2018 CMA Awards Complete Winners List, Live Blog (PHOTOS) (VIDEOS)

2018 CMA Awards Preview: Idol Voting, Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina
2018 CMA Awards Nominations List, Nods for Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina

Garth Brooks opens the show to dedicate the show to the 12 people who lost their lives in the Borderline shooting in Thousand Oaks. During a moment of silence a card flashes on the screen with the names of the 12 who lost their lives.

The show opens with American Idol judge Luke Bryan performing What Makes You Country. YEE HAW. He’s joined on stage by some special guests including Lindsay Ell, Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hit the stage with a SONG. They tease Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan riffing off “A Star is Born” aka “A Star is Bored.”  Carrie Underwood is dressed in a bright pink frock. “You have really let yourself go, says Brad. Brad tries to get Carrie to spill the beans on the baby gender like last time.  AND SHE DOES CARRIE IS HAVING A BOY.  Then the yodeling kid comes out to sing “The Big Brother Blues” on behalf of Carrie’s son, Isaiah. Next, they joke about how so many country stars own bars on Broadway. Brad claims he’s opening a combo bar and daycare center. OK. Now there is a flossing joke. Just so Luke can do that dumb “flossing” move. “2018 has been a big year in country music for men,” says Brad. “FINALLY!” snarks Carrie. 

IT'S A BOY! Hosts @carrieunderwood and @BradPaisley open up the 2018 @CountryMusic awards with a baby gender reveal! Congrats Carrie! #CMAawards #BradBlewIt #GaryBlewIt pic.twitter.com/zJ2EWSA98c

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 15, 2018

Now Lady Antebellum takes the stage to hand out the first award, Song of the Year. And it goes to “Broken Halos” by Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton.

The Yodel kid gifted Carrie with a bubble wrap dress, and she’s wearing it. 

Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert perform their duet “Drowns the Whiskey.”  Just NOT a Jason Aldean fan. But Miranda sounds mighty fine. 

MacKenzie Foy and Noah Schnapp hand out the next award. Oh. It’s New Artist of the Year. And the award goes to Luke Combs. Of course. American Idol’s Lauren Alaina didn’t stand a chance against all those dudes. 

Next, Thomas Rhett performs his single “Life Changes” with a brass band and a drum line that follows him as he hits the audience. The song is half sung/half spoke and it kind of sucks, to be honest. The brass band is sorta fun, though.

Three Idol hopefuls will perform during commercial breaks for YOUR VOTES. The hopefuls performed at Luke Bryan’s new bar in Nashville. 

Dan + Shay are next to perform their SMASH HIT “Tequila.” 

Jimmie Allen, Carly Pearce and another guy present Single of the Year to “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton. HE WINS ALL THE AWARDS. He dedicates the award to the folks out in California who have lost their lives. 

Lauren Alaina is next, performing her fun single “Ladies of the 90s” but only a snip, because it’s really an announcement that Dottie West will enter the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

The first American Idol hopeful takes the stage. And she is Meghan Woods, a 17 year old from Hendersonville NC.  She covers Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty.” The full performance will be online. 

Carrie and Brad hand out some HOT CHICKEN to the audience before introducing Kelsea Ballerini performing “Miss Me More.” She’s got dancers, like a pop performance. 

Kelsea is followed by  Old Dominion performing “Hotel Key.”

And now, Kellie Pickler is backstage with a veteran, who is in the audience as a guest of Google. The company has just launched a job search tool for vets.  Brad drops by to say hi and gift him with a guitar. 

Next, Carrie Underwood takes the stage to perform her single “Love Wins.” She’s a pregnant vision in royal blue with rainbow colored undersleeves. I hear a choir in the background. The lights come up, and there they are. She ends with heart hands and a thank you Jesus.

. @carrieunderwood is performing RIGHT NOW on ABC! GET TO TV!#CMAawards https://t.co/5z7x3iGxIh pic.twitter.com/v6VR8uV9sy

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 15, 2018

Next, actress Olivia Culpo and Kane Brown present Vocal Group of the Year to Old Dominion. 

After, Brett Young takes the spotlight to perform his ballad “Mercy.” Dude’s got a twang. 

And the SECOND American Idol hopeful taking the stage is 26 year old Cameron Lenz from Pleasanton, California performing a cover of Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” 

Ricky Skaggs takes the stage with his band, Kentucky Thunder to perform some good ole fashioned bluegrass. Yessss sirrrrr. Those blue grass peeps can play. Keith Urban join them onstage to perform “Highway 40 Blues.” Then Brad Paisley joins the gang to sing “Country Boy.” He’s the newest member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Midland is next performing their single “Eastbound and Down.” This Big Machine Label group is pretty old school. This is serving as some kind of Burt Reynolds tribute. 

Little Big Town take the stage to present Album of the Year to Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. YAY A WOMAN WON.  Take THAT Chris Stapleton. Kacey mentions that she moved to Nashville 10 years ago today. 

Next Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line perform their crossover hit “Meant to Be.” Yah. Meant to Be Sung on EVERY FREAKING AWARDS SHOW.

And the THIRD and FINAL American Idol hopeful singing for your votes is 19 year old Natalie Spiroff from Dayton Ohio covering “Different for Girls” by Dierks Bentley feat Elle King. 

Brad and Carrie shout out to the brave firefighters in California fighting the deadly fires. 

Next, it’s Luke Combs performing his song of heartache, “She Got the Best of Me.”  

And now it’s former American Idol judge Keith Urban performing “Never Coming Down.” Never fails to be sexy, that Keith. 

Garth Brooks is on stage to perform a brand new song “Stronger Than Me.” Apparently, he’s debuting the song, and even his wife Trisha Yearwood hasn’t heard it yet. AUDIENCE REACTION SHOTS. I mean, the auditorium is dark, but with a single spotlight on her as she watches her husband sing. 

Bobby Bones and his Dancing with the Stars pro partner Sharna Burgess present Vocal Duo of the Year to Brothers Osborne. They’re a duo presenting a duo! GET IT? Hahahaaa. “If this was Florida, there would definitely be a recount,” one of them say. Maybe not in front of this crowd…

Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies perform their new song “Got My Name Changed Back.” HM I WONDER WHO THIS SONG IS ABOUT. coughBlakeSheltoncough. Sample lyrics: “Well I’ve got me an ex that I adored/But he got along good with a couple road whores.” And “I played to win, lookin’ back is funny/I broke his heart and I took his money” Yeah!

Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne are onstage to perform “Burning Man.” I don’t think they’re talking about the festival. 

And now, actress and Tom Hanks wife Rita Wilson introduces a mega group! Maren Morris, Mavis Staples, Morgane Stapleton, Marty Stuart, and Chris Stapleton perform “Friendship” by Chris Stapleton and then the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.” Good stuff. 

CMAs co-host Brad Paisley sings “Bucked Off.”  He’s BUCKED OFF.

Next Martina McBride and GMA’s Lara Spencer presents Male Vocalist of the Year to Chris Stapleton. It’s his 4th win for Male Vocalist of the Year. 

The performances are coming fast and furious…Kacey Musgraves performs “Slow Burn” from her CMA winning album, Golden Hour. 

And now, Eric Church sings the title track from his album, Desperate Man. 

Dennis Quaid and Trisha Yearwood are next to present Female Vocalist of the Year to CARRIE UNDERWOOD HOOORAY!!! It’s her fifth win.  “Thank you God,” she says tearfully, “I’ve been blessed with so much in my life, having done nothing to deserve it…”  She adds, “This means so much.” 

JUST IN: @carrieunderwood WINS Female Vocalist of the Year!@CountryMusic#CMAawardshttps://t.co/W1vUNMab63 pic.twitter.com/y3kxvqebMS

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 15, 2018

And now, American Idol judge Lionel Richie presents Entertainer of the Year to FORMER American Idol judge Keith Urban!!!! Sweet. I approve.  He seems really surprised. He’s teary! Awwww. “I wish my dad was alive to see me…but he’s watching over me tonight.” 

BREAKING: @KeithUrban WINS @CountryMusic award for ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR!!!#CMAawardshttps://t.co/W1vUNMab63 pic.twitter.com/gHq4znlVlh

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 15, 2018

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban – WINNER

Female Vocalist
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood – WINNER

Male Vocalist
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Keith Urban

Vocal Group
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER

Vocal Duo
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland

New Artist
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs – WINNER
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young

Single of the Year
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean (featuring Miranda Lambert)
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Album of the Year
From A Room: Volume 2, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
Graffiti U, Keith Urban
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain, Dierks Bentley

Song of the Year
(Award goes to songwriters)
“Body Like A Back Road” written by Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
“Broken Halos” written by Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drowns the Whiskey” written by Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton and Josh Thompson
“Drunk Girl” written by Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas and Chris Janson.
“Tequila” written by Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers

Music Video
“Babe,” Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
“Cry Pretty,” Carrie Underwood
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson
“Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett – WINNER
“Tequila,” Dan & Shay

Musical Event
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris (featuring Vince Gill)
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean (featuring Miranda Lambert)
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy (with Kenny Chesney) – WINNER
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

Musician
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar) – WINNER
Derek Wells (Guitar)

RED CARPET PHOTOS

Reality stars in attendance: American Idol’s Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Katie Stevens, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner. From The Voice: Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, RaeLynn, Meghan Linsey.