Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley And More Kick Off 2020 CMA Awards With Tribute To The Late Charlie Daniels

Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osbourne and Ashley McBryde joined forces to tribute the late Charlie Daniels at the 54th…

Andrew Wendowski

| Posted on

November 11, 2020

7:14 pm

Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Ashley McBryde and Brothers Osborne; Photo Courtesy of CMA

Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osbourne and Ashley McBryde joined forces to tribute the late Charlie Daniels at the 54th annual CMA Awards.

On Wednesday (Nov. 11), the star-studded group of artists came together to pay homage to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” singer.

“So looking forward to this Charlie Daniels special here at the CMAs,” said Bentley ahead of the all-star performance. “I don’t know there’s anybody that hasn’t been influenced by Charlie Daniels music.”

“It’s going to be really special,” McBryde said in advance of the performance. “I’ve been listening to his music since I was a kiddo…. and when you’ve been listening to country music your whole life and you’re my age, there’s zero percent chance of you not being influenced by Charlie Daniels, especially from a rock ‘n’ roll standpoint.”

The show kicked off with Bentley solo on acoustic guitar playing “Long Haired Country Boy,” Brothers Osborne then performed “Trudy,” Ashley McBryde then joined the group to perform “Texas,” Jason Aldean then brought the heat with an amazing performance of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

https://twitter.com/CountryMusic/status/1326701838817767426?s=20

Jenee Fleenor was originally scheduled to perform with Aldean and friends, however she unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of her performance was forced to quarantine, making her unable to perform.

The late Charlie Daniels was a country music icon, who was also known for his contributions to Southern rock and bluegrass. He was best known for his chart-topping hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Daniels’ died of a hemorrhagic stroke earlier this year on July 6.

The 54th Annual CMA Awards also featured performances from Chris Stapleton, Rascal Flatts, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Old Dominion and Kelsea Ballerini.

Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations by Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, Reba McEntire featuring Darius Rucker, Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth, Carly Pearce with Charles Kelley as well as Thomas Rhett together with McEntire and Chris Tomlin.

Hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker, “Country Music’s Biggest Night” aired on Wednesday, November 11 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC.

Written by

Andrew Wendowski

Andrew Wendowski is the Founder and CEO of Music Mayhem. As a self-taught entrepreneur, he oversees content as the Editor-In-Chief for the independent brand. Wendowski, who splits time between Philadelphia, Penn., and Nashville, Tenn., has an extensive background in multimedia. Before launching Music Mayhem in 2014, he worked as a highly sought-after photojournalist and tour photographer, collaborating with such labels as Interscope Records and Republic Records. He has captured photos of some of the biggest names, including Taylor Swift, Metallica, Harry Styles, P!NK, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Shania Twain, and hundreds more. Wendowski’s photos and freelance work have appeared nationwide and can be seen everywhere from ad campaigns to various publications, including Billboard and Rolling Stone. When Wendowski isn’t running Music Mayhem, he enjoys spending time at concerts, traveling, and capturing photos.