksy monologue about her
00:35remarkable journey, she launched into a musical medley celebrating both modern and classic country
00:40hits. Wilson made her way through the crowd, honoring artists in the room with covers of
00:56their songs, and often getting them on their feet to dance with her. She surprised Gretchen
01:01Wilson with Redneck Woman, left Lady A overjoyed with Need You Now, and even stood face-to-face
01:08with Miranda Lambert as they both fired off lines from Gunpowder and Lead.
01:12Now my face said you should be like a ragdoll. Don't that sound like a real man? I'm gonna show you
01:19what a little girl's made of. Gunpowder and Lead. After getting the entire room on their feet,
01:25Wilson returned to the stage for an electric duet with Keith Urban.
01:28Gonna kick off my shoes and run at their feet, with the grass and the dirt and the gravel on me.
01:35Going back to the web, gonna visit old friends to feed my soul.
01:40Number 29. Mary Chapin Carpenter's Gutsy Opening Act. Although she had already released three albums,
01:48Mary Chapin Carpenter was still seen as a relative newcomer when she performed at the 1990 ceremony.
01:54For her introduction to the broader country music audience, she went with an unreleased
01:59novelty song titled Opening Act. The track's witty, satirical lyrics take a jab at concert
02:13headliners who behave poorly towards their supporting acts. Many speculated it was inspired
02:18by Carpenter's experience touring with country music star Dwight Yoakam, although she never confirmed
02:24it. This was a risky move for sure, but it turned out to be a hit with the audience.
02:36In just two years, Carpenter would go from a relative unknown to winning Female Vocalist
02:41of the year on the same stage.
02:43Till then, you don't know me. I'm the opening act.
02:50Number 28. Casey Musgraves performs The Architect. You don't need much to captivate a crowd. And for
02:56her performance at the 2024 ceremony, singer-songwriter Casey Musgraves only needed her voice and an
03:02acoustic guitar. Musgraves, who was nominated for Female Vocalist and Album of the Year, took the stage to
03:16perform her single, The Architect. Dressed simply in white and surrounded by a stage of glowing stars,
03:22Musgraves crooned about searching for divine order amid the chaos that is human existence.
03:27I don't understand. Are there blueprints or plans? Can I speak to The Architect?
03:35Her intimate, stripped-down number offered a refreshing pause from the many extravagant
03:40performances of the night. While the song asks many unanswerable questions, one thing was clear.
03:46With this performance, Musgraves turned any remaining skeptics of her talent into true believers.
03:51This life that we make, is it random or fate? Can I speak to The Architect?
03:59Number 27. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson's duet.
04:03I really hate to let this moment go.
04:07Don't You Wanna Stay? The 2010 collaboration between Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson was an unlikely pairing
04:14of Aldean's rugged country edge and Clarkson's powerhouse vocals. Those contrasting styles were brought to a
04:21seamless blend when the song was performed live for the first time at the CMA's.
04:26Don't you wanna stay here a little while? We can make forever.
04:32The performance began softly, with Aldean's deep, steady tone setting the mood before Clarkson joined in,
04:39lifting the song to breathtaking heights with her phenomenal voice.
04:42Let's take it slow. I don't wanna move too fast.
04:47Their harmonies were effortless, and watching them, you'd think they'd been performing together for years.
04:53The song would go on to become a chart-topping hit and career milestone for both artists,
04:59thanks in no small part to their undeniable chemistry.
05:01You know the weight of your hand could never make you understand.
05:21After a young girl named Faith Fenity was sent home from school for wearing braids,
05:26country artist Mickey Guyton was moved to write Love My Hair. A celebration of big,
05:32beautiful, curly hair, Guyton performed the song at the 2021 ceremony after being introduced by
05:37Fenity herself. Joining her on stage were fellow Black country singers Britney Spencer and Madeline
05:43Edwards, all three proudly showcasing their natural hair as they filled the arena with their captivating
05:49harmonies.
05:50No, I'm not scared to love who I am. I love my hair.
06:00The performance itself was breathtaking, but it was also a powerful statement to young Black girls
06:06everywhere to embrace and love their natural hair. This was a historic moment of inclusivity in
06:11country music, a genre long criticized for its lack of diversity.
06:15Number 25, Kelly Pickler's emotional performance. Just one year after her impressive run on American
06:30Idol, Kelly Pickler took the CMA Awards stage for the first time to perform I Wonder.
