In anticipation of the upcoming 57th annual CMA Awards, the Country Music Association has revealed the winners in two key categories. The track “Wait in the Truck,” a collaboration featuring Hardy and Lainey Wilson, has been honored with the title of Musical Event of the Year, while its accompanying video clinched the Music Video of the Year award.
“Wait in the Truck” will also be vying for the titles of Single of the Year and Song of the Year during the live broadcast of the 2023 CMAs on ABC, taking place in Nashville. Hosting the event this year are Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning.
Lainey Wilson, who recently unveiled her Country’s Cool Again Tour scheduled for 2024, stands as the leading artist in terms of nominations, boasting a total of nine, including her debut nod in the Entertainer of the Year category. At the annual BMI Awards in Nashville, she paid tribute to songwriter Matraca Berg by delivering a rendition of “Strawberry Wine,” a hit from 1996 originally performed by Deana Carter and penned by Berg.
Wilson shared with us how “Strawberry Wine” left an indelible mark on her own ballad of youthful love, “Watermelon Moonshine.” She remarked, “When I think back to my high school days, the song that instantly comes to mind is Deana Carter’s ‘Strawberry Wine.’ When we were crafting our song, we aimed to evoke those sentiments of ‘a time when nothing else mattered.’ I wanted to transport people back in time and let them relive those passionate moments for just a brief while.”
The 57th CMA Awards winners list:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Fast Car,” Luke Combs
“Heart Like a Truck,” Lainey Wilson
“Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll
“Next Thing You Know,” Jordan Davis
“Wait in the Truck,” Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde
Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson
Gettin’ Old, Luke Combs
One Thing at a Time, Morgan Wallen
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, Kelsea Ballerini
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Fast Car,” Luke Combs (Songwriter: Tracy Chapman)
“Heart Like a Truck,” Lainey Wilson (Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson)
“Next Thing You Know,” Jordan Davis (Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne)
“Tennessee Orange,” Megan Moroney (Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams)
“Wait in the Truck,” Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks and Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie and Tae
The War and Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Save Me,” Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix),” Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina
“Thank God,” Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
“Wait in the Truck,” Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson) – WINNER
“We Don’t Fight Anymore,” Carly Pearce (feat. Chris Stapleton)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Light On in the Kitchen,” Ashley McBryde
“Memory Lane,” Old Dominion
“Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll
“Next Thing You Know,” Jordan Davis
“Wait in the Truck,” Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson) – WINNER
