COVID-19 may have canceled live shows, but it can never cancel music’s role in lifting our spirits, especially during difficult times.
The biggest names in country music united for CMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artist of the Year Special, to thank, honor, and support those who have put their lives on the line during the pandemic.
Little Big Town kicked off the show with their soft, melodic song “Bluebird,” a track off their latest album “Nightfall.” The harmonious group poured their hearts out in front of a screen filled with serene images—birds, clouds, stars, and open fields. The performance elicited feelings of reassurance, tranquility, and hope—exactly what we all need in these chaotic times.
Luke Combs couldn’t have been more on point with “Six Feet Apart.” He sings about what we’ve all been missing since the pandemic began: seeing family and friends, hugging it out, going to a bar, catching a movie, and just hanging out together.
“But there’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows / And there will be light after dark / Someday when we aren’t six feet apart.”
Luke went on to sing about the first things he’s going to do when this is all over, taking his family out, buying rounds of drinks for his buddies, and going to a baseball game.
We hear you, Luke!
Thomas Rhett provided simple, yet influential advice in his song, “Be a Light.” Shot in black and white, beams of light swirling, the setting lined up with the song’s lyrics.
“Yeah, it’s hard to live in color, when you just see black and white / In a world full of hate, be a light.”
Just because there is hate in the world, just because things go wrong or bad things happen, just because people make mistakes, doesn’t mean we need to add to the darkness.
We can all do our part to “be a light,” just like our front line workers.
Next up, the Brothers Osborne debuted their new single, “Make It a Good One.” The duo whipped out their steel guitars for an acoustic rendition. This track is all about living life to the fullest, which is what we should all be doing. With everything going on in today’s world, you never know what’s going to happen next. Life flashes by before you know it, so make the most out of everything you do.
As the pair sang, “So make it a good one, make it a long one / If you’re gonna pour one, make it a strong one / Give all your heart to someone, leave nothing unsaid or undone.”
Miranda Lambert then graced us with her bright and sunny song “Bluebird.” This refreshing, acoustic version of the track gives you that “can do” attitude. The positive lyrics are invigorating, as she sings, “And if the whole world stops singing / And all the stars go dark / I’ll keep a light on in my soul / Keep a bluebird in my heart.”
Tim McGraw reminded us of what’s really important in his song, “I Called Mama.”
In his performance, Tim appeared on different devices and platforms like TV screens, phone screens, projector screens, and billboards. We can all get wrapped up in mere appearances, his song suggests, but at the end of the day, none of that really matters. When a tragedy strikes, it brings us back down to Earth and we realize we may never get a tomorrow to reach out to the ones we love.
The regret in his voice registered with full effect as he sang, “And from now on / I ain’t gonna wait so long”.
Florida Georgia Line gave a powerful performance of “U.S. Stronger.” With a split screen showing clips of Americans coming together to help one another during times of need, we could really feel the strength the lyrics capture.
“We’ve learned to fight and earned the right to fly the red, the white, the blue / Through all the storms as heroes born a lot like me and you.”
These words speak volumes as they show how the American people are there for one another—how we have heroes among us and a hero within us, too.
Other performances by Kane Brown, Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker, and Sam Hunt added to the beautiful tribute to frontline workers, and provided a beaming light of hope for so many of us. As Luke Comb sang, “There will be light after dark / Someday when we aren’t six feet apart.”
You can watch all of the performance highlights here.
