Their comedic energies feed our TV screens with quirky little ditties, “Country Music’s Biggest Night”, and now, it’s time to reflect on a few noteworthy moments by Brad and Carrie.
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Shelton and singer Miranda Lambert, who won Female Vocalist of the Year, announced that they were divorced after four years of marriage in July. When Luke Bryan accepted the award for entertainer of the year, he raved that it was “so uplifting” to see Stapleton and Timberlake sing together.
Stapleton – an artist without a top 40 single on the country charts – might not have tallied at radio, but he did receive a ton of positive press for his Traveller disc, which took the prize for album of the year – another huge shock to the audience.
By the time the show headed toward the end of its third hour, Stapleton’s name was hollered out again as male vocalist of the year, surpassing the more-recognizable stars like Dierks Bentley, Bryan, Church and Blake Shelton. “Justin Timberlake and Christ Stapleton, thank you very much”, she raved.
In another cross-genre duet, Fall Out Boy will be pairing up with Thomas Rhett during the show.
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley were also show-stoppers with their opening jokes – including about Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s divorce.
“I’m thankful to drive through Knoxville and hear my song on the radio”, he said.
The foursome, along with Church, walked into the arena as the most nominated act with five.
But Stapleton’s performance and astonishing trophy sweep will be the thing people remember from this year’s CMAs.
Luckily for Paisley, he can always count on Underwood to bail him out of just about any silly mistake he ends up making at the CMA Awards, especially when he’s paying tribute to an artist such as Lady Antebellum through song. The duo started out with a little number about “what a insane year it’s been” in which they sang about all the “cray cray” things that have happened – from Donald Trump leading in the polls to the Ashley Madison scandal and Josh Duggar.
“Women have to work harder to get half the recognition”, she said.
“Neither one of us could be like, ‘I didn’t know it would be like this!'”
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The blonde beauty told the December issue of Cosmopolitan magazine: “When I am onstage, I am not Carrie: I am Carrie Underwood”. He grew emotional onstage and dedicated his wins to his father, who passed away two years ago. “Everyone in heaven for looking out for me”, but he couldn’t help but nod to the big story the fans in Bridgestone Arena and on ABC-TV witnessed Wednesday night.
