The 6 best moments from the CMA Awards, including Luke Combs' big win and the Alan Jackson tribute

NASHVILLE – The 56th Country Music Association Awards expanded the definition of country music from those three venerated chords and the truth.

Wednesday's awards, hosted by country superstar Luke Bryan and football legend Peyton Manning, were marked by tributes to luminaries who've recently died, including Loretta Lynn, country music's de facto godmother for roughly half the genre's history. But it also featured outliers to mainstream country, such as War and Treaty and Elle King, whose performances raised their profiles, along with artists like Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson, whose dogged determination finally yielded incredible success.

"It's exciting to see newer blood get granted opportunities by established artists to grow on the CMA Awards stage," musical event of the year winner Ashley McBryde told The Nashville Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"Luke Bryan did it for me. I'm doing it for Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti. Country music has a tradition of putting its arms around its fresh blood and ensuring that they feel as though we want them here and able to contribute and succeed."

CMA Awards 2022: Luke Combs takes entertainer of the year, more winners from country's big night

Luke Combs remains on the throne as entertainer of the year

The reigning CMA entertainer of the year defended his title Wednesday night, winning country music’s highest honor for the second time in as many years. Behind unmatched success on radio charts and trendsetting success on streaming platforms, Combs joins an elite class of artists – including Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney – who this century won two or more entertainer of the year awards in consecutive ceremonies. He’s the first back-to-back winner since Brooks in 2016 and 2017.

Combs earned the award in a year when he graduated to headlining sold-out stadium concerts, a rare achievement for artists in any format. Earlier in the night, he scored his second album of the year for “Growin’ Up.”

“I just cannot believe this,” Combs said. “This is my fifth or sixth year being at this award show, and country sounded more country than it has in a long time tonight. And I think we all wanted that.”

A night to remember Loretta Lynn

A month after her death, Loretta Lynn's legacy arguably headlined the night.

The show opened with a trio of women influenced by Lynn's trailblazing take on country storytelling: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire. Underwood kicked off the four-song medley with a big-voiced rendition of "You Ain't Woman Enough" before Lambert stepped up for "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)" and McEntire waltzed on stage for "You're Looking at Country." The trio closed with Lynn's signature song, "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Later in the night, Carly Pearce cut a bluegrass rendition of her 2021 song "Dear Miss Loretta," enlisting Country Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs and Grand Ole Opry singer Soyna Isaacs for the memorable performance.

"I never met Loretta, always wished I would've," Pearce said on stage. "But I wrote this song in tribute to her because I so admired everything about her, especially the way she wrote about her life – unapologetically."

Lainey Wilson's stunning growth from least anticipated to most wanted superstar

Lainey Wilson's emergence from camper trailer to dominating the CMA Awards stage is a story baked in faith and hope in both a higher power and undeniable starmaking skill set.

On the same evening, as she was crowned best new artist and female vocalist of the year, she also celebrated Alan Jackson, made a profound statement about domestic abuse (alongside Hardy while performing their top 20 radio collaboration "Wait in the Truck"), plus made a fashion statement linked to her newly released fourth studio album "Bell Bottom Country."

The "Heart Like A Truck" singer offered to The Tennessean, "I feel like I'm the belle of the ball. ... I'm definitely supposed to be here. Success is making my stomach flip-flop in a good way. Setting a standard similar to the artists who preceded me for all of the young boys and girls who might want to one day follow me to (Nashville) – putting stars in their eyes – is a powerful thing. I hope to inspire those dreams in everyone."

Her quote upon winning best new artist sums up her next steps best: "I'm I know I'm new to a lot of folks but I won't let you down."

Cody Johnson doubles down on dancing with the talent that brought him to country's biggest party

Before artists like Zach Bryan and Bailey Zimmerman filled the minds (and playlists) of "in the know" country fans nationwide, Texas-born ex-prison guard and steer roper Cody Johnson was independent-minded country music's darling son. Five years ago, believing he was ready for higher heights, Warner Music Nashville and Creative Artists Agency became invested in what the 2022 CMA Award winner for music video and single of the year calls "the Cody Johnson business."

Business is good.

His single "Til You Can't" has now been sung out loud in front of 85,000 people at the Houston Rodeo and a room filled with his peers and Music City diehard fans at Bridgestone Arena.

"I don't typically get nervous when I perform," Johnson told The Tennessean. "But up there tonight, I was shaking like a leaf."

Alan Jackson gets an all-star salute

Alan Jackson was presented with the association's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award after an all-star tribute performance by Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson.

Underwood opened the tribute with a rendition of Jackson's 2003 hit ballad "Remember When."

"The very first concert I ever went to was an Alan Jackson concert," Underwood said. "Seeing him perform helped inspire me to pursue my dreams.

"It's been said that country music is three chords and the truth. And in every one of Alan Jackson songs, there is truth, for his powerful voice speaks to us about hope and heartache, about fun and friendship, about tragedy and triumph. About life, and a little about love. Alan, you have friends in every corner of this great country, and a special few of them are here tonight to honor you."

As Jackson talked about first coming to Nashville to pursue his dream, he referenced Underwood's line about "three chords and the truth."

"Mine was more like 'Three chords and a prayer,' " he said, as the crowd laughed. "God answered a little bit."

Patty Loveless makes a rare return

Last month, Chris Stapleton blew the roof off the “Kentucky Rising” flood relief concert by bringing out Patty Loveless in a rare live appearance. At the CMAs, the two artists gave a highly anticipated encore.

Stapleton and Loveless performed “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” recorded by Loveless for her 2001 album, “Mountain Soul." She opened the song on her own, accompanied only by Stapleton's guitar – with all the passion, finesse and soul you'd expect – before trading verses with the singer and his wife/bandmate Morgane Stapleton.

Commanding a CMA audience appeared to be like riding a bike for Loveless, a five-time CMA winner. The nominees on the stage floor, including Carrie Underwood, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, rose to their feet and clapped along as she belted its final refrain.

Loveless has been largely retired from performing and recording since releasing her final album in 2009.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CMA Awards' best moments: Luke Combs' big win, Alan Jackson tribute