Chris Stapleton Ignites Stage With Adrenaline-Fueled Anthem

Photo: Getty Images

Chris Stapleton delivered a powerful performance on the Bridgestone Arena stage during the 59th CMA Awards on Wednesday night (November 19) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Stapleton (and his wife, Morgane Stapleton) took the stage with “Bad As I Used To Be,” an anthem that appeared on the F1 movie soundtrack. The Joseph Kosinski-directed motorsport action-drama follows “a Formula One driver (who) comes out of retirement to mentor and team with a younger driver,” per IMDb. Brad PittJavier BardemKerry CondonDamson IdrisTobias Menzies and others appear in the cast.

Other artists in the star-studded lineup throughout the evening included Kelsea BalleriniBrandi CarlileKenny Chesney, Luke CombsRiley GreenMiranda LambertPatty LovelessOld DominionThe Red Clay StraysBigXthaPlug, Ella LangleyMegan MoroneyShaboozeyZach Top, Tucker WetmoreLainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr., Keith Urban and Little Big Town. Presenters and special guests included Lady AAlison BrownJessica CapshawBilly Ray CyrusLauren DaigleJordan DavisElizabeth HurleyCody JohnsonBert KreischerBrandon LakeElla LangleySteve MartinLeanne MorganNe-YoChris O’DonnellKimberly PerryLeAnn RimesAlan RitchsonLara SpencerBilly Bob ThorntonGrace Van PattenGretchen Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman.

The 59th CMA Awards is airing live on ABC. The show will be available to stream on Thursday (November 20) on Hulu. Check back with iHeartCountry throughout the evening for a live-updated list of winners, red carpet fashion, performance highlights, backstage moments you won’t see on TV, and other can’t-miss moments throughout the show.