DID SHE OR DIDN’T SHE COME?That was the big question surroundingMaren Morris,a nominee for album of the year, after she engaged ina politically charged exchangeonline a couple of months ago withJason Aldean’swife,Brittany.
“Honestly, I haven’t decided if I’m gonna go,” she said in a September interview. “Maybe I’ll make a game-time decision and go. But as of right now, I don’t feel comfortable going.”
Morris did indeed call an audible, and she and husband,Ryan Hurd— festively carrying a bottle of champagne — slipped into the arena during a commercial break just moments before her category was announced. Their prime seats, at one of dozens of round tables reserved for nominees and their guests, were on the opposite side from where the Aldeans were assigned.
The couple was there long enough to watch one performance (Lainey WilsonandHARDY’s"Wait in the Truck"), hear her name called from the stage, stand and applaud for category winnerLuke Combs, and have her face briefly caught on camera before she and Hurd departed, champagne in tow. Total time: eight minutes.
LEAP OF JOY:Viewers got to watchJordan Davisbeckon show co-hostLuke Bryan,his “Buy Dirt” collaborator, to the stage after the No. 1 hit won song of the year, and Bryan wrapped Davis in a bear hug. But what they missed was Bryan jumping like a pogo stick when the song’s win was announced. He was standing about 100 feet away at the time, and his heroic sprint up to the stage and back returned him to his spot in time for his next on-camera introduction.
Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis.John Shearer/Getty
HIS KIND OF NIGHT:Actually, no one in the arena seemed to enjoy the show more than Bryan, whether on or off camera. As he moved from spot to spot for his intros, he greeted friends, did little dance moves, and waved to the crowd.
At first, the two men merely waved to each other, but then the magnetic forces took over: Richie moved toward Bryan. The co-host broke rank and slipped out of his assigned spot, and the two pals got to hug it out before a crew member had to (tactfully) shoo Richie away.
Check out PEOPLE’s full CMAs coverage to get the latest news on country music’s biggest night.
TRUE FAN:Keith Urbandidn’t perform or present, nor was he nominated for an award, but — unlike so many of his other fellow idols — the two-time entertainer of the year was there for the entire show. And he appeared to enjoy every minute, often the first to jump to his feet after a thrilling performance, offering applause or a fist pump.
Keith Urban and Luke Combs.John Shearer/Getty
LADIES' NIGHT:Some of the biggest audience reactions of the evening were reserved for three women who haven’t charted in years:Jo Dee Messina,who joinedCole Swindellon “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”;Wynonna Judd,who presented the duo of the year award; and Patty Loveless, who joinedChris and Morgane Stapletonon “You’ll Never Leave Harlan.” The crowd roared at Messina’s surprise appearance, and Judd received an instant standing ovation when she took the stage. Loveless' vocal turn jolted the front-row stars to their feet, inspiring waves, over-the-head claps and reverent idol worship.
Jo Dee Messina and Cole Swindell.ABC via Getty
PIANIST ENVY:For those who believedElle Kingwas actually playing the piano during her blazing “Great Balls of Fire” tribute tothe late Jerry Lee Lewis,you can let that one go. For the record, King does play a little piano, but she earlier confirmed to PEOPLE on the red carpet, “I’m definitely not a piano player in any sense of the way, like [Lewis].” The Killer’s signature sounds emanated from a live track.
Elle King.Mark Humphrey/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
HER BIGGEST FAN:Before the show, Lainey Wilson said that — win or lose — her high point of the night was the fact that her father, Brian Wilson, was there to accompany her. The Louisiana farmerspent two months in the hospitalearlier this year fighting off a deadly fungal infection, losing an eye to the illness. Of course, his daughter was one of the night’s big winners, and Dad fully grasped the import of the occasion. Though he stood up and sat down along with the rest of the crowd after she won new artist, the proud papa stayed on his feet throughout her entire acceptance speech for female vocalist.
Lainey Wilson and her dad, Brian.Jason Davis/WireImage
Lucie Silvas and John Osborne.Katie Kauss
UNCOUPLED:Florida Georgia Line’sTyler HubbardandBrian Kelleyannounced back in February that they were taking a break from recording together, but the CMA’s seat assigners took their separation seriously, placing the men and their wives at tables far away from each other. They’ve all been seated together every time since the three-time vocal duo of the year was first nominated in 2013.
FINAL COUNTDOWN:Perhaps the most amazing unsung performance of the evening was Luke Combs' acceptance speech for entertainer of the year. His win came in the show’s final moments, when producers are always hell-bent to end on time, and Combs was looking straight into a teleprompter screen that was counting down just 30 seconds of allotted time. True to his superstar stature, he nailed it.
Luke Combs.Jason Kempin/Getty
source: people.com
