The CMA Awards have hosted some of the best collaborative country performances of all time. From unlikely duets between boybands and classic country outfits to supergroup performances to honor a legend, find four of the best CMA Awards collaborations, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
4 of the Best CMA Awards Collaborations of All Time
1. “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” (NSYNC and Alabama)
Both Alabama and NSYNC have boasted stunning harmonies, so imagine the combined forces of both bands. Luckily for us, we don’t have to imagine what that would sound like, because they collaborated at the CMA Awards for a mesmerizing cover of “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You.” While the original version of this song is enticing enough, this revamped cover is somehow even more stunning.
Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it’s true
God must have spent
A little more time on you
2. “Turn Out The Lights When You Leave” (Dolly Parton and Elton John)
It’s always a treat watching two icons perform together. In the performance below we get just that. Dolly Parton and Elton John teamed up for a version of John’s “Turn Out The Lights When You Leave” at the CMA Awards. The country legend and the rock great seemed to meld perfectly together as they delivered this inter-genre performance.
You’re searching in my eyes
To try and find a tear
But the well of my forgiveness
Has dried up with the years
You might still look pretty
In that lacy little dress
But I think you’ve got your signals crossed
If you think that I’m a mess
3. “Red” (Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, and Alison Krauss)
Nearing the end of her country era, Taylor Swift joined Vince Gill and Alison Krauss on stage for a stripped down version of her heartbreak anthem, “Red.” This rendition of a Swift classic laid her vocals bare. The addition of Gill and Krauss added some classic country harmonies.
Losing him was blue, like I’d never known
Missing him was dark gray, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know
Somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red
4. Dolly Parton Tribute (Jennifer Nettles, Pentatonix, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride)
Every female country artist would jump at the chance to honor Dolly Parton. Five country heavyweights did exactly that at the CMA Awards when they delivered a slew of Parton’s biggest hits. From Kacey Musgraves’ lilting version of “Here You Come Again” to Carrie Underwood’s powerhouse vocals on “I Will Always Love You,” this supergroup performance is a masterclass.
And I hope life, will treat you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
Oh I do wish you joy
And I wish you happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
I love you
I will always love you
(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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