2020 CMA Awards

The CMAs instituted a strict COVID-19 protocol complete with rigorous testing. Even given the latest surge, it was still a surprise that prior to the show’s kick off Lee Brice, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, fiddle player Jenee Fleenor and the members of Lady A had all pulled out of their performances because they or someone in their family had tested positive. During the show, Rascal Flatts posted that they too were absent because an unspecified band member had tested positive. Hopefully the safeguards the CMAs put in place will mean we’re not hearing about more positive results over the next week or so given the largely unmasked audience. Despite the big-name absences, the show still provided several top-notch appearances that reinforced that most country artists don’t need bells ...