NASHVILLE – The 58th annual Country Music Association Awards went off fairly seamlessly Wednesday night until the final minutes of the show, when country superstar Morgan Wallen was named Entertainer of the Year, the biggest award of the night … only he wasn’t in attendance and left host Jeff Bridges on stage to try to fill the air.

“Morgan’s not here, man!” said Bridges, who also mispronounced Wallen’s last name (“Waylon”) when announcing him as the winner, raising his hands to calm the cheering crowd. “Morgan couldn’t be there tonight, so I’m going to accept this award on his behalf.” He started looking around for what to do next. “Do I get the prize?”

Then someone came on stage and handed him the trophy. “Okay, let’s hear it for Morgan!” Bridges said, then saw co-hosts Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning approaching. “Oh no, you’re going to accept it.” Bridges stuck around holding the trophy as the trio closed the show, and Wilson recapped the final seconds of the broadcast as she addressed Bryan and Manning: “I had fun with all of you. I mean, you’re all a little uncomfortable, but it’s okay.”

Wallen’s victory should not have been a surprise; he had seven nominations, the most of any artist, including male vocalist of the year and several nods for his monster hit duet with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” which grossed much of his money. this year at or near the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Last month, he wrapped up a tour to sold-out stadiums and arenas around the world. But some CMA voters told The Post they wondered whether Wallen was considered too “controversial” to win the show’s most prestigious award because he was barred from attending in 2021 after TMZ posted a video of him word uttered. Others thought the momentum could swing toward breakout stars Jelly Roll or Wilson, who won last year. Now, Wallen is officially back in the winner’s circle of the CMAs.

There was no word Wednesday on Wallen’s whereabouts, though the rest of the Entertainer of the Year nominees — including Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton — performed during the three-hour ceremony. A longtime industry and CMA favorite, Stapleton won the most awards with three trophies, including song and single of the year for “White Horse,” which he released in July 2023. The latest award was considered a bit of a shock given its success. of ‘I had some help’. And Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which — as mentioned at least twice during the show — spent a whopping 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, you can never ignore Stapleton at an awards ceremony.

“I have nothing more to say,” Stapleton said as he accepted the male vocalist trophy, his third time at the microphone. Stapleton, who performed three times during the broadcast, thanked his fellow artists and saved most of the praise for his wife, singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton, his frequent collaborator. “I can’t do this without you and probably wouldn’t be here without you.”

Elsewhere, Megan Moroney was named new artist of the year, and Cody Johnson, who spent his early years as a star on the Texas country circuit, won album of the year for “Leather.” Wilson did not go home empty-handed and won for the third time in a row for singer and music video for ‘Wildflowers and Wild Horses’.

Old Dominion made history by winning the singing group award for the seventh year in a row. Aside from a brief monologue joke from Manning warning his co-hosts not to talk politics, Old Dominion singer Matthew Ramsey was the only person to even hint at current events.

“It’s very nice to play in a band. “I want to say that if you’re an artist of any type, or a creator, a musician, this is the moment when the world needs you most – when it’s weird, like right now,” Ramsey said. “So get out there, come together and create.”

Here are some of the best and worst moments; a full list of winners can be found below.

Newcomer Langley and Green’s flirty “You Look Like You Love Me” rocketed up the country radio charts this summer, and it was fitting that the song won musical event of the year. During the performance, Langley, who released her debut album several months ago, looked like a seasoned performer as she casually strolled through the audience while talking and singing the first verse. Green did the same, playing his guitar when they met on stage. Langley danced and sang next to him, and they sang together about the joy of strangers meeting in a bar.

The chairman of Combs’ record label once described the superstar’s voice as “it feels like a bear is coming at you.” That was a pretty accurate description of his impassioned performance of “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” his single from the “Twisters” soundtrack, which featured fireworks onstage for the first time that night. The song went viral on TikTok this summer, with users mainly using the sound to accompany slow-motion videos from “Twisters” star Glen Powell, but Combs’ performance was a stark reminder that it’s also just a great song.

Underwood hasn’t had much of a presence at the CMAs since her many years co-hosting with Brad Paisley (moment of silence to remember their parody songs, which were actually quite funny), and she wasn’t announced as a performer prior to the show. show. The crowd seemed excited to see her and she was a welcome addition as she delivered her always impressive vocals with Johnson for their duet “I’m Gonna Love You.”

Despite all the energetic songs, some of the highlights of the CMA Awards over the years are the moments where it’s just about an artist and his guitar. Kacey Musgraves’ melodic voice speculated about a higher power on “The Architect,” while Ashley McBryde expertly covered “Help Me Make It Through the Night” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson, who died in September at the age of 88.

