Tragedy Turned Into Light and Joy Through Music at the 2017 Country Music Awards
The first song I ever knew all of the words to was “I Wanna Talk About Me” by Toby Keith. I was five-going-on-six years old and my brother and I requested to listen to it on repeat during the forty-five minute drive to visit my dad’s second business for the day. We returned home that night and put on a show, complete with cowboy hats and boots, for my mom to prove to her that we knew all the words and to show her how much we loved this song. Our entire family laughed and played more of Toby Keith’s songs throughout our house for the rest of the night; well, at least until we had to go to bed. To this day, I think back on this moment and know that it was undeniable that my brother and I were going to love country music as we got older.
Last night’s 51st Country Music Awards reminded me of how much love and joy country music can infuse into people’s lives, just like it did in mine on that day 17 years ago and has ever since. Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood opened the show with a message to the victims of all the unthinkable tragedies that have occurred over the past year.
“This has been a year marked by tragedy, impacting countless lives, including so many in our country family,” Underwood began.
But while they honored the victims of all of these tragedies, they chose to use their big night to focus on the positive and use country music as a method of healing.
“The way we see it, the best way to honor our fans is to play our music loud and proud,” Paisley added. “Our music lifts people up.”
And play their music loud and proud is exactly what they did. One of my favorite things about the CMAs each years is the countless performances. From superstars singing their hits to collaborations with talent old and new, the show was essentially one long concert that I never wanted to end. I also love seeing all of the other nominees in the crowd supporting their fellow artists and singing along during all the performances.
These performances also always serve as a reminder that the country music community is more collaborative and friendly than competitive and cut-throat; it’s something truly special and can be used for a greater purpose than just creating good music. Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild said it best in her part of the group’s acceptance speech for Vocal Group of the Year: “Tonight should be about harmony and doing what we can together to change things. We can actually change things with the way they’re going – we just have to step out.” This idea only helped feed into the love and positive vibes that already seemed to have overtaken the crowd in Bridgestone Arena. I can only imagine the healing that took place in that room last night.
In case you missed the show, the winners are listed down below. But I highly recommend that you don’t miss next year’s show. Because not only is it entertaining night filled with good music, it warms your heart full of joy and light. Every single time; that’s just what country music does. And this year was no different.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert — WINNER
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Keith Urban
New Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi — WINNER
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina
Music Video of the Year
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris, “Craving You”
Miranda Lambert, “Vice”
Brothers Osborne, “It Ain’t My Fault” — WINNER
Vocal Duo of the Year
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Brothers Osborne — WINNER
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks — WINNER
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Single of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban — WINNER
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Dirt On My Boots,” Jon Pardi
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
Album of the Year
The Breaker, Little Big Town
From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Heart Break, Lady Antebellum
The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town — WINNER
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Dirt On My Boots,” Jon Pardi
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town — WINNER
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Musical Event of the Year
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away,” Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson — WINNER
“Kill A Word,” Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire,” Kenny Chesney feat. Pink
“Speak to a Girl,” Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar) — WINNER
Derek Wells (Guitar)