06:35If you ever come back home to Carolina
06:40The song holds deep personal meaning for Pickler as it reflects on her strained relationship with her mother,
06:48who left when she was just two years old. Dressed in a flowing red gown under a single spotlight,
06:53Pickler looked visibly emotional as she sang.
06:56Did you think I didn't need you here
07:00To hold my hand
07:02To drive my tears
07:04Throughout the performance, her voice quivered and her hands trembled as she gripped the microphone.
07:10It all built up to the final chorus, where Pickler broke down in tears, barely able to finish singing the lyrics.
07:24As the music faded, the crowd rose in a prolonged standing ovation, leaving Pickler speechless.
07:30Number 24, The Women of Country
07:33I'm about as old-fashioned as I can be
07:36And I hope you're liking what you see
07:38The 53rd edition of the CMAs opened on a very high note
07:42By celebrating the phenomenal women at the heart and soul of country music
07:46Co-hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McIntyre, and Dolly Parton
07:50Led an all-star lineup of female country artists, kicking off the performance with a rendition of
07:55Those Memories of You
07:59The number featured iconic songs like Your Good Girl is Gonna Go Bad and You're Looking at Country
08:09With appearances from legends such as Tanya Tucker, Gretchen Wilson, and Martina McBride
08:14Alongside newer stars like Maren Morris
08:17Then you oughta be glad
08:18Cause your good girl's gonna go bad
08:24The medley not only paid tribute to country music's storied past
08:28But also demanded recognition for the women shaping its future
08:31Number 23, Dolly Parton performs He's Alive
08:41She might come in a small package, but everything about Dolly Parton is larger than life
08:54From her towering hair to her powerful voice and masterful songwriting
08:58Parton brought the same grandeur to her performance of Don Francisco's He's Alive at the 1989 CMAs
09:05The number begins pretty tame as Parton transforms the stage into a place of quiet reverence
09:17With the Easter-themed song
09:19Alone on stage for most of the performance, she gradually builds the emotion to a stirring climax
09:24Revealing a massive 100-person choir behind her
09:28He's alive!
09:29He's alive!
09:31He's alive!
09:33He's alive and I'm forgiven!
09:36As she repeatedly belts out He's Alive, each declaration carries more passion and conviction than the last
09:43It was a hair-raising moment that perfectly captured how much importance faith holds in country music
09:49In love!
09:59Whee!
09:59Whee!
10:00Whee!
10:00Whee!
10:01Number 22, Beyonce teams up with the Chicks
10:04Came into this world
10:06Daddy's little girl
10:08Daddy made a soldier round of me
10:12Although she had dabbled in various genres before, Daddy Lessons was the first time Beyonce
10:18went full country. For the CMA's landmark 50th anniversary, she joined forces with the Chicks
10:23for an electric fusion of country, blues, and New Orleans brass. The performance broke genre
10:28barriers and brought a burst of energy and diversity to the traditionally conservative
10:33CMA's stage.
10:34But it was not without controversy. Country purists condemned the performance, questioning
10:46whether Beyonce belonged on that stage, especially alongside the Chicks, who themselves had faced
10:51backlash from the country community years earlier. Regardless, the performance was well-received
10:56by the audience and helped redefine what country music could be.
11:04The ensuing controversy is believed to have inspired Beyonce's Grammy-winning album,
11:16Cowboy Carter.
11:17Number 21. Miranda Lambert's Fiery Performance
11:20Miranda Lambert may not have won the Horizon Award she was nominated for at the 2005 CMA's,
11:26but she definitely won the night.
11:28Her electrifying performance of the single, Kerosene, marked the arrival of a fiery new
11:37force in country music. Wielding her guitar like a weapon, Lambert delivered a blistering
11:42rendition of the breakout hit, a song about reclaiming her independence by taking revenge
11:47on a cheating lover.
11:48The performance was equal parts grit and rebellion, and it instantly set her apart from the polished,
11:58stripped-down Nashville sound that dominated that era. By the end, when flames erupted behind
12:04her in a literal blaze of glory, it was abundantly clear that a country star had just been born.
12:09Number 20. Taylor Swift becomes youngest artist to win Entertainer of the Year.
12:21Just shy of her 20th birthday, America's crossover sensation made history at the CMA's.
12:27At the time, Taylor Swift had released only two studio albums.
