CMA Awards 2018: Best And Worst Moments
BRAD PAISLEY, CARRIE UNDERWOOD
BEST GENDER REVEAL
As part of her show-opening banter with co-host Brad Paisley, a very pregnant Carrie Underwood let everyone in on a little secret: She and husband Mike Fisher's second child will be a boy.
CMA-Awards-2018-carrie-underwood-heart
MOST NEEDED REMINDER
Those sleeves! That choir! That comfortingly angelic voice! In these times, Underwood's performance of "Love Wins" was just the message we needed to hear.
CMA-Awards-2018-dan-and-shay-fire
BEST WAY TO WARM UP THE CROWD
Dan + Shay's "Tequila," livened up by a piano literally set aflame, was an early audience-pleaser.
CMA-Awards-2018-eastbound-and-down
LEAST NEEDED REMINDER
Midland's cover of "Eastbound and Down" from Smokey and the Bandit was broadcast as though it were happening in the '70s, which was cool and all, but we spent far too much of the act trying to figure if our HD signal had crapped out or not.
CMA-Awards-2018-kacey-musgraves
BEST ANNIVERSARY GIFT
Ten years to the day that she moved to Nashville, Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year for Golden Hour.
CHRIS STAPLETON, MIKE HENDERSON
BEST SUMMATION OF A LIFE THAT'S GOOD
We really dug the simple joy of Mike Henderson's acceptance speech for Song of the Year for "Broken Halos" with Chris Stapleton: "I would like to thank my wife, my children and my lucky stars, because I get to live in Nashville, Tenn., where all this cool stuff happens."
CMA-Awards-2018-photos-brothers-osborne-florida
BEST POLITICAL HUMOR
When Brothers Osborne took home Vocal Duo of the Year for the third consecutive time, John Osborne said, "I don't know why we keep winning this," and T.J. Osborne chimed in, "If this was in Florida, there would definitely be a recount."
CMA-Awards-2018-photos-garth-brooks-solo
BIGGEST TEARJERKER
Garth Brooks debuted "Stronger Than Me," a quiet tune dedicated to wife Trisha Yearwood, during the broadcast. With lyrics like "If I have a choice, I pray God takes me first/because you're stronger than me," is it any wonder she — and we — were wiping away tears by the end of the song?
KELSEA BALLERINI
BEST GIRL POWER ANTHEM
Though Pistol Annie's "Name Changed Back" came in a close second, Kelsea Ballerini's "Miss Me More" was the most rousing post-breakup song performed all evening (and that hot choreography didn't hurt).
CMA-Awards-2018-photos-stapleton-staples
BEST COLLABORATION
Though the annual event is known for its dynamic collaborative performances, our favorite was the "Friendship"/"I'll Take You There" set featuring Stapleton and wife/backup singer Morgane (herself preggo with their fifth kid) wailing alongside Maren Morris and Mavis Staples.
THOMAS RHETT
BEST TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Thomas Rhett's performance of "Life Changes" began rather literally, as the singer pretended to wake up in his college dorm, just like the lyrics say. What followed was an exuberant romp through the auditorium, followed by teens carrying marching band instruments.
cma-awards-2018-photos-urban-kidman
BEST EMBRACE
It was a toss-up for who gave Entertainer of the Year winner Keith Urban a tighter embrace. Wife Nicole Kidman....
cma-awards-2018-photos-urban-richie
BEST EMBRACE (cont'd.)
... or fellow American Idol judges' panel alum Lionel Richie?