Lainey Wilson took home five trophies including entertainer of the year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Louisiana singer was the undisputed star of the night at Nashville\u2019s Bridgestone Arena, where she also was named female vocalist of the year, won album of the year for \u201cBell Bottom Country\u201d and Wilson gave a fiery rendition of her song \u201cWildflowers and Wild Horses\u201d that looked like it came from a classic Hollywood Western.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is all I\u2019ve ever wanted to do, it\u2019s the only thing I know how to do.\u201d Wilson said through tears as she accepted entertainer of the year. \u201cIt finally feels like country music is starting to love me back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson came into the night the top nominee with nine nods, and had won one award before the ABC telecast even started as she and HARDY were named as winners in the musical event of the year category, for \u201cWait in the Truck.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was also another major Nashville night for rapper-turned-singer Jelly Roll, who earlier this year topped the CMT Music Awards.<\/p>\n
He opened the show with a performance of his hit \u201cNeed a Favor,\u201d along with surprise guest Wynonna Judd, then closed it in a duet with K. Michelle on \u201cLove Can Build A Bridge,\u201d Judd\u2019s classic song with her late mother Naomi.<\/p>\n
In between, Jelly Roll won best new artist.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year,\u201d he said from the stage. \u201cWhat\u2019s in front of you is so much more important than what\u2019s behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke Combs, winner of entertainer of the year the previous two years, took home single of the year Wednesday night for his cover of \u201cFast Car\u201d by Tracy Chapman, who became the unlikely winner of song of the year for a tune she wrote in 1988.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs of all time,\u201d the 33-year-old North Carolina singer said as he accepted award. \u201cIt\u2019s the first favorite song I ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapman, who won two Grammys for \u201cFast Car\u201d in 1989, was not at the ceremony, but said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201ctruly an honor for my song to be recognized 35 years after its debut.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning hosted the ceremony, which featured a musical tribute to the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett that included Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Mac McAnally, a longtime member of Buffett\u2019s band.<\/p>\n
The group made a beach party of a medley of Buffett\u2019s hits, beginning with \u201cA Pirate Looks at Forty\u201d and ending with \u201cMargaritaville\u201d as Chesney shouted \u201cThank you Jimmy!\u201d to Buffett, who was always beloved among country artists.<\/p>\n
In what is becoming a series of CMA traditions, Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year for the seventh time, Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the sixth time, and Brothers Osborne won duo of the year for their sixth time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re shocked, honestly, every year this happens,\u201d T.J. Osborne said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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