The world of country music was celebrated in socially distanced style on Wednesday night, with performances to empty arenas, safely spaced out arrivals and Zoom press conferences.
Hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker from Nashville's Music City Centre, this year's Country Music Awards belonged to Maren Morris. The 30-year-old singer took home three of the five awards she was nominated for – Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year for The Bones.
Morris dedicated her Female Vocalist of the Year win to black women in country music, name-checking a number of artists, including Linda Martell, Mickey Guyton, Yola and Brittney Spencer.
"There are so many amazing black women who pioneered and continue to pioneer this genre ... You've made this genre so, so beautiful, I hope you know that we see you," she said in her speech.
The ceremony included performances from Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber in an empty Hollywood Bowl, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert.
Ahead of the show, Lambert led nominations with seven nods, but the Bluebird singer took home just one award for Music Video of the Year. The coveted Entertainer of the Year was given to Eric Church, while Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year awards went to Luke Combs, who was nominated six times. Morgan Wallen took home the New Artist of the Year award.
Red carpet arrivals at the 2020 CMA Awards:
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Miranda Lambert arrives at the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Reuters -
Kelsea Ballerini arrives at the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Reuters -
Host Reba McEntire arrives at the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Reuters -
Charlie Puth arrives at the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images -
Music group Little Big Town arrive at the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Reuters
The full list of winners at the 2020 CMA Awards:
Entertainer of the Year:
Eric Church – Winner
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Album of the Year
Heartache Medication, Jon Pardi
Never Will, Ashley McBryde
Old Dominion, Old Dominion
What You See Is What You Get, Luke Combs – Winner
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris – Winner
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs – Winner
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Musical Event of the Year
10,000 Hours, Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber
Be a Light, Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris
Tomlin, Keith Urban
The Bones, Maren Morris with Hozier
Fooled Around and Fell in Love, Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack
I Hope You're Happy Now, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – Winner
Music Video of the Year
10,000 Hours, Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Bluebird, Miranda Lambert – Winner
Homemade, Jake Owen
I Hope You're Happy Now, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Second One To Know, Chris Stapleton
New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen – Winner
Single of the Year
10,000 Hours, Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
Beer Never Broke My Heart, Luke Combs
Bluebird, Miranda Lambert
The Bones, Maren Morris – Winner
I Hope, Gabby Barrett
Song of the Year
Bluebird, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
The Bones, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz – Winner
Even Though I'm Leaving, Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher
I Hope You're Happy Now, Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton
More Hearts Than Mine, Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – Winner
Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay – Winner
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor, fiddle – Winner
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Rob McNelley, guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, guitar
Derek Wells, guitar
