55 Moments From Years Past That Made the CMA Awards Worth Watching

By Monica Sisavat Solís

Updated on Nov 9, 2017 at 7:15 PM

The CMA Awards always bring out the biggest stars in country music, but what really makes the show special are all the electrifying performances and unexpected surprises. In 2015, Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton gave us the country duet we never knew we needed, and in 2016, Beyoncé shocked us all when she popped up at the show to perform with the Dixie Chicks. This year's CMAs are going down on Nov. 8, but before we get the party started, take a look back at some of the best moments from years past.

01

2010 — Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson — Getty

2010 — Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson

02

2013 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2013 — Taylor Swift

03

2016 — Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis, and Brad Paisley — Getty

2016 — Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis, and Brad Paisley

04

2013 — Kellie Pickler and Sean "Diddy" Combs — Getty

2013 — Kellie Pickler and Sean "Diddy" Combs

05

2016 — Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood — Getty

2016 — Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

06

2014 — Carrie Underwood — Getty

2014 — Carrie Underwood

07

2011 — The Band Perry — Getty

2011 — The Band Perry

08

2015 — Fall Out Boy and Thomas Rhett — Getty

2015 — Fall Out Boy and Thomas Rhett

09

2010 — Kid Rock — Getty

2010 — Kid Rock

10

2015 — Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton — Getty

2015 — Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton

11

2008 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2008 — Taylor Swift

12

2015 — Keith Urban and John Mellencamp — Getty

2015 — Keith Urban and John Mellencamp

13

2011 — Natasha Bedingfield and Rascal Flatts — Getty

2011 — Natasha Bedingfield and Rascal Flatts

14

2016 — Tim McGraw and Faith Hill — Getty

2016 — Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

15

2015 — Sam Hunt — Getty

2015 — Sam Hunt

16

2016 — Carrie Underwood — Getty

2016 — Carrie Underwood

17

2012 — Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw — Getty

2012 — Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw

18

2014 — Ashley Monroe and Blake Shelton — Getty

2014 — Ashley Monroe and Blake Shelton

19

2011 — Faith Hill — Getty

2011 — Faith Hill

20

2010 — Gwyneth Paltrow — Getty

2010 — Gwyneth Paltrow

21

2016 — Kacey Musgraves, Ruston Kelly, and Kelsea Ballerini — Getty

2016 — Kacey Musgraves, Ruston Kelly, and Kelsea Ballerini

22

2008 — Lady Antebellum — Getty

2008 — Lady Antebellum

23

2008 — Brad Paisley and Kieth Urban — Getty

2008 — Brad Paisley and Kieth Urban

24

2016 — Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman — Getty

2016 — Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman

25

2008 — Sugarland — Getty

2008 — Sugarland

26

2016 — Jennifer Garner, Cassidy Black, Dierks Bentley, and Kimberly Williams — Getty

2016 — Jennifer Garner, Cassidy Black, Dierks Bentley, and Kimberly Williams

27

2015 — Luke Bryan — Getty

2015 — Luke Bryan

28

2009 — Carrie Underwood — Getty

2009 — Carrie Underwood

29

2009 — Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman — Getty

2009 — Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman

30

2016 — Jamie Lynn Spears and Maren Morris — Getty

2016 — Jamie Lynn Spears and Maren Morris

31

2013 — Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban — Getty

2013 — Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban

32

2016 — Thomas Rhett and Lauren Gregory — Getty

2016 — Thomas Rhett and Lauren Gregory

33

2011 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2011 — Taylor Swift

34

2009 — Miranda Lambert — Getty

2009 — Miranda Lambert

35

2011 — Reese Witherspoon — Getty

2011 — Reese Witherspoon

36

2013 — Kelly Clarkson — Getty

2013 — Kelly Clarkson

37

2016 — Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban — Getty

2016 — Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

38

2014 — Lily Aldridge and Sam Hunt — Getty

2014 — Lily Aldridge and Sam Hunt

39

2013 — Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert — Getty

2013 — Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert

40

2008 — Kellie Pickler — Getty

2008 — Kellie Pickler

41

2010 — Blake Shelton — Getty

2010 — Blake Shelton

42

2009 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2009 — Taylor Swift

43

2016 — Kacey Musgraves, Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood — Getty

2016 — Kacey Musgraves, Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood

44

2016 — Anderson East, Miranda Lambert, Maddie Marlow, and Tae Dye — Getty

2016 — Anderson East, Miranda Lambert, Maddie Marlow, and Tae Dye

45

2011 — Lady Antebellum — Getty

2011 — Lady Antebellum

46

2010 — Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, and Miranda Lambert — Getty

2010 — Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, and Miranda Lambert

47

2015 — Miranda Lambert — Getty

2015 — Miranda Lambert

48

2016 — Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw — Getty

2016 — Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw

49

2012 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2012 — Taylor Swift

50

2010 — Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley — Getty

2010 — Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley

51

2013 — The Band Perry — Getty

2013 — The Band Perry

52

2014 — Little Big Town and Ariana Grande — Getty

2014 — Little Big Town and Ariana Grande

53

2012 — Dierks Bentley — Getty

2012 — Dierks Bentley

54

2016 — Taylor Swift — Getty

2016 — Taylor Swift

55

2016 — Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks — Getty

2016 — Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks