First-time nominee Lainey Wilson led the list of nominees with six nods, and she walked away with two major awards. The first was the New Artist of the Year, where she contended with HARDY, Walker Hayes, Cody Johnson, and Parker McCollum. The emotional Wilson went on stage, and as she fought her tears back, she said, “If you know me, you know I am rarely speechless, and I am speechless right now.”

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She added that her win was for everybody who believed in her and a little bit for the ones who didn’t. 

Wilson also bagged the highly-anticipated Female Vocalist of the Year, beating country veterans Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Ashley McBryde, and Carly Pearce. She dedicated her win to her father, Brian Wilson, who she thought she might’ve lost a few months ago after he ended up in the ICU. The two walked together on the night’s red carpet. 

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After Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena ceremony, Lainey Wilson spoke with HELLO! US, where she shared her plan of celebrating with her team instead, who have helped ‘get this thing off the ground.’ She also gave credit to award shows like the CMAs for bringing light to the talented people behind artists like her, who all played important roles in creating the music that she loves. 

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning hosted the show live from Nashville on Wednesday night (Nov. 9).