12:31But with the success of Fearless, she established herself as not only a future icon,
12:37but one of the genre's most influential artists as well. During her acceptance speech,
12:42a tearful Taylor recognized her collaborators, along with her fans.
12:46And the looks on your face, that's why I do this.
12:51Thank you for this moment, thank you!
12:53It was clearly a humbling moment for Taylor, and her words show that she's appreciative
12:57of the award, and that she fully recognizes the significance of the occasion.
13:01Number 19. Glenn Campbell Tribute
13:04Shortly after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's,
13:07this country music icon appeared at the CMA for a memorable tribute.
13:11Throughout his career, Glenn Campbell fused traditional sounds with popular themes,
13:16making him one of the genre's most enduring artists.
13:19At the 2011 CMA's, fellow icons paid respect to the living legend,
13:24with a performance featuring musicians like Keith Urban, Vince Gill, and Brad Paisley.
13:28It was a moving tribute to be sure, but it was Glenn's reaction that makes this such a bittersweet moment,
13:45especially considering the nature of his disease and his death six years later.
13:50Number 18. Brad Paisley's Entertainer of the Year Speech
13:54Tradition goes a long way in country music.
13:56When he took the stage in 2010 to accept his Entertainer of the Year award,
14:00Brad Paisley was his usual charming self.
14:03But you could tell from the beginning that he was getting choked up.
14:06True to his image, he began cracking a joke.
14:09After all, his wit is part of what makes him so endearing to fans.
14:12But the great thing about country fans is when you say fans,
14:15I don't even mean mine. You guys are loyal to everyone in this room.
14:20But then he took the opportunity to really embrace the gravity of the moment,
14:23and acknowledge the remarkable nature of the country music community.
14:27With heartfelt words, Brad thanks his grandfather,
14:30a man that offered some important advice that got him where he is today.
14:33Now, that's classy.
14:35Number 17. 50th Anniversary Opening Number
14:38At the 2016 CMAs, a collection of country stars honored a true icon.
14:44Welcome the youngest son of the great Merle Haggard, Ben Haggard.
14:49During the opening number, they started off by focusing on Merle Haggard,
14:53a musician who influenced multiple generations of artists.
14:56Next, a stage full of legends cover a variety of late 20th century hits.
15:03By featuring Charlie Daniels and Brad Paisley,
15:10along with solo performances by other modern icons,
15:13this CMA opening number became an epic CMA moment that country fans will never forget.
15:18It's a star-studded affair, celebrating the genre itself through a variety of timeless classics.
15:24Number 16. Shania Twain Wins Entertainer of the Year
15:28Let's go, girls.
15:29By 1999, Shania Twain was a legitimate superstar,
15:33but she had yet to win the CMA's most coveted award,
15:36an honor that had been given to males for 13 consecutive years.
15:40Shania was up against living legends such as Garth Brooks,
15:43The Chicks, Tim McGraw, and even George Strait,
15:46all of whom were arguably more accomplished within the genre.
15:49Shania's victory forever changed country music,
15:52as she not only broke a long-standing streak,
15:55but was someone that could truly take the genre to the next level
15:58through her commercial appeal and musical versatility.
16:01I have to meet Dolly Parton tonight.
16:03Number 15. Charlie Pryde becomes the first black artist to win Entertainer of the Year.
16:14Over the years, country music has diversified and welcomed new voices.
16:18In 1971, however, a black artist had never won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
16:24That all changed with Charlie Pryde, a Mississippi-born singer who dominated the country charts
16:29during the late 60s and early 70s. By winning the award, Charlie paved the way for other visible
16:35minorities while expanding the country music genre. Nearly a quarter century after being named
16:40Entertainer of the Year, he became the first black musician to be inducted into the Country Music
16:45Hall of Fame.
16:45I'll never forget this night.
16:47Number 14. Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year for the first time.
16:52At the 25th Annual CMA Awards, the one and only Garth Brooks had a big night.
16:57The Oklahomans' first Entertainer of the Year award came after the release of his second album,
17:02No Fences, which ultimately sold 17 million records and features some of his most beloved songs.
17:08A chubby kid can just be having fun and they call it entertaining.
17:11The torch was essentially passed to a new voice in 1991,
17:15as Garth began a run that would make him a true pop culture icon.
17:1925 years after winning his first Entertainer of the Year award,
17:22Garth won it for the fourth time, further establishing his CMA legacy.
17:27Number 13. Loretta Lynn becomes first female to win Entertainer of the Year.
17:32By the 1972 CMA Awards, Loretta Lynn had fully established herself in country music after
17:37releasing 20 studio albums. 17 of them had even reached the top 10 on the US country charts,
17:44including three from 1972 alone. Yet Loretta had never won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award,
17:51nor had any other woman. On October 16, 1971, Charlie Pride won the Male Vocalist of the Year award,
17:58which further diversified country music. But this year, it was Loretta who took home the biggest honor,
18:03in a moment that inspired a world of female country singers to follow in her path.
18:07The only thing that I'm kind of sad about
18:10is my husband is gone hunting. He couldn't make it back in to share my happiness with me.
18:16Number 12. Dolly Parton Tribute. 41 years after her first CMA nomination and win,
18:23Dolly Parton received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
18:26I would have cried, but I didn't want to mess up my eyelashes.
18:29But it's not like she'd been out of the spotlight.
18:31Her 2016 album, Pure and Simple, reached number one on the US country charts.
18:36After three solo performances, featuring the classic Dolly hits Jolene,
18:419 to 5, and Here You Come Again, Dolly is clearly moved by the touching group rendition of her 1974
18:48single, I Will Always Love You. Her presence alone made the 2016 CMAs memorable. And the medley tribute
18:54is nothing short of extraordinary, along with Dolly's high praise for Willie Nelson.
19:00For me to be receiving the Willie Nelson award, this is an absolute high for me.
19:10Number 11. Alan Jackson performs Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning.
19:15Less than two months after the 9-11 attacks, Alan Jackson performed a new song at the 35th annual
19:21CMA Awards. But this wasn't any old country performance. It was an emotional response to
19:26one of America's darkest days. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning. That September day.
19:35Alan has always been able to connect with audiences through his music, but his 2001 performance was
19:40something entirely different. Alan created a national cultural moment,
19:45and the song remains equally powerful after all these years.
19:56The CMA Awards are about honoring the best country music artists. And this moment is about honoring
20:01something even bigger. All those who lost their lives on September 11th.
20:06Number 10. Dolly Parton's Split Dress
20:11Over the first nine years of her recording career, Dolly Parton received 20 CMA nominations,
20:17including five wins. For her biggest victory though, the 1978 Entertainer of the Year,
20:23a wardrobe malfunction distracted from her big moment. In typical Dolly fashion, however,
20:28she capitalizes on the situation by delivering an oh golly kind of speech.
20:32I had this dress made in case I won, and about five minutes ago, I was hoping I wouldn't win,
20:39because I busted the front out of it, and that's why. Dolly proved why audiences just couldn't take
20:44their eyes off her that year, as she owned the stage with her charisma, beauty, and grace under pressure,
20:50even with her customized dress split at the seams. I had a whole bunch of stuff that I thought I might
20:55say, but I guess I'll just say thank you, and I do love you. Thank you.
20:59Number 9. Blake Shelton Shines
21:06After Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton co-wrote the country ballad Over You, only one of them
21:12appeared on the final recording. With the song based on the death of Shelton's own brother,
21:16he deemed it too personal to perform. So when the duo won Song of the Year at the 2012 CMAs,
21:27it was an emotional moment for the husband and wife, with Miranda stepping aside for Blake to explain the
21:33backstory. When I decided I wanted to be a country singer, my dad always told me,
21:39son, you should write a song about your brother. It's one of those revelatory award show speeches,
21:45as both artists let their guard down and express thanks while reflecting on their bittersweet journey.
21:51I just needed the right person to write this song with, and the right person to sing it,
21:55I love you so much, baby. Number 8. Reba McIntyre's Low Cut Dress
22:00When Reba took the stage for a dramatic performance of Does He Love You, her goal was to capture the
22:12spirit of romantic competition. But while her voice alone can leave people speechless, it was
22:17her revealing red dress that stole the show. Staged against a purple backdrop, Reba obviously stands
22:24out with her monochromatic look, but even more so with her plunging neckline.
22:28Does he love you, does he love you, like he loves me, does he think of you, does he think of you?
22:38No, Reba didn't win a single CMA award in 1993, but she owned the stage, both with her exquisite
22:44singing and sizzling style. Number 7. Alan Jackson Pays Homage to George Jones
22:50I told the band if I stopped the song, if I raised my hand to stop the song, in the middle of that song,
22:54y'all stopped me. I said, I may do something different. Near the end of his career, the iconic
22:59George Jones made headlines for his poignant cover of the song Choices. But when the CMAs
23:04asked George to perform a shortened rendition, he refused out of principle alone. As a sign of respect,
23:11Alan Jackson altered his CMA performance of Pop a Top, transitioning to the familiar chorus of Choices.
23:18I've had choices since the day that I was born.
23:24Whereas many artists use the stage to speak out on certain subjects, Jackson took a symbolic approach
23:30in 1999, a move that reportedly left George Jones in tears as he watched from home.
23:36The choices I made
23:44Number 6. Faith Hill's Faux Freakout
23:51After winning Season 4 of American Idol, Carrie Underwood seamlessly transitioned into country music,
23:57even winning the 2006 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award. But it was Faith Hill's on-camera reaction
24:03that overshadowed the moment, as her freakout initially appeared to be authentic. Yet Faith
24:08later explained that she was merely joking around, and a closer look at the video shows that she probably
24:13did it for laughs. Even so, it was the perfect pop culture moment for internet gossipers,
24:18as a typically mild-mannered singer seemed to throw shade at a rising star.
24:22Thank you so, so much! Oh my gosh!
24:26Number 5. Flirty Shania Twain
24:29Well, any man of mine better be proud of me. Even when I'm ugly, you still better love me.
24:36When Shania Twain opened up the 1995 CMAs, she was still a relatively new artist in a
24:42traditionally conservative genre. But with her flirtatious Any Man of Mine performance,
24:47she pushed back against country norms and literally tousled the hair of a legend.
24:52Shania displays undeniable charisma and poise, but it's her black lace outfit that emphasizes her sex
24:58appeal and commercial viability. She'd soon evolve into a crossover artist,
25:03and considering the watered-down country scene of 1995,
25:06this moment essentially announced a new era and a new kind of star.
25:10Number 4. Luke Bryan Fights Back Tears
25:28Although Luke Bryan didn't write the lyrics to his country ballad Drink a Beer, he's had a strong
25:33personal connection to the lyrical content. In 1996, he lost his brother Chris in a car accident,
25:39and later in 2007, lost his sister Kelly.
25:42In understanding that God gave us Chris and Kelly for an amount of time.
25:50So, during Luke's stripped-down performance at the 2013 CMAs, emotions were high. For the most part,
25:57he holds it together, at least until the final verse. For an already beloved country artist like Luke Bryan,
26:03this moment endeared him to fans even more, as he remembered his late siblings with a touching performance.
26:15Number 3. Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton Duet
26:19The Nashville sound meets the soul of Memphis. By 2015, Tennessee native Justin Timberlake had grown
26:32out of his boy band persona by transitioning into a truly versatile musician. Even so, his CMA duet with
26:39emerging star Chris Stapleton was a bit of a surprise, as the duo joined forces for a soulful rendition of
26:45Tennessee whiskey, followed by a lively rendition of JT's Drink You Away.
26:57The moment brought together a trendy name with a traditional country singer,
27:01and the results were nothing less than extraordinary, as both artists transcended labels and delivered the goods.
27:08Number 2. Charlie Rich on Fire
27:10It's the most beautiful thing in the world right here.
27:13By the end of the 1975 CMAs, reigning Entertainer of the Year Charlie Rich had already won Best Country
27:20Male Artist. With that being said, he seemed a bit agitated, evidenced by a controversial
27:25move that would leave him banned from future shows.
27:28I know the people who are up for it are suffering right now, the way I did last year.
27:36It remains a mystery as to why Charlie Rich would seemingly diss John Denver, though it's been
27:40speculated that he wasn't exactly thrilled about the direction of country music. Whatever the case,
27:45his bizarre reaction is a classic CMA moment, as he literally and figuratively lit up the CMA stage.
27:52Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
28:02our latest videos. You'll have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
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28:13Number 1. Johnny Cash Tribute
28:15Just two months after his death, the late Johnny Cash won Album of the Year at the 2003 CMAs.
28:28But while the recognition alone made people smile,
28:31so did an epic Man in Black tribute featuring a stage full of country legends.
28:40The moment transcended the typical CMA performance as many were still mourning Cash,
28:50but knew that they had to do him right. When all was said and done,
28:54the tribute proved to be more of a celebration than a somber farewell,
28:57a perfect representation of the country music family.
29:10What is your favorite CMAs moment? Let us know in the comments.
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