Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett, and Mac McAnally are among the first few artists crowned at the 2018 CMA Awards. Chesney, together with David Lee Murphy, bagged the CMA Musical Event of the Year for their duet “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” Their collaboration earned Murphy his first-ever CMA Award nomination and win. For that, Chesney can’t help but feel happy and proud of him.

“David Lee is so singular, I’d hear his demos and think, ‘People need to hear this voice, and his perspective,’” Chesney shares. “I couldn’t be happier to see him win his first CMA Award. We’ve sung this song all over America this year, and I’ve seen the way stadiums full of people respond. Every night when he’d walk out, they’d cheer – and when the chorus came along, it was something they wanted to sing with us.”

On the other hand, Thomas Rhett and director TK McKamy won the Music Video of the Year title. The music video of the song “Marry Me,” which Rhett co-wrote with Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, and Shane McAnally, reflects the lyrics entirely.

The announcement of Rhett and Chesney + Murphy’s wins came ahead of the commencement of the prestigious event in country music. Good Morning America broadcast it on Wednesday morning episode.

Meanwhile, Mac McAnally just scored his 10th Musician of the Year award from CMA. The recent Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductee has previously won the same accolade from 2008 to 2015 and again last year. Given his consistent victory on this category, McAnally is undeniably a favorite among the CMA voters.

Congratulations to these top-notch country artists! Here are the other lucky winners at the prestigious event.

Other Winners

Vocal Duo of the Year

WINNER: Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
WINNER: Old Dominion

Around 7,300 professional industry members of the CMA joint forces in determining the nominees and winners to the event of the year. Established in 1967, the CMA Awards is the longest running, annual music awards program on network television.

Talented and award-winning country stars Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood are both back on the stage of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville as the show’s hosts. The pair is on their 11th year in a row as hosts to the biggest event of the year in country music.