The CMAs opened up with a BANG bringing the energy with a tribute to the late Charlie Daniels. It was everything you wanted it to be and more.  Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Ashley McBryde, Brothers Osborne and Bentley’s fiddler, Dan Hochhalter, rocked the stage.

The group performed a medley of Daniels' songs, including "Trudy," "Texas," "Long Haired Country Boy" and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."  The country music icon Charlie Daniels, died in July at age 83.

The first award of the night went to Maren Morris winning "Single of the Year" for The Bones! Did you catch Ryan Hurd walking his lady up on stage and then gracefully sat back down so Maren could shine!

What a guy! 

Maren also won the next big award, 'Song of the Year' which goes to the writers for "The Bones" - Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz.  A very clever and well written song.