Post Malone and Chris Stapleton opened the 2024 Country Music Association Awards Wednesday (Nov. 20) with a rockin’ performance of their duet “California Sober.”
Both stars wearing cowboy hats and slinging guitars with a full band backing them up, the rapper-turned-country star and Kentucky native brought the energy right away. “She said, ‘I’ll take you on a little trip/ Come on, give these lips a try,’” they sang, harmonizing while looking at each other excitedly. “She said, ‘Baby, give me one more kiss/ Before I kiss your ass goodbye.’”
“California Sober” appears on Posty’s album F-1 Trillion, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in August. The track peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 14 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Hosted by Peyton Manning, Luke Bryan and Lainey Wilson, this year’s CMAs are taking place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Both Posty and Stapleton are nominated for prizes, and the former’s Morgan Wallen duet, “I Had Some Help,” and the latter’s “White Horse” even competed against each other in the single of the year category. The winner was announced just moments after the duo’s show-opening performance, with Stapleton walking away with the prize — his third time winning single of the year to date.
The “Starting Over” musician is also up for entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year, as well as album of the year for Higher and song of the year for “White Horse.” In addition to single of the year, Post and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” snagged nods for musical event of the year and music video of the year.
