Fans Call 2024 CMA Awards 'Rigged' as Chris Stapleton Wins in Three Categories

The country star's historic triumph at a recent music event garnered widespread applause but also raised questions about whether the year's true standouts received their due recognition.

The 2024 CMA Awards, held on Wednesday, November 20, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, saw Chris Stapleton dominating the night by winning in three major categories. However, his victory quickly sparked a buzz on social media, evoking mixed reactions.

Stapleton took home awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year. With these wins, Stapleton's career total of CMA Awards climbed to 18, further cementing his legacy in country music.

The singer-songwriter extended his record as Male Vocalist of the Year with an unprecedented eighth win. His recognition solidifies his reputation as one of the genre's most celebrated artists.

The Country Music Association congratulated him on Instagram, posting, "The #CMAawards Male Vocalist of the Year is ... @ChrisStapleton! Join us in wishing him a HUGE congratulations 🤩🤠."

Stapleton also won both Single of the Year and Song of the Year for his chart-topping ballad "White Horse." In a post celebrating the accomplishment, the CMA Awards wrote, "The #CMAawards Single of the Year is 'White Horse' by @ChrisStapleton ⭐🎵."

Additionally, they announced, "Congratulations to the #CMAawards winners for Song of the Year, 'White Horse' written by @ChrisStapleton and @DanWilsonMusic 👏."

This marked the third time in his career that Stapleton won both awards on the same night, further establishing his influence in country music. However, despite his stellar achievements, social media users were divided in their opinions.

While some fans praised Stapleton's vocal talent and consistency, others expressed frustration, arguing that other artists deserved recognition. One user said, "Really tired of Chris seeming to always win! I liked Cody! Time to recognize some of the other great talents!" Another added, "There are so many singers better than him. I think the whole awards thing is rigged, sometimes."

Supporters of Stapleton countered the criticism, with one fan commenting, "Chris wins because I think he has the most versatile voice. He surely deserves to win. He [is] so talented!!" Another wrote, "Phenomenal singer. He deserves this!"

Stapleton's win as Male Vocalist of the Year ignited significant backlash, particularly from Morgan Wallen's fans. Many argued that Wallen, who had an extraordinary year, was more deserving.

A fan remarked, "This is why nobody cares about the academy, y'all don't actually listen to fans. Morgan Wallen deserved this quite frankly for the past 5 years [sic]."

Another declared, "Well, I guess this is rigged again. We know Morgan Wallen is the best. That's OK he'll show you again. He's the best five number one songs this year. Has anybody else done that [sic]?"

Similar remarks continued to pour in, with users stating, "Morgan being robbed AGAIN," and "another year another morgan getting snubbed [sic]."

Wallen's followers kept voicing their disagreement, with comments like "Morgan Wallen should have won this! Give him the respect he deserves! Anyone on this list should have won over this dude who gets everything," and "Ridiculous! I love Chris but really?? Morgan deserved that and everyone knows it!" More netizens echoed the sentiment, "I love him but you guys always forget about Morgan Wallen. He deserves it too."

Some fans called for changes to the awards process, with one writing, "I love this artist, however, there should be limits to how many times one can win this award 😵‍💫."

Another suggested, "Yep, it is officially time to ban the CMA's! Everyone knows Morgan Wallen deserves to be recognized but nope it's the Chris Stapleton show as usual!"

Beyond Wallen's supporters, others pointed to a perceived lack of fairness in how awards were distributed. One fan shared, "Of course he did. This is the most predictable awards show out there. Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen are selling out stadiums night after night yet win nothing."

Another remarked, "Don't understand how he keeps winning this stuff he's good yes, but others in that category were a better fit [sic]."

Several fans claimed they would stop watching the CMAs altogether. "Can I ask why yall keep [expletive] Morgan wallen out of CMAs I love watching the show but I can promise you I'm not alone when saying this I'm done watching [sic]!!!!!!" said a disgruntled user.

Meanwhile, another mentioned, "An absolute joke. No other artists broke the records Morgan Wallen did. SMH. After this year I won't watch anymore…" Yet another upset user remarked, "It's a joke."

Despite the criticism, Stapleton's talent remained undeniable for many fans. One supporter gushed, "That voice could melt butter and break hearts at the same time." Another joked about his appearance, writing, "Wonder what he really looks like under that beard and hat? Good singer in spite of looking like he's homeless."

Even among Stapleton's admirers, some acknowledged that other artists may have deserved the recognition this year. A fan noted, "I'm Chris' biggest fan, I think he is the best beside George Strait, but it wasn't him this year. Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen deserved it. I truly think Chris knew that too and felt uncomfortable. And what about Zach Bryan or Tyler Childers? Come on."

While Stapleton dominated several key categories at the 2024 CMA Awards, Wallen achieved a milestone of his own by winning Entertainer of the Year. Wallen's victory marked his first win in the prestigious category, a significant achievement in a night full of controversies. Other nominees in the category included Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson.

Wallen's win brought renewed attention to Stapleton's notable absence from the category's winners list. Despite being nominated eight times, Stapleton has yet to secure the title of Entertainer of the Year — a record for the most nominations without a win.

In addition to his Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year wins, Stapleton broke another record by becoming the first artist in CMA history to win Single of the Year three times. His track "White Horse" surpassed notable Billboard Hot 100 hits like Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" and Post Malone's "I Had Some Help," featuring Wallen.

Stapleton's success in these categories was amplified by his two performances during the evening. He performed "What Am I Gonna Do," from his 2023 album Higher, but that wasn't all.

The 46-year-old musician also gave an opening performance at country music's biggest night, joining Post Malone, 29, for a vibrant rendition of their recent collaboration, "California Sober," from Malone's F-1 Trillion album.

Chris Stapleton's historic wins at the 2024 CMA Awards further cement his legacy as a leading figure in country music, but the mixed reactions from fans highlight the ongoing tension between traditional industry accolades and popular opinion.