8 Best Moments From the 2022 CMAs

The 56th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards took place in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 9) night. Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the CMAs brought out a bevy of vocal pros, guitar aces and several music legends over the course of three hours.

The show opened with a tribute to country pioneer Loretta Lynn, who died on Oct. 4 at the age of 90, by Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. Before the night was through, Alan Jackson was honored with the Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award and given a rollicking musical tribute from Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson and others. Jackson himself closed out his own musical tribute, playing his 1991 single “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” a No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. “I can’t thank everybody that’s been in my life all these years, but I do have to say thanks to my wife Denise,” Jackson said. “We started out as teenagers and she’s hung in there and rode this roller coaster ride with me…. She’s my best friend.”

The night’s big winner was Luke Combs, who won the prestigious CMA for entertainer of the year. A tearful Lainey Wilson was named female vocalist of the year, and Chris Stapleton was honored with the CMA for male vocalist of the year. Check out the full list of winners here. Below, check out some of the standout moments from the 2022 CMAs, from Katy Perry’s performance with Thomas Rhett to HARDY and Wilson’s smoldering duet.