Nine-time CMA Award winning band, Alabama, was officially deemed the most successful Country band of all-time during Wednesday night’s CMA Fest broadcast on ABC.
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The legendary group surprised Nashville’s packed Nissan Stadium crowd with a performance of their song, “Mountain Music,” as well as a medley of “Dixieland Delight” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
While the initial surprise was on the crowd, the real shock came when co-host Dierks Bentley presented the group, including original members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, with the CMA Pinnacle Award.
“On behalf of our late cousin, Mr. Jeff Cook — who we recently lost — on behalf of me and Teddy, the whole Alabama gang, thank y’all for letting us play for ya for over 50 years. We love you,” Owen said upon receiving the award.
According to the Country Music Association website, the Pinnacle Award recognizes Country artists who “have undeniably redefined the pinnacle of success in the genre by achieving prominence through concert performances, consumption numbers, record sales, and/or other significant industry achievements at levels unique for Country Music.”
The award is “not intended to be given annually and is distinct from awards recognizing a lifetime body of work.” Past recipients include Garth Brooks (2005), Taylor Swift (2013), and Kenny Chesney (2016).
See Alabama have their Pinnacle moment above.
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