CMA Awards live blog Morgan Wallen wins Entertainer the Year @TheUSCN
CMA Awards live blog Morgan Wallen wins Entertainer the Year The 58th annual CMA Awards happen live tonight from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena beginning at 7 p.m. Stay tuned here for all the news and updates as they happen. For the final award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, actor Jeff Bridges called out the name Morgan Wallen as the winner. Then he quickly shifted to "The Dude" from "The Big Lebowski" and said, "Morgan's not here maaaaaan." It was Wallen's first Entertainer of the Year CMA win and his second CMA Award, but he was unfortunately not in attendance to accept it. Co-host of the awards, Lainey Wilson, who was also nominated in that category, took the stage to wrap up the show and congratulated Wallen on his win. The empathy, savvy and awareness that have colored Eric Church's 2024 are why he chose to perform his latest single, "Darkest Hour," at 2024's Country Music Association Awards. Six weeks ago, in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation and before he and Luke Combs partnered for the "Concert for Carolina," the Western North Carolina native released the orchestral and soulful ballad, signing over all publishing royalties from his first new song in three years to the people of North Carolina. "In this country, we're good at initially providing people in need with food, water, and diapers. But we're not so good at entirely rebuilding communities," noted the former CMA Entertainer of the Year to the Tennessean. "When you're not a developer and taking on the project of trying to build 100 homes in Western North Carolina, it's an emotional and time-consuming process. I'm working 15 hours a day to use the funds raised by (the "Concert for Carolina"). he said. "This is the busiest I've ever been in my life because every day that we don't have a home built, I feel the pressure of the people who are still in tents and shelters who need to be back in homes." In a press statement, Church said "Darkest Hour" was dedicated to "unsung heroes" who "show up when the world's falling apart." "I played 'Darkest Hour' at the CMA Awards to maintain the power of what music can do as a banner and anthem for assistance in the real world," Church continued. "In America, we tend to move on from things quickly, so we're continuing to focus on the people of North Carolina, who will need help for a long time. Raising awareness for the problems they will continue to face will allow them to receive assistance." Perched on a stool armed only with her acoustic guitar and a spotlight, Grammy-winning 2024 Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year nominee Ashley McBryde performed a beautiful, moving rendition of Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night," Prior to the show, McBryde had nervous tears deep in her eyes as she spoke about performing the tribute. "I've been singing ("Help Me Make It Through The Night") since I was a child, so there was no chance that I would forget a chord or a word," McBryde said prior to the performance. "Honoring the moment and the song was important," she added regarding Kristofferson's 1970-released song that benefitted from versions by artists including Sammi Smith, Willie Nelson, Joe Simon and Gladys Knight and The Pips, among many others. McBryde recalled meeting Kristofferson via Eric Church at BMI's Songwriter's Festival in Maui. The legend was himself, a Maui resident who owned 25 acres on the island's Southeastern shore for three decades. When Church's wife, Katherine, suggested they meet, the "Lindeville" album vocalist burst into tears because Kristofferson was her and her father's favorite songwriter. "Once I gathered myself and we finally met, it was wonderful." 'Ain't Enough Cowboy Songs' Also of note, McBryde's latest single, “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” is set for release on Dec. 6. chris stapleton chris stapleton wife morgan wallen jeff bridges morgane stapleton chris stapleton what am i gonna do chris stapleton's wife what am i gonna do chris stapleton who is chris stapleton's wife why is morgan wallen not at the cmas morgan wallen not at cma awards chris stapletons wife morgan wallen entertainer of the year 2024 why was morgan wallen not invited to cma 2024 where is morgan wallen where was morgan wallen tonight who is chris stapleton married to why was morgan wallen not at the cmas where is morgan wallen tonight who sang with chris stapleton at the cma awards post malone cma post malone cma 2024 #CMA_Awards_live_blog #Morgan_Wallen_wins #Entertainer_the_Year #chris_stapleton #chris_stapleton_wife #morgan_wallen #jeff_bridges #morgane_stapleton #chris_stapleton_what_am_i_gonna_do #chris_stapleton's_wife #what_am_i_gonna_do_chris_stapleton #who_is_chris_stapleton's_wife #why_is_morgan_wallen_not_at_the_cmas #morgan_wallen_not_at_cma_awards #chris_stapletons_wife