I just don’t see how anyone’s going to be able to top this. Last year at the CMA Awards, Ashley McBryde paid tribute to the late, great Kris Kristofferson, who passed away at the age of 88 years old at his home in Maui, Hawaii in September of 2024, with a stunning performance of “Help Me Make It Through The Night.” Typically, the CMA Awards performances aren’t much to write home about, save for a few exceptions every year like this one, so when someone really steals the show like this, it deserves a second look and then some. Unlike many of the other performers, who go all out with huge stage production and an over-the-top show that’s more like a Las Vegas show, Ashley delivered an understated and relatively simple rendition of his classic, which absolutely perfect and a real show-stopping moment. Her raw talent just comes through so effortlessly, and I have to think it’s the kind of powerful rendition Kristofferson certainly would’ve respected. Of course, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” was a solo write by Kris, and included on his 1970 album Kristofferson. It has been covered by countless other artists since then like Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Tyler Childers and many, many more. “Help Me” peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1971, and of course, remains one of the all-time great country songs to this day. I’ve said it before about a few other people, but if the entire CMA Awards was more like this, I think I might actually genuinely enjoy watching it. The 2025 CMA Awards are coming up just two weeks from tomorrow, and while they haven’t announced any performers yet, I don’t foresee anyone topping this… it’s just effortless and flawless… the opposite of what much of music has become these days. Many of us know just how incredible Ashley McBryde’s voice is and what an incredible artist she is, but moments like these remind me how underrated she really is within mainstream country in so many ways… you could’ve heard a pin drop during this, and I can’t get enough. It’s perfect. If you somehow missed it because you didn’t watch the show, I don’t blame you, but you should definitely take a few minutes to watch it now… it’s been almost a year, and I’m still thinking about. I would do anything for a studio cover of this: The 2025 CMA Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena on November 19 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC with Lainey Wilson taking over as solo host this year. You can view the full list of nominees below. 2025 CMA Awards Nominees Entertainer of the Year Morgan Wallen Luke Combs Lainey Wilson Cody Johnson Chris Stapleton Album of the Year Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney Producer: Kristian Bush Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top Producer: Carson Chamberlain Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey F-1 Trillon – Post Malone Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen Luke Combs Cody Johnson Zach Top Female Vocalist of the Year Lainey Wilson Ella Langley Megan Moroney Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion The Red Clay Strays Little Big Town Lady A Rascal Flatts Vocal Duo of the Year Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay Brothers Osborne The War and Treaty Maddie & Tae Single of the Year “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney Producer: Kristian Bush Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank “I Never Lie” – Zach Top Producer: Carson Chamberlain Mix Engineer: Mat Rovey “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green Producer: Will Bundy Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley Song of the Year “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson “Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney “I Never Lie” – Zach Top Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top “Texas” – Blake Shelton Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere New Artist of the Year Zach Top Ella Langley Stephen Wilson Jr. Tucker Wetmore Shaboozey Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle) Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) Brett Mason (Guitar) Rob McNelley (Guitar) Derek Wells (Guitar) Music Video of the Year “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney Directors: Alexander Gavillet, Megan Moroney “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood Director: Dustin Haney “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson Director: TK McKamy “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton Director: Running Bear “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney Musical Event of the Year “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green ft. Ella Langley Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake w/ Jelly Roll Producer: Micha Nichols “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/ Carrie Underwood Producer: Trent Willmon “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome “You Had to Be There” – Megan Moroney ft. Kenny Chesney Producer: Kristian Bush The post We Need To Revisit Ashley McBryde’s Stunning Rendition Of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night” From The 2024 CMA Awards first appeared on Whiskey Riff.