Awkward… We’ve seen our fair share of awkward moments from the CMA Awards over the years. Some of them are awkward because the performers or presenters go rogue, like when Alan Jackson pulled off his protest performance of George Jones’ “Choices” after producers tried to cut George’s performance time. But those usually just end up being awkward for the producers who got called out on their own show. Then you have the moments that are awkward for the audience because they’re so incredibly cringey. You can throw pretty much every joke Luke Bryan’s made during his time as host into this category, along with the forced country/pop collabs that you know are only in there because the network thinks it will help their ratings. (It never helps their ratings. But keep trying, I’m sure it’ll work next time). And then you have these little behind-the-scenes stories about awkward moments between the guests, and they might be some of my favorite stories from the awards shows. Of course one thing that happens when you have shows like the CMA Awards is that celebrities from outside of country music come in and have to try to act like they’re there because they’re big fans of country music. Like when Ashton Kutcher put on a cowboy hat and butchered a George Strait song at the ACM Awards back in 2012. But when they don’t really know anything about country music, you can have these hilariously awkward situations like the one between Blake Shelton and Tim Allen at the 2012 CMA Awards. To set the scene a little bit, actor Tim Allen was at the awards show to present the award for Entertainer of the Year alongside Reba McEntire. His new television show, Last Man Standing, had debuted on