Strait received the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, and quite a few country artists wanted to help him celebrate. Wilson took on “Amarillo By Morning” (she noted that Strait is the King of Country, and “authentic Texas and authentic country”) while Jamey Johnson sang “Give It Away.” Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum teamed up for “Troubadour” and Stapleton joined Strait for “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.” Strait, in his quiet way, seemed very happy as he accepted the honor: “I want to thank the CMAs for adding my name to the incredible artists on this small list of recipients with the name of the icon, Willie Nelson.”

Credit where credit is due…the last few CMA years have been tough to watch in terms of hosting. But Bryan and Manning, who have been hosting since 2022, find their footing by doubling down on their self-defined roles: Manning calmly acts like he’s in control of the proceedings, and Bryan cheerfully acts like he’s the village idiot. Wilson balanced the two nicely as a “peacemaker,” as she said. The three joked about everything from Jelly Roll’s year of eating healthy and drinking less (“That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard,” Bryan said, poking fun at his own party image) to the requisite NFL joke. Wilson mentioned Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan’s duet “Cowboys Cry Too” and Manning added, “But enough about Jerry Jones.”

Brooks & Dunn might agree with this placement, considering how stunned they seemed to be when they won the award. They were certainly honored, but even the legendary duo looked like they didn’t expect to get the win over Brothers Osborne (who won every year except twice since 2016), Dan + Shay (who won the other two times), Maddie & Tae and the war and the treaty. You could argue that those four acts are much more relevant in 2024, even though Brooks & Dunn recently released an album with updated versions of some of their hits featuring contemporary country stars.

“What a strange company, right? I love it. I love it. Right now I’m really enjoying it,” Ronnie Dunn told the crowd. “There is a famous quote that says time is undefeated. I’m just saying, not yet, I guess,” Kix Brooks added. In the press room, a reporter noted that the two were probably just expecting to attend the show and hang out. Dunn, who sounded excellent as the duo sang “Believe” with Jelly Roll earlier in the evening, insisted this is a “crazy thing.”

CMA voters told The Post they were pleasantly surprised by Post Malone’s debut country album, “F-1 Trillion,” released this summer, and appreciated how the rapper became so involved in the Nashville community. CMA executives were so excited that they asked him to open the show with a duet with Chris Stapleton, “California Sober.” But Post Malone didn’t sound his best during his second outing, “Yours,” in which he imagines his young daughter’s future wedding. While it’s a classic country theme to sing about your kids, there are tons of other songs on his album (which he made into an extended record) that could have showcased his country songs better.

There was so much going on during Bailey Zimmerman’s “New to Country” — the singer being lowered onto the stage from the ceiling, stopping mid-song to play beer pong, giving a shout-out to pro wrestling, basking in comedy amount of confetti — that it was hard to concentrate on what was happening in the actual song.

Entertainer of the year

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen winner

Jelly roll

Laine Wilson

Male Singer of the Year

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton – winner

Morgan Wallen

Jelly roll

Cody Johnson

Female Singer of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Ashley McBryde

Kacey Musgraves

Megan Moroney

Lainey Wilson winner

Album of the year

‘Fathers and Sons’ Luke Combs

“Higher” Chris Stapleton

‘Deeper Well’ Kacey Musgraves

“Teach” Cody Johnson – winner

“Whitt Chapel” Jelly Roll

Single of the year

“I Had Some Help” Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen

“White Horse” Chris Stapleton – winner

“Dirt cheap” Cody Johnson

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” Shaboozey

“Watermelon Moonshine” Lainey Wilson

Song of the year

“I Had Some Help” Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (written by Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters)

“White Horse” Chris Stapleton (written by Stapleton, Dan Wilson) – winner

“Dirt Cheap” Cody Johnson (written by Josh Phillips)

“The Painter” Cody Johnson (written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins)

“Burn It Down” Parker McCollum (written by McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady A

Small big city

Zac Brownband

Old Dominion – winner

The red clay strays

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn – winner

Brothers Osborne

Zane + Shay

Maddie & Tae

The war and the treaty

New artist of the year

Megan Moroney – winner

Shaboozey

Nate Smith

Mitchell Tenpenny

Zach Top

Bailey Zimmerman

Musical event of the year

“I Had Some Help” Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen

“Cowboys Cry Too” Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan

“I Remember Everything” Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves

“Man Made a Bar” Morgan Wallen performance. Erik Kerk

“You Look Like You Love Me” Ella Langley feat. Riley Green – winner

Music Video of the Year

“I Had Some Help” Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen

“I’m not beautiful” Megan Moroney

“Wildflowers and Wild Horses” Lainey Wilson – winner

“Dirt cheap” Cody Johnson

“The Painter”