52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards

52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards
DateNovember 14, 2018
LocationBridgestone Arena
Nashville, Tennessee
Hosted byBrad Paisley
Carrie Underwood
Most awardsChris Stapleton (3)
Most nominationsChris Stapleton (5)
Television/radio coverage
NetworkABC
Viewership10.1 million[1]
← 51st · CMA · 53rd →

The 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards, commonly known as the 52nd CMA Awards, were held on November 14, 2018, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee and was hosted for the eleventh and final time by CMA Award winners Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.[2]

Winners and nominees

[edit]

The nominations for the 52nd CMA Awards were announced on August 28, 2018, on Good Morning America by Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland.

The winners are shown in Bold.[3]

Entertainer of the Year Album of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year Female Vocalist of the Year
Vocal Group of the Year Vocal Duo of the Year
Single of the Year Song of the Year
New Artist of the Year Musician of the Year
Music Video of the Year Musical Event of the Year

Performers

[edit]
Artist(s) Song(s)
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Cole Swindell
Lindsay Ell
Chris Janson
Jon Pardi
Ashley McBryde
"What Makes You Country"
Jason Aldean
Miranda Lambert
"Drowns the Whiskey"
Thomas Rhett "Life Changes"
Dan + Shay "Tequila"
Lauren Alaina "A Lesson in Leavin'"
Kelsea Ballerini "Miss Me More"
Old Dominion "Hotel Key"
Carrie Underwood "Love Wins"
Brett Young "Mercy"
Ricky Skaggs
Kentucky Thunder
Keith Urban
John Osborne
Brad Paisley
Marty Stuart
Sierra Hull
Carson Peters
"Black Eyed Suzie"
"Highway 40 Blues"
"Country Boy"
Midland "East Bound and Down"
Bebe Rexha
Florida Georgia Line
"Meant to Be"
Luke Combs "She Got the Best of Me"
Keith Urban "Never Comin' Down"
Garth Brooks "Stronger Than Me"
Pistol Annies "Got My Name Changed Back"
Dierks Bentley
Brothers Osborne
"Burning Man"
Chris Stapleton
Morgane Stapleton
Maren Morris
Mavis Staples
Marty Stuart
"Friendship"
"I'll Take You There"
Brad Paisley "Bucked Off"
Kacey Musgraves "Slow Burn"
Eric Church
Joanna Cotten
"Desperate Man"

Presenters

[edit]
Presenter(s)[4] Award
Lady Antebellum Song of the Year
Mackenzie Foy and Noah Schnapp New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen, Dustin Lynch and Carly Pearce Single of the Year
Kane Brown and Olivia Culpo Vocal Group of the Year
Little Big Town Album of the Year
Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess Vocal Duo of the Year
Martina McBride and Lara Spencer Male Vocalist of the Year
Trisha Yearwood and Dennis Quaid Female Vocalist of the Year
Lionel Richie Entertainer of the Year

Reception

[edit]

Underwood and Pasley's monologue was praised for ignoring the subject of politics, with Fox News stating that "despite avoiding controversial topics, Underwood and Paisley still delivered a joke-filled opening monologue that left many in the audience in stitches".[5]

In their review of the best and worst moments of the telecast, The Washington Post praised Stapleton's performance with Morris and Staples, Brooks' "sweet" and "adorable" tribute to Trisha Yearwood, Bryan's opening number, the "fiery" Pistol Annies performance and the Ricky Skaggs tribute and celebrated Musgraves' Album of the Year win as well as the performances on newer artists such as Combs and Dan + Shay. However, they were critical of Paisley and Underwood's monologue, calling it "flat", "lame" and claiming that it "didn't make sense", leaving audience members "confused". Lauren Alaina's tribute to Dottie West was criticised for being too short and Midland's tribute to Burt Reynolds was described as being too confusing and unexplained.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (2018-11-15). "'Country Music Awards' Tops Wednesday While Tumbling To Lowest-Ever Ratings". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  2. ^ "Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley Set to Host 2018 CMA Awards". 2 August 2018.
  3. ^ "CMA Awards announces 2018 hosts, will reveal nominees on August 28".
  4. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About the 52nd CMA Awards Show, Including Performers, Presenters, Nominees & More". The Ty Bentli Show. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  5. ^ Savitsky, Sasha (14 November 2018). "CMA Awards: Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley praised for leaving politics out, Keith Urban wins top award". Fox News. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. ^ "CMA Awards: 10 things you missed, from Keith Urban's big win to the awkward monologue jokes". The Washington Post. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2019-01-23.