NASHVILLE 鈥� Lainey Wilson took home five trophies including entertainer of the year Wednesday night at the .
The was the undisputed star of the night at Nashville鈥檚 Bridgestone Arena, where she also was named female vocalist of the year, won album of the year for 鈥淏ell Bottom Country" and gave a fiery rendition of her song 鈥淲ildflowers and Wild Horses鈥� that looked like it came from a classic Hollywood Western.
鈥淭his is all I鈥檝e ever wanted to do, it鈥檚 the only thing I know how to do,鈥� Wilson said through tears as she accepted entertainer of the year. 鈥淚t finally feels like country music is starting to love me back.鈥�
Wilson came into the night the top nominee with nine nods, and had won one award before the ABC telecast even started as she and HARDY were named as winners in the musical event of the year category, for 鈥淲ait in the Truck.鈥�
It was also another major Nashville night for rapper-turned-singer Jelly Roll, who earlier this year .
He opened the show with a performance of his hit 鈥淣eed a Favor,鈥� along with surprise guest Wynonna Judd, then closed it in a duet with K. Michelle on 鈥淟ove Can Build A Bridge,鈥� Judd's classic song with
In between, Jelly Roll won best new artist.
鈥淭here is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year,鈥� he said from the stage. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 in front of you is so much more important than what鈥檚 behind you.鈥�
Luke Combs, winner of entertainer of the year the previous two years, took home single of the year Wednesday night for by Tracy Chapman, who became the unlikely winner of song of the year for a tune she wrote in 1988.
鈥淚 want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs of all time,鈥� the 33-year-old North Carolina singer said as he accepted the award. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first favorite song I ever had.鈥�
Chapman, who won two Grammys for 鈥淔ast Car" in 1989, was not at the ceremony, but said in a statement that it's 鈥渢ruly an honor for my song to be recognized 35 years after its debut.鈥�
Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning hosted the ceremony, which featured a musical tribute to the that included Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Mac McAnally, a longtime member of Buffett's band.
The group made a beach party of a medley of Buffett's hits, beginning with 鈥淎 Pirate Looks at Forty鈥� and ending with 鈥淢argaritaville" as Chesney shouted 鈥淭hank you Jimmy!鈥� to Buffett, always beloved among country artists.
In what is becoming a series of CMA traditions, Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year for the seventh time, Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the sixth time, and Brothers Osborne won duo of the year for their sixth time.
鈥淲e're shocked, honestly, every year this happens,鈥� T.J. Osborne said.
Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
