CMA Awards 2024 recap: All the biggest wins and epic performances
Morgan Wallen won the coveted entertainer of the year award.
The biggest names in country music were honored at the 2024 CMA Awards Wednesday night.
Morgan Wallen, who had the most nominations going into the evening, took home the coveted entertainer of the year award. He was not in attendance to accept the award.
Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson took home best male and female vocalist of the year, respectively. Stapleton also took home song of the year and single of the year for his hit "White Horse."
Cody Johnson brought home the award for album of the year for "Leather."
Music video of the year went to Wilson for her "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" video.
Megan Moroney was honored with the new artist of the year award.
The star-studded show was co-hosted by Wilson, Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
See a recap of the night's biggest moments below.
Key moments:
George Strait to receive lifetime achievement award
Country music star George Strait will receive the 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's CMA Awards.
According to a press release announcing Strait as this year's honoree, the singer, songwriter and music producer has scored 60 No. 1 singles and sold more than 70 million albums over his more than 40-year career.
Strait is a three-time entertainer of the year winner at the CMA Awards, having won in 1989, 1990 and 2013. He's also the most-nominated artist in CMA Awards history, having amassed 83 to date.
Previous recipients of the lifetime achievement honor include Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn and Alan Jackson.
There will also be an all-star tribute for Strait during the show, featuring Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
Did Beyoncé receive any CMA Awards nominations?
Beyoncé received zero CMA Awards nominations for her landmark country-inspired album "Cowboy Carter," a perceived snub by many of the singer's fans.
The album, released March 29, spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and helped Beyoncé become the first Black woman to top that chart.
Hit songs from "Cowboy Carter" also topped the charts. "Texas Hold 'Em" spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, "II Most Wanted," topped out at No. 2, and her rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" reached No. 3.
While Beyoncé has yet to address the snub, others including Parton and Luke Bryan have weighed in on the issue.
In November, Beyoncé received 11 nominations at the 2025 Grammys for "Cowboy Carter." These nominations made her the artist with the most Grammy nominations of all time, with 99 in total.
Who is the most-nominated artist at the 2024 CMA Awards?
Morgan Wallen is the most-nominated artist at the 2024 CMA Awards, earning seven in total.
He's up for entertainer of the year, male vocalist of the year and his song "Man Made a Bar" featuring Eric Church is up for musical event of the year.
Wallen is also up for single of the year, song of the year, music video of the year and another chance at musical event of the year for featuring on Post Malone's song "I Had Some Help."
Other top-nominated artists are Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton with five each and Lainey Wilson and Malone with four each.
Who's up for entertainer of the year?
Five artists are up for the biggest prize of the night, the coveted entertainer of the year award.
Fighting it out this year are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Wilson is the reigning champ in the category and Combs has won twice before.
It would be a first win for Jelly Roll, Stapleton or Wallen.