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Ashley McBryde honored late music legend Kris Kristofferson when she took the Bridgestone Arena stage at the 58th CMA Awards on Wednesday evening (November 20) in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. McBryde performed a moving rendition of Kristofferson’s 1970 ballad, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
Kristofferson passed peacefully, surrounded by his family, on September 28 at his home in Maui, Hawaii, spokesperson Ebie McFarland confirmed to the Associated Press at that time. The Texas-born singer-songwriter and actor, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, was 88.
The country music community was quick to honor Kristofferson in an outpouring of tributes, including by Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and McBryde, among many others. McBryde shared a photo with the late legend at the time, writing in her caption: “Thank you for teaching us to write. And for teaching me how to beat the devil. Rest now Mr. Kristofferson.”
The star-studded lineup of performers at the CMA Awards also includes Chris Stapleton and Post Malone, Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan, Brooks & Dunn with Jelly Roll, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Ella Langley with Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves, Bailey Zimmerman, Dierks Bentley (featuring Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes), Luke Bryan, Shaboozey, Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims, and Lainey Wilson. Presenters include Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, Freddie Freeman, Don Johnson, Jackson Laux, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Katharine McPhee, The Oak Ridge Boys, Taylor Frankie Paul, Carly Pearce, Caleb Pressley, Nate Smith, Daniel Sunjata, Mitchell Tenpenny and Billy Bob Thornton. The Country Music Association also revealed the all-star group of artists — Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson — paying tribute to country legend George Strait. Strait is the recipient of the 2024 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Luke Bryan returned to host the show again with Peyton Manning, and this time, they teamed up with first-time host and 2023 Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson. Check back with iHeartRadio for a live-updated list of winners throughout the evening, a gallery of the most stunning red carpet looks, coverage of can’t-miss performances and more throughout the evening. The 58th CMA Awards is airing on ABC on Wednesday evening, and will be available next day on Hulu.