Post Malone and Chris Stapleton joined forces to kick off the 58th CMA Awards on Wednesday evening (November 20). The duo performed “California Sober” when they took the Bridgestone Arena stage in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

Stapleton is featured on “California Sober,” one of 18 tracks that appears on Post Malone’s highly-anticipated country album, F-1 Trillion. Post Malone released the record in August. It’s packed with collaborations with some of the genre’s biggest artists, including Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr., Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs and many others. Last year, Post Malone joined Wallen and HARDY to perform a tribute to late country star Joe Diffie at the CMA Awards.

The star-studded lineup of performers also includes Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan, Brooks & Dunn with Jelly Roll, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Ella Langley with Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves, Bailey Zimmerman, Dierks Bentley (featuring Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes), Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims, and Lainey Wilson. Presenters include Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, Freddie Freeman, Don Johnson, Jackson Laux, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Katharine McPhee, The Oak Ridge Boys, Taylor Frankie Paul, Carly Pearce, Caleb Pressley, Nate Smith, Daniel Sunjata, Mitchell Tenpenny and Billy Bob Thornton.

The Country Music Association also revealed the all-star group of artists — Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson — paying tribute to country legend George Strait. Strait is the recipient of the 2024 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Luke Bryan returned to host the show again with Peyton Manning, and this time, they teamed up with first-time host and 2023 Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson. Check back with iHeartRadio for a live-updated list of winners throughout the evening, a gallery of the most stunning red carpet looks, coverage of can’t-miss performances and more throughout the evening. The 58th CMA Awards is airing on ABC on Wednesday evening, and will be available next day on Hulu.

Kayla Hanley

Saturday, August 17, 2024