The 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards was held on November 9, 2022 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Luke Bryan hosted the ceremony for the second time, with Peyton Manning as his co-host. The ceremony was broadcast live on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu.
Background The eligibility period for the 56th CMA Awards is July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. On August 1, 2022 the CMA Announced that Luke Bryan is set to return as host for the second time and will be accompanied by first-time co-host and former NFL quarterback, Peyton Manning. Robert Deaton is the executive producer and Alan Carter will direct the ceremony. Lainey Wilson leads in nominations with six, closely followed by Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton who each have five.
On October 27, it was announced that two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Alan Jackson would be the recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Winners and nominees Nominees were announced on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Entertainer of the YearAlbum of the Year Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Morgan Wallen Growin' Up — Luke Combs Humble Quest — Maren Morris Palomino — Miranda Lambert Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' — Lainey Wilson Time, Tequila & Therapy — Old DominionMale Vocalist of the YearFemale Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton Eric Church Luke Combs Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen Lainey Wilson Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Carly Pearce Carrie UnderwoodVocal Group of the YearVocal Duo of the Year Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town Midland Zac Brown Band Brothers Osborne Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay Locash Maddie & TaeSingle of the YearSong of the Year "'TIl You Can't" — Cody Johnson "Buy Dirt" — Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan "Half of My Hometown" — Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Kenny Chesney) “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde “You Should Probably Leave” — Chris Stapleton "Buy Dirt" — Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Shane MacAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce “Sand In My Boots” — Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne “Things A Man Oughta Know” — Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton "You Should Probably Leave" — Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris StapletonNew Artist of the YearMusician of the Year Lainey Wilson HARDY Walker Hayes Cody Johnson Parker McCollum Jenee Fleenor Paul Franklin Brent Mason Ilya Toshinskiy Derek WellsMusic Video of the YearMusical Event of the Year "'TIl You Can't" — Cody Johnson; (Dir. Dustin Haney) "I Bet You Think About Me" — Taylor Swift (feat. Chris Stapleton); (Dir. Blake Lively) "Longneck Way To Go" — Midland (feat. Jon Pardi); (Dir. Harper Smith) “Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson; (Dir. Michael Monaco) “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; (Dir. Alexa Campbell) “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde “Beers On Me” — Dierks Bentley, HARDY, Breland “If I Didn't Love You” — Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood "Longneck Way To Go" — Midland (feat. Jon Pardi) “Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell and Lainey WilsonWillie Nelson Lifetime Achievement AwardAlan Jackson
International Awards International Artist Achievement AwardGlobal Country Artist Award Ashley McBryde Lindsay Ell Brothers Osborne Tenille Townes Ilse DeLange Kaylee Bell Dallas Smith The Wolfe Brothers
Performers The first wave of performers was announced on October 25, 2022. The second wave was announced on November 1, 2022. Performer(s) Song(s)Carrie Underwood Miranda Lambert Reba McEntireTribute to Loretta Lynn"You Ain't Woman Enough""Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)""You're Looking At Country""Coal Miner's Daughter"Ashley McBryde Brandy Clark Caylee Hammack Pillbox Patti John Osborne"When Will I Be Loved"Cody Johnson"'Til You Can't"Cole SwindellJo Dee Messina"She Had Me at Heads Carolina"Miranda Lambert"Geraldene"Carrie Underwood"Hate My Heart"Luke Combs"The Kind of Love We Make"Luke Bryan"Country On"Carly Pearce Ricky Skaggs Sonya Isaacs Jenee Fleenor"Dear Miss Loretta"Zac Brown BandMarcus King"Out in the Middle"Thomas Rhett Katy Perry"Where We Started"HARDYLainey Wilson"Wait in the Truck"Kelsea BalleriniKelly ClarksonCarly Pearce"You're Drunk, Go Home"Morgan Wallen"You Proof"Patty Loveless Chris Stapleton Darrell Scott Morgane Stapleton"You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive"Brothers Osborne The War and Treaty"It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"Elle King The Black KeysTribute to Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire"Carrie Underwood Dierks Bentley Jon Pardi Lainey WilsonAlan Jackson Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Alan Jackson "Remember When" "Chattahoochee" "Drive (For Daddy Gene)""Chasin' That Neon Rainbow""Don't Rock The Jukebox"
Presenters The presenters for the 56th CMA awards were announced on November 3.
Presenter(s) Notes Rex Linn and Reba McEntire Presented Song of the Year Jeannie Seely Introduced Miranda Lambert Little Big Town Introduced Wynonna Judd Wynonna Judd Presented Vocal Duo of the Year Breland Chevrolet promotion Parker McCollum and Jordan Davis Presented Vocal Group of the Year Sarah Drew and Tyler Hubbard Presented Single of the Year Cole Hauser Presented Album of the Year Lady A Presented New Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson Crown Royal and CreatiVets promotion Ben and Erin Napier Presented Male Vocalist of the Year Lionel Richie Presented Female Vocalist of the Year Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon Presented Entertainer of the Year
Milestones Courtesy of Billboard. As the top nominee with six nods, Lainey Wilson becomes the fourth artist to receive six or more nominations as a first-time nominee. Wilson follows Glen Campbell (1968), Brad Paisley (2000), and Kacey Musgraves (2013) who also had six in their first years. With Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert's nominations for Entertainer of the Year, this is the first time that two female acts have been nominated in this category three years running since Reba McEntire and The Judds in 1986-88. Shane McAnally's Song of the Year nomination for "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" ties him for most nominations in that category with Alan Jackson, with both songwriters achieving ten nods. For the first time in CMA history, three of the five nominees in the Single of the Year category are collaborations. "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" by Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde is also the second all-female collaboration to be nominated in this category, following "Does He Love You" by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis in 1994. Miranda Lambert remains the most nominated female artist in CMA history, with 61, and the third most nominated artist overall behind Alan Jackson (81) and George Strait (83). Lambert's sixth Album of the Year nomination for Palomino makes her the most nominated female artist in that category, overtaking McEntire, Underwood and Loretta Lynn who each have five. With 16 nods, Lambert and Underwood are tied for the third most nominations in the Female Vocalist of the Year category behind McEntire (18) and Martina McBride (17). Similarly, Lady A's 15th nomination for Vocal Group of the Year put them in joint third with The Statler Brothers and Diamond Rio behind Little Big Town (17) and Alabama (21) for most nominations in the category. Brooks & Dunn also extend their lead as the most nominated act in the Vocal Duo of the Year category, with 23 nominations. Paul Franklin continues to extend his streak as the most nominated musician in CMA history, receiving his 29th nomination in the Musician of the Year category. Despite his 30 nominations overall, Franklin is notable for having never won a CMA Award in any category.
Reception The 56th CMA Awards averaged 7.57 million viewers during their live broadcast on ABC, up ten percent from the previous year's ceremony and becoming the most-watched show in its timeslot.
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