Stapleton, Little Big Town shine at CMA Awards

Though the room was full of A-listers, like Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan, the band Little Big Town, with their massive hit “Girl Crush,” and Chris Stapleton, who has written songs for most of Nashville, owned the 2015 Country Music Association Awards.

Stapleton, who has written for Bryan, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and others, was Wednesday night’s big winner with three awards – male vocalist, new artist and album of the year for “Traveller.”

Everyone cheered him on, from Lambert to Bryan, who won entertainer of the year.

“Watching Chris Stapleton have this night is so uplifting,” Bryan said onstage after he won the top award for a second time.

Stapleton, who was the lead singer of the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, was on the brink of tears when he won his third prize at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

“About two years ago, I lost my dad and I made this record thinking about a lot of music he would like. … My mom is here tonight. I want to thank my mom,” Stapleton said. “I’m not going to take it lightly … I got to thank my wife again, she always pushes me to be the best I can be … I gotta thank all my cousins in Kentucky.”

Stapleton’s night wasn’t just about winning awards: He also turned in a show-stopping performance with Justin Timberlake, singing “Tennessee Whiskey,” which Stapleton wrote.

“Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton, thank you very much. I’m going to go home and practice,” Lambert said onstage when she won female vocalist of the year. It was Lambert’s sixth consecutive win in the category.

“I appreciate it. I needed a bright spot this year,” she said onstage, possibly referring to her divorce from Blake Shelton.

Little Big Town, who also earned applause for their performance of the ballad “Girl Crush,” won vocal group and single of the year for the No. 1 hit. The writers of “Girl Crush” won song of the year.

Bryan, who beat Lambert, Church, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney for entertainer of the year, kissed his trophy multiple times when he won the night’s final award.