2021 CMA Awards: The Complete Winners List

That’s a wrap on the 55th Annual CMA Awards! Taking place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, “Country Music Biggest Night” lived…

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 11, 2021

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Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs; Photos Courtesy ABC

That’s a wrap on the 55th Annual CMA Awards!

Taking place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, “Country Music Biggest Night” lived up to its name with performances by some of country music’s biggest stars and surprise moments fans will be talking about for quite some time. 

The CMA Awards are voted on by members of the Country Music Association, therefore Awards nominees and winners are honored by their peers in the music industry.

Ahead of the show, the Country Music Association unveiled the winners of the non-televised categories, and Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney took home wins in two categories for their collaborative release, “Half Of My Hometown.” The East Tennessee natives reacted to Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year wins on Wednesday morning, shortly after the news was unveiled on Good Morning America

The remaining trophies were awarded throughout the three-hour live telecast, hosted by two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan

Chris Stapleton led with the most wins, taking home four trophies for CMA Album, Single, Song and Male Vocalist of the Year, while also being recognized for his work as a producer on his album and single.

Luke Combs took home the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, making his first-ever win in that category. Another first was Carly Pearce, who emotionally took home the title of CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. 

See below for a winners list and photos from backstage. 

2021 CMA Awards Winners 

Luke Combs; Photo Courtesy ABC
Luke Combs; Photo Courtesy ABC

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

  • Eric Church  
  • Luke Combs — WINNER
  • Miranda Lambert    
  • Chris Stapleton  
  • Carrie Underwood   

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)  

  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown 
    Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young 
    Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt 
  • “The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett 
    Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale 
    Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin 
  • “Hell Of A View” – Eric Church 
    Producer: Jay Joyce 
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce   
  • “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde 
    Producer: Jay Joyce 
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce   
  • “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton — WINNER
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell 
Chris Stapleton; Photo Courtesy ABC
Chris Stapleton; Photo Courtesy ABC

ALBUM OF THE YEAR  

Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) 

  • 29 – Carly Pearce
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins 
    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore  
  • Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen 
    Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi 
    Mix Engineer: Joey Moi  
  • Heart – Eric Church 
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 
  • Skeletons – Brothers Osborne 
    Producer: Jay Joyce 
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 
  • Starting Over – Chris Stapleton – WINNER
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell 

SONG OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Songwriter(s)  

  • “Forever After All”  
    Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford  
  • “The Good Ones”  
    Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick 
  • “Hell Of A View”  
    Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell  
  • “One Night Standards”  
    Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde 
  • “Starting Over”  – WINNER
    Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton  
Carly Pearce; Photo Courtesy ABC
Carly Pearce; Photo Courtesy ABC

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR   

  • Gabby Barrett 
  • Miranda Lambert    
  • Ashley McBryde   
  • Maren Morris   
  • Carly Pearce — WINNER

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 

  • Dierks Bentley 
  • Eric Church    
  • Luke Combs   
  • Thomas Rhett   
  • Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Old Dominion; Photo Courtesy ABC
Old Dominion; Photo Courtesy ABC

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • Lady A  
  • Little Big Town   
  • Midland   
  • Old Dominion  – WINNER  
  • Zac Brown Band 
Brothers Osborne; Photo Courtesy ABC
Brothers Osborne; Photo Courtesy ABC

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

  • Brooks & Dunn   
  • Brothers Osborne   — WINNER 
  • Dan + Shay    
  • Florida Georgia Line   
  • Maddie & Tae 
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo Courtesy ABC
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo Courtesy ABC

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)  

    • “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan 
      Producer: Paul DiGiovanni  
    • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris 
      Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer 
    • “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert 
      Producer: Martin Johnson  
    • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown 
      Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young 
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)  – WINNER
    Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins 
Jenee Fleenor; Photo Courtesy ABC
Jenee Fleenor; Photo Courtesy ABC

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

  • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle  – WINNER
  • Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar  
  • Aaron Sterling, Drums  
  • Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo  
  • Derek Wells, Guitar  

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR   

Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)  

  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
    Director: TK McKamy  
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown 
    Director: Peter Zavadil  
  • “Gone” – Dierks Bentley
    Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)  – WINNER
    Director: Patrick Tracy  
  • “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne 
    Director: Reid Long  
Jimmie Allen; Photo Courtesy ABC
Jimmie Allen; Photo Courtesy ABC

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Jimmie Allen — WINNER
  • Ingrid Andress   
  • Gabby Barrett   
  • Mickey Guyton 
  • HARDY 
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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.