Sony Music Nashville culminated a banner year for the label group with big wins and impactful performances Wednesday night (11/14) at “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards.” Luke Combs was named CMA New Artist of the Year, and Old Dominion took home their first CMA Vocal Group of the Year trophy.
Combs took part in the show’s opening number, performing with Luke Bryan on the latter’s “What Makes You Country,” before hitting the stage with his multi-week No. 1 smash “She Got The Best of Me.” Miranda Lambert performed alongside Jason Aldean for their Musical Event and Single of the Year-nominated “Drowns The Whiskey.” Maren Morris joined forces with Chris Stapleton, Mavis Staples, and Marty Stuart for a powerhouse collaboration, performing “Friendship” and “I’ll Take You There.” Old Dominion brought down the house with their two-week No. 1 “Hotel Key” andPistol Annies rocked the stage with their new single “Got My Name Changed Back.”
Kane Brown presented the Award for Vocal Group of the Year, and LANCO hosted the pre-telecast ceremony which recognized the CMA Broadcast Award winners and Musical Event, Musician, and Music Video of the Year recipients.
These latest highlights come at a week where SMN has dominated the charts with four singles in the Top 5 on Mediabase/Country Aircheck and five of the Top 10 singles on Billboard Country Airplay charts. SMN is also in the Top 10 for greatest gainers.
The radio chart accomplishment includes a fourth-consecutive No. 1 for Combs, as “She Got The Best of Me” spends its fourth week at No. 1 on theBillboard Country Airplay chart – the only release to achieve this milestone in 2018. The hit track also sits at No. 2 on the Mediabase/Country Airplay chart. Multi-Platinum entertainer Chris Young swaps those positions with a No. 1 on Mediabase/Country Aircheck (Young’s 11th chart topper to date) and a No. 2 on Billboard Country Airplay with “Hangin’ On.” Brown is No. 4 on Mediabase/Country Aircheck and No. 5 on Billboard Country Airplay with “Lose It.” Morris trades those positions with “Rich” posting a No. 5 on Mediabase/Country Aircheck and a No. 4 on Billboard Country Airplay, and Mitchell Tenpenny’s debut “Drunk Me” is a No. 6 on Mediabase/Country Aircheck and No. 7 on Billboard Country Airplay.
With more than 2.5 million streams, Brown’s just-released sophomore album Experiment set a brand new U.S. record on Apple Music for the largest debut of a Country album in the first 24 hours of release. And “Lose It” spent a second week at No. 1 on Mediabase Canada Airplay, positioning his anticipated takeover of the North American Country charts.
Pistol Annies’ newly-released third album Interstate Gospel debuted this week at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Penned by the Pistol Annies, the 14-track album showcases the group’s stunning harmonies, classic country storytelling and vibey swagger and has been dubbed “2018’s best country album” by Variety