HARDY and Morgan Wallen honored the late Joe Diffie with a heartwarming performance during the 2023 CMA Awards. On Wednesday, November 8th, co-host Luke Bryan was joined by Diffie's son, Parker Diffie, to introduce the performance which included the Country star's 1993 hit "John Deere Green" from his album Honky Tonk Attitude.
For the next song, "Pickup Man," HARDY and Wallen welcomed rapper/singer Post Malone to the stage and he sounded right at home on the song. Fans took to social media to share how much they enjoyed Post Malone's performance at the CMA Awards. "Post Malone needs to convert to country," one fan wrote on Twitter. "I'm gonna need @PostMalone to make a gd country album after what I just heard on the #CMAAwards2023," another wrote.
1 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America2 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America3 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America4 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America5 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America6 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America7 of 7 Photo: Getty Images North America
The 57th annual CMA Awards are hosted by Bryan and Peyton Manning for the second year in a row as the Country Music Association celebrates the artists, songwriters, and producers making waves in the country genre. Lainey Wilson led the nominations with an impressive nine nods making her the only artist to ever lead the nominations in her first two appearances on the final ballot. Behind her, Jelly Roll earned five nominations, and HARDY and Luke Combs earned four nominations each. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen, also earned three nominations each. For the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, Combs, Stapleton, Wallen, Wilson, and Carrie Underwood are all nominated.
In addition to awards, A-listers will hit the stage to perform some of the biggest songs of the year including Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, The War and Treaty, Lainey Wilson, and Zac Brown Band. Other performers include Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally, K. Michelle, Post Malone, and Tanya Tucker.