Last night’s “52nd Annual CMA Awards” opened with GARTH BROOKS doing a moment of silence for the Thousand Oaks victims. It was the second year in a row the show opened with a memorial. LUKE BRYAN performed “What Makes You Country”. He was joined by some of country’s newer acts: Luke Combs, Lindsey Ell, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde, Chris Janson, and Jon Pardi. BRAD PAISLEY and a very pregnant CARRIE UNDERWOOD hosted again. They did “break the news” that Carrie’s having a baby boy, and had fun with it by bringing out her first-born. But it wasn’t little Isaiah. It was Walmart kid MASON RAMSEY. The first award was Luke Combs winning New Artist of the Year. He celebrated by kissing his girlfriend Nicole Hocking. KELSEA BALLERINI got theatrical for her performance of “Miss Me More”. There were dancers balancing on chairs, jumping around, and doing gymnastics. Carrie’s performance of “Love Wins” brought the crowd to its feet. She also won Female Vocalist of the Year. OLD DOMINION picked up their first CMA award, winning Vocal Group of the Year. RICKY SKAGGS and his incredible players performed “Black Eyed Susie”. Then Ricky switched stages to join KEITH URBAN for “Highway 40 Blues”, then went back to the first stage and did “Country Boy” with Brad Paisley and MARTY STUART. MIDLAND made their CMA debut and did a cover of Jerry Reed’s “East Bound and Down” from “Smokey and the Bandit”. They also showed clips of Burt Reynolds from the movie. KACEY MUSGRAVES won Album of the Year for “Golden Hour”. She said it was 10 years to the day that she moved to Nashville. BROTHERS OSBORNE won Duo of the Year. PISTOL ANNIES did “Got My Name Changed Back”. Maren Morris, Chris Stapleton, and Mavis Staples did Chris’s “Friendship”, and then The Staple Singers classic “I’ll Take You There”. Keith Urban won Entertainer of the Year, and you could really tell he was honored. He was so emotional.
Here’s your complete list of winners . . .
Entertainer of the Year: Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
Vocal Group of the Year: Old Dominion
New Artist of the Year: Luke Combs
Album of the Year: “Golden Hour”, Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year: “Broken Halos”, Chris Stapleton. It’s a songwriter’s award so he shares it with a guy named Mike Henderson.
Single of the Year: “Broken Halos”, Chris Stapleton
Musical Event of the Year: “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”, David Lee Murphy with Kenny Chesney
Music Video of the Year: “Marry Me”,Thomas Rhett
CHASE RICE and SCOTT EASTWOOD wearing T-shirts and hanging out in a parking lot. Chase captioned it, “A couple bro’s . . . and by bro’s I mean twins.” Chase told “Billboard” on last night’s red carpet that he’s been writing like crazy and we’ll be hearing new music next year . . . probably towards summer.
CHRIS LANE is dating LAUREN BUSHNELL from “The Bachelor” and “Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?”. They were on the red carpet together at Tuesday’s BMI Country Awards. Plus, Chris’s rep told “ET”, “It’s brand new and they are enjoying spending time together.” He’s 34. She’s 28. Bachelor Nation has 16-year-old Ava Friedman to thank for saving the mansion used on the TV show The Bachelor. She said, “Everything was smoky. We went to visit our house to see if it was still standing and to see if we could save anything … We flagged [an official] down and said, ‘OK, our house is down there, and the house next door is on fire. Can you please do what you can?’” The production offices on the property have burned down as well as the whole back of the house.
CASSADEE POPE will be headlining the 2019 edition of “CMT Next Women of Country Tour.” Cities and dates will be announced soon.
William Shatner’s first-ever Christmas album, “Shatner Clause” features collaborations with Iggy Pop, Brad Paisley, Judy Collins, and more. Shatner said, “It’s moving, and the reviews have been extraordinary and I’m very gratified by that. I think people will have a wonderful evening listening to this album. It’s a really joyful celebration of Christmas.”
In case you missed it, KENNY CHESNEY couldn’t be at the CMAs because of a death in the family. According to someone on Twitter, it was his grandmother.
Young Sheldon may share screen time with his grown-up self on an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” next month. Three characters from the prequel series “Young Sheldon” will appear on the episode . . . including IAIN ARMITAGE, who plays the younger version of JIM PARSONS’ character. The other two are Lance Barber . . . who plays Sheldon’s father George, and Montana Jordan . . . who plays Sheldon’s brother Georgie.
“Thursday Night Football” . . . 8:30 to 11:30 P.M. Eastern on CBS. The Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers.
The mid-season finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.
“Watch What Happens Live” at 11:00 p.m. on Bravo. Shania Twain guests.
Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad is 73. Brunette ABBA singer.
Sam Waterston is 78. Law and Order
Petula Clark is 86.
Ed Asner is 89.
