Morgan Wallen won his first CMA Award since 2020 on Wednesday night, though he wasn’t there to receive it. One of country music biggest star’s, Wallen earned the coveted Entertainer of the Year title.

The 31-year-old Tennessee native has enjoyed a huge year off the success of “I Had Some Help,” his chart-topping hit with Post Malone that Billboard named the Song of the Summer. That track alone earned Wallen four of his seven nominations at the 2024 CMAs: Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.

Since being named the CMA New Artist of the Year four years ago, Wallen has left the annual country showcase empty-handed. In 2021, he was banned from attending the ceremony and ineligible for certain categories after he was caught using a racial slur on camera. He returned the following year as a performer and two-time nominee.

Wallen wasn’t the only artist who had a big night at the ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. Chris Stapleton extended his record as an eight-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner and picked up Song of the Year for his 2023 smash hit “White Horse.” Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson defended her title for Female Vocalist of the Year and seamlessly fit in as co-host alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. And second time proved to be the charm for Megan Moroney who headed home with the New Artist of the Year trophy.

Below are the 2024 CMA winners and nominees in each category, with winners highlighted in bold.

Jump to:



Entertainer of the Year

Male Vocalist of the Year

Female Vocalist of the Year

lainey wilson wearing a cowboy hat and smiling as she looks straight ahead
Getty Images
Lainey Wilson defended her title for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year.

Lainey Wilson, 32, was the big winner at the 2023 CMAs, taking home five trophies—a record for female artists and tied with Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson for the most ever in one night. Wilson couldn’t match that with only four total nominations this year but successfully defended her title in this category. (In case you were wondering, the singer’s new album Whirlwind wasn’t snubbed; it’s won’t eligible for Album of the Year until the 2025 CMAs).

Song of the Year

  • “Burn It Down,” Parker McCollum; written by Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose
  • “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson; written by Josh Phillips
  • “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen); written by Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, and Chandler Paul Walters
  • “The Painter,” Cody Johnson; written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, and Ryan Larkins
  • WINNER: “White Horse,” Chris Stapleton; written by Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson

Single of the Year

Album of the Year

New Artist of the Year

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • WINNER: Old Dominion
  • The Red Clay Strays
  • Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • WINNER: Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Maddie & Tae
  • The War and Treaty

Musical Event of the Year

  • “Cowboys Cry Too,” Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan)
  • “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen)
  • “I Remember Everything,” Zach Bryan (featuring Kacey Musgraves)
  • “Man Made A Bar,” Morgan Wallen (featuring Eric Church)
  • WINNER: “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley (featuring Riley Green)

Musician of the Year

  • Guitarist Tom Bukovac
  • Fiddler Jenee Fleenor
  • Steel guitarist Paul Franklin
  • Guitarist Rob McNelley
  • WINNER: Guitarist Charlie Worsham

Music Video of the Year

  • “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson; directed by Dustin Haney
  • “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen); directed by Chris Villa
  • “I’m Not Pretty,” Megan Moroney; directed by Jeff Johnson and Megan Moroney
  • “The Painter,” Cody Johnson; directed by Dustin Haney
  • WINNER: “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” Lainey Wilson; directed by Patrick Tracy

2024 CMA Hosts and Performers

The 2024 CMA Awards were broadcast live on November 20, 2024, from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC. The show will be available to stream starting Thursday on Hulu.

Luke Bryan and retired football player Peyton Manning returned to host for the third time together. This year, the duo became a trio as 2024 CMA winner Lainey Wilson joined as a fellow emcee.

Bryan and Wilson were also two of the night’s performers. Others included Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Thomas Rhett, Megan Moroney, Brooks & Dunn, Kacey Musgraves, Jelly Roll, and a rare performance from George Strait, who received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

morgan wallen wearing a blue suit and holding guitar as he performs behind a microphone
Headshot of Tyler Piccotti
Tyler Piccotti
News and Culture Editor, Biography.com

Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.

Headshot of Adrienne Donica
Adrienne Donica
Deputy Editor

Adrienne directs the daily news operation and content production for Biography.com. She joined the staff in October 2022 and most recently worked as an editor for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling. Adrienne has served as editor-in-chief of two regional print magazines, and her work has won several awards, including the Best Explanatory Journalism award from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Her current working theory is that people are the point of life, and she’s fascinated by everyone who (and every system that) creates our societal norms. When she’s not behind the news desk, find her hiking, working on her latest cocktail project, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.