ICYMI: Here’s The Rundown of the 2015 CMT Artist of the Year Awards

Some of the biggest names in country music came together Wednesday night to help honor the 2015 CMT Artists of the Year. This year’s nominees included Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, and Sam Hunt, while Kenny Rogers was awarded with the title of Artist of a Lifetime,  Chris Stapleton was named the first ever Breakout Artist, and the cast of Nashville accepted the inaugural International Impact Award.

To make the night even more special, each nominee had a close friend present them with the award and some even had special guests perform when of their hit tracks. Presenters included nominees Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, Dan Rather, and Hilary Scott from Lady Antebellum. Among the performers were award recipients Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt, Darius Rucker, Cassadee Pope, and RaeLynn representing Blake Shelton with a performance of ‘Neon Light’, Thomas Rhett shouting out to his good buddies in Florida Georgia Line with a performance of ‘Dirt’, and Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis came together for the first time ever to cover ‘Girl Crush’ by Little Big Town.