CMA Awards 2024 performances ranked from worst to best

Post Malone made a massive inroad into country music this year with his F-1 trillion album and hit duets with Morgan Wallen (Billboard Hot 100 topper “I Had Some Help”) and Blake Shelton (“Pour Me a Drink”). Although his F-1 trillion album is filled with collabs, Post Malone was often at his best on the record with his solo material. To that end, one of his two CMA Awards performances Wednesday night was a solo performance of the ballad “Yours,” an ode to his daughter. He’s delivered some great vocal performances in the past, but here, Post Malone’s usually supple voice sounded raw and strained, becoming something of a distraction from the song’s sweet sentiments.

Zimmerman immediately caught the attention of viewers by lowering himself from the ceiling in front of a massive sign bearing his initials. Wearing a sleeveless shirt and jean shorts, Zimmerman sang his song “New to Country.” Confetti fluttered across the crowd as he spun through the new track, backed by his band. As always, Zimmerman approached the performance with plenty of energy, but given the genre’s recent tilt towards more traditional sounds, the song itself felt a little dated.

In addition to his CMA Awards co-hosting duties, Luke Bryan performed his latest Top 5 Country Airplay hit, “Love You, Miss You, Mean It,” and offered a fine performance that showcased both his hitmaker status and his laid-back, fun-loving performance style .

Ballerini and Kahan sang an elegant version of their collaboration “Cowboys Cry Too,” included on Ballerini’s latest album, Patterns. Their vocals sounded sweet together, although Kahan, who is generally seen performing with his guitar, seemed a little uncomfortable on stage. Still, the rendition on offer made for a solid performance.

Chris Stapleton and Post Malone kicked off this year’s show with a collaboration of “California Sober,” their duet from Post Malone’s F-1 trillion. Their happy vibe was a great start to the show, and they each got a passionate, rolling, honky-tonk vibe. Still, Stapleton’s powerful vocal instrument drowned out Post Malone’s at times, though it’s hard for any vocalist to stand up to Stapleton’s powerful voice.

Megan Moroney offered one of the show’s showiest moments during her performance of “Am I Okay?”, the title track from her latest album. She showed just why her career has soared higher over the past year. Expanding on the blue-toned theme of her album cover, her performance featured blue sparkles spanning massive screens, lasers and her platform stage. Her wit and charisma were on display as Moroney sauntered and spun through the sassy song before dropping to one knee on the song’s bridge and singing the song’s flirtatious, love-filled verses with a wink and a smile. Still, her voice seemed a little unstable at times, though the performance still had plenty of charm.

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has been an inescapable hit this year, spending 18 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. He brought that star power to the CMA stage, opening first with his new song “Highway” , before announcing his intentions to “make this place the biggest dive bar in the world” and launch his breakthrough hit. Flanked by dancers dressed in western clothing, he offered a laid-back charisma and had no problem getting the entire audience on their feet and his fellow artists grooving.

Lainey Wilson, who also co-hosted this year alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, brought a dramatic flair to the love song “4x4xU.” Standing in front of a fire pit with a back screen that looked like stars flung across the night sky, Wilson sang her little hit about finding respite from a long day by spending time with her lover. Wilson held court with seasoned confidence.

Dierks Bentley was joined by a trio of talented bluegrass luminaries and IBMA Award winners — Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes — to honor the late Tom Petty with a bluegrassed-up version of “American Girl.” (Bentley recorded a version of the song for the tribute album Småland.) Since the beginning of his career, Bentley has made no secret of his love for bluegrass music. Led by Bentley’s delicate twang, the performance was filled with shards of mandolin, fiddle and guitar, and was particularly powerful because it put a much-deserved spotlight on the musical acumen of Tuttle, Hull and Keith-Hyne.

Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims brought a soulful, sultry take on TR’s “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Woman” before transitioning into Swims’ “Lose Control.” This blend of pop, soul, blues and country, with dynamic melodies, superbly highlighted the vocal skills of both artists, creating a moment that clearly resonated with the audience and brought the audience to their feet.

Dressed in dark attire and his signature shades, Eric Church delivered a painfully elegant performance of “Darkest Hour,” a solo recording by Church, with all of his publishing royalties from the song going to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. Backed by horns and strings, as well as a choir, he sang powerfully and soulfully about the power of standing by loved ones through trying times. The powerful performance proved to be one of the most impactful of the evening.

Ella Langley and Riley Green gave a performance that felt like a glorious throwback to old-school CMA Awards performances as they performed their collaboration “You Look Like You Love Me.” Langley began the song while seated in the audience, then stood and strolled through the aisles, played to the camera and up the stairs to the CMA stage as she performed the first verse of “You Look Like You Love Me.” Green quickly joined her and their stage presence and vocal charisma was undeniable, drawing an instant standing ovation from the crowd. A solid showcase for these two talented artists.

Combs delivered a dazzling vocal performance as he sang the rock-infused “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” his contribution to the soundtrack of Twisters soundtrack. Combs consistently proves that he has one of the most commanding voices in country music, and this roaring performance was no exception.

Accompanying herself on guitar, Ashley McBryde paid a stunning tribute to the late Kris Kristofferson with a solemn, tender rendition of “Help Me Make It Through The Night” as images of Kristofferson flashed on a screen. The straightforward, elegant performance drew a standing ovation in tribute to iconic singer-songwriter Kristofferson.

This heartbreaker of a song that embodies the pain of loss is a classic from these two: reserved instrumentation accentuating soulful vocals and a timeless message.

Texan Cody Johnson, who just sold out his first major stadium concert in Arlington, Texas, is known for his high-octane performances. But at the CMA Awards, he offered up one of the night’s top ballads when he was joined by Carrie Underwood for a performance of their collaboration on “I’m Gonna Love You.” The song is a masterpiece for these two powerful vocalists and seasoned entertainers.

Musgraves offered a simple guitar-vocal performance that focused on the exquisitely crafted tune about pondering free will and the meaning (if any) behind life’s chances and random turns. The straightforward performance was a potent reminder of Musgraves’ devotion to top-shelf songcraft.

For their performance of “Liar,” a song about fighting the lies that lead to and accompany addiction, Jelly Roll and Keith Urban offered an intense performance, one further enhanced by the fiery production on stage. With Urban showcasing his excellent guitar work and the backing of a vocal group, Jelly Roll delivered the kind of passionate, soulful performance he has become known for.

Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll delivered one of the night’s most emotional, impactful performances midway through the show with a rendition of Brooks & Dunn’s gospel-inflected “Believe.” Jelly Roll launched into the familiar song of a man turning to a higher power to fill the emotional void left by the death of his loved ones, accompanied by Kix Brooks on piano and Ronnie Dunn’s stirring voice. Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll hit the song’s zenith on the soaring chorus as Jelly Roll raised his hands, prompting many in the audience to do the same, some wiping away tears.

Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait was celebrated in a big way during the CMA Awards with several artists performing some of his many hit songs.

Lainey Wilson launched the tribute with a version of “Amarillo By Morning,” which made great use of her natural twang. “You’re a true inspiration to me,” Wilson told Strait, as Jamey Johnson then took the stage for a stunning performance of Strait’s “Give It Away,” which Johnson co-wrote.

Johnson was then joined by Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, who sang “Troubadour” as images of Strait through the years flashed on the screen. From there, on another stage, Strait himself took the stage with Stapleton to perform their collaboration “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” from Strait’s latest album Cowboys and dreamers. At 72, Strait proved why he remains the benchmark that so many artists in the genre look up to.