“Eighth?!”: Watch Luke Combs’ Hilarious Reaction to Chris Stapleton Winning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Again

While the CMA voters may have provided a welcome surprise by naming Morgan Wallen 2024 Entertainer of the Year, there are other categories that are far more predictable.

As a rule of thumb, similarly to Old Dominion with Group of the Year, when Chris Stapleton is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, there's a very good chance he'll take home the crown. From 2016-2018, Chris Stapleton had the category sewn up, with Luke Combs stepping in for three years, before Stapleton returned from 2021.

When Chris Stapleton's name was called out, the camera panned to the Kentucky crooner celebrating the victory with his wife, Morgane, while the official CMA Awards voiceover announced that this marked Stapleton's eighth Male Vocalist of the Year win.

Then, hilariously, Luke Combs - who was nominated for the award - flashed up on screen with a bemused look on his face, as he exclaimed to his wife, Nicole, in disbelief, “It's his eighth?!”

Now, although some have tried to suggest Luke Combs was having a dig at Chris Stapleton, the two are good buddies, and knowing how graciously Luke always speaks about his country colleagues, he was likely just underlining his shock at Stapleton's colossal haul - as were many viewers when they heard this stat. Luke was probably the first to commend Stapleton on his triumph following the ceremony.

Both Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton took the stage during the star-studded event, with Luke performing a tempestuous rendition his Twisters soundtrack anthem, ‘Ain't No Love in Oklahoma’. Stapleton, meanwhile, joined Post Malone to deliver their F-1Trillion duet, ‘California Sober’, as well as performing ‘What Am I Gonna Do’.

In addition to taking home the Male Vocalist of the Year gong, Chris Stapleton picked up Song of the Year and Single of the Year for his electric-guitar fuelled hit, ‘White Horse’. Luke Combs was absent from the winners’ circle for the first time since 2017, but we're sure the country titan will bounce back stronger than ever at next year's ceremony.

For more on the 2024 CMA Awards, see below: