Live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, the CMT Music Awards are in full swing!
Fans were buzzing with excitement as Little Big Town joined forces with Sugarland for a world-premiere performance that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
The two groups had previously shared the stage at the CMT Music Awards 15 years ago, alongside Jake Owen, to perform “Life in a Northern Town.” That same year, Owen and Little Big Town joined Sugarland on their headlining tour, where their rendition of the song became a significant hit.
Just a week before the award show, the exciting news was announced that the two bands would be teaming up.
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Unsurprisingly, fans couldn’t contain their excitement when they learned they were performing together.
“OMG! Yes!”
“Okay, I’m ready!”
“It’s about time!”
“Two of my most favorite ever!”
“Seriously can’t wait! Like an incredible reunion!”
One fan even joked about the possibility of them performing the same song as they did 15 years ago, noting back to their past CMT collaboration.
“Life In a Northern Town (Part II)”
Two fans replied to the comment, saying, “I would die,” and “Came here to say the same thing.”
Turns out, Little Big Town and Sugarland performed their brand new cover of Phil Collins’ classic “Take Me Home.”
“‘Life in a Northern Town’ created the opportunity for such an amazing and unexpected ride and I think ‘Take Me Home’ can hopefully cause a phenomenon again,” Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook told The Tennessean.
“As six vocalists, we knew it was possible to take a giant ballad and make it sound even bigger. The chords, harmonies and notes we add to anything we sing together create fun, energetic versions of songs.”
An Iconic Performance
Little Big Town’s collaboration with Sugarland came as they celebrated their 25th anniversary as one of country music’s most successful groups. This performance marked Little Big Town’s 13th appearance at the CMT Music Awards, solidifying their place as a dominant force in the industry. With an impressive 25 nominations, they have been a fixture in the Group of the Year category throughout the award show’s history.
Additionally, the performance marked a significant reunion for Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, who hadn’t shared the CMT stage since 2011. This reunion was especially meaningful as four-time CMT Music Awards winners Sugarland earned their first award in 2005 for Breakthrough Video of the Year, “Baby Girl.”
Notably, it was also the first public performance for Sugarland since reuniting in 2018 for their Bigger album and “Still The Same Tour.” While Sugarland never officially went on a hiatus, they haven’t released a new single since “Babe” in 2018. Needless to say, fans were eagerly anticipating watching Sugarland reunite at the CMT Music Awards!
Other big performers of the night included Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, and the host of the night, Kelsea Ballerini, among others!
In case you missed it, head below to watch Little Big Town and Sugarland’s history-making performance of “Take Me Home” at the 2024 CMT Music Awards!