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…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 11, 2021

7:07 am

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

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

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

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

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady A 
Little Big Town  
Midland  
Old Dominion  – WINNER 
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn  
Brothers Osborne   — WINNER
Dan + Shay   
Florida Georgia Line  
Maddie & Tae

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

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

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Jimmie Allen — WINNER
Ingrid Andress  
Gabby Barrett  
Mickey Guyton
HARDY

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.