Walker Hayes Drops Swaggering ‘AA’ on 2022 CMT Music Awards
Check out the night's minimalist master onstage.
Walker Hayes perfected the less-is-more approach at the 2022 CMT Music Awards, delivering a performance of “AA” that featured miles of swagger and little else.
Singing from the huge stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Walker brought the smallest band of the night — just a guitarist, drummer and bass player — but his one-of-a-kind country rap style meant the minimalist setup left no empty space. The consummate anti-star, he was dressed simply in a flannel shirt and black jeans and left the dancing to a troupe of pros, who took over the stage with all the high-energy choreography the crowd needed to follow suit. Meanwhile, Hayes casually grooved and smiled through the cheeky track, all about keeping his “daughters off the pole, sons out of jail” … and making sure he stays out of “AA.”
The 2022 CMT Music Awards aired live from Nashville on CBS, marking the first time the genre’s only fan-voted awards show was broadcast on network television. The night was co-hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, actor Anthony Mackie and last-minute addition Kane Brown after Ballerini tested positive for COVID-19. Featuring a stacked lineup of featured performers, this year’s event also included Jason Aldean, Gabby Barrett and Miranda Lambert, plus collaborations between Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, and many more. For more information including a recap of the night’s winners, click here.
