Kacey Musgraves Gives Stripped-Down Performance Of “The Architect” At The CMA Awards

Kacey Musgraves performs at the 2024 CMA Awards

Michael Buckner / Getty Images

A star-studded lineup of performers took the stage for the 2024 CMA Awards

Each year, country music’s best and brightest gather in downtown Nashville to celebrate “country music’s biggest night.”

Hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson, the CMA Awards celebrated their 58th year on November 20th. The annual ceremony is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television.

Kacey Musgraves was one of the many featured artists of the evening, with three award nominations and a coveted performance spot. Additional performers included Chris Stapleton, Post Malone, Eric Chruch, Luke Combs, and Cody Johnson, to name a few.

Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, and Peyton Manning host the 2024 CMA Awards
CMA Country Music Association / Facebook

About “The Architect” by Kacey Musgraves

Musgraves released “The Architect” on her 2024 album Deeper Well, which is in the running for CMA Album of the Year. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, making it her fifth top-ten album.

With the new collection of songs, Musgraves leaned heavily into country folk sounds as she sought a “different energy” from her previous albums. “The Architect” was co-written by Musgraves along with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

Relive the studio version of the song below! 

Kacey Musgraves performs “The Architect” live at the CMA Awards

Musgraves, who is a five-time CMA Award winner, took the stage alone, armed with just an acoustic guitar. She performed an elegant and stripped-down version of “The Architect,” which earned a standing ovation from many audience members.

Watch Kacey Musgraves’ performance at the CMA Awards in the video below!