As with all awards shows during the pandemic, the CMT Awards held its virtual awards show last night, filming from various Nashville locations. Some lucky fans were able to see live performances at the Ram Truck Stage in Cumberland Park, social distancing, of course! Co-hosts for the evening were Kane Brown, Sara Hyland, and Ashley McBryde.
Several standout performances of the night for Guitar Girl Magazine included Maren Morris (“To Hell And Back”), Ashley McBryde (“Martha Divine”), Caylee Hammack (“Just Friends”), Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey (“The Other Girl”), Mickey Guyton (“Heaven Down Here”), and Shania Town (“Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?”
Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year awards went to Carrie Underwood for “Drinking Alone,” which made her 21st CMT Music Award. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her fans, saying, “Um, oh, my gosh. Thank you so much. Thank you, CMT. Thank you, fans, so much for voting. It means so much to me and just lets me know that you’re still doing what you do, which is giving the love.” She followed it up with, “Thank you, fans. Just thank you, I don’t deserve you.”
As female country artists have been fighting for equal airplay, Jennifer Nettles has made it her passion to advocate for female country musicians. At the 2019 CMT Awards, she wore a Christian Siriano pantsuit look with the words “Equal Play” written on the cape. As a result, she took home the inaugural CMT Equal Play Award. “Thank you to all the fans. And especially to my artists, my sisters out there who continue to burn the holy fire,” she said. “I am so proud to be a part of this legacy of women in country music with you, and I am so proud of the stories we tell. We have more to do as soon as we can, and I can’t wait to do it all alongside you, holding your hands.”
Nominees and Winners for 2020
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” – WINNER
Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”
Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” — WINNER
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Maren Morris – “The Bones”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
Luke Bryan – “One Margarita” — WINNER
Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lady A – “Champagne Night”
Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” (Live Cut)
Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
Old Dominion – “One Man Band” — WINNER
The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed” — WINNER
Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope” — WINNER
Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
Travis Denning – “After a Few”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You” — WINNER
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning” — WINNER
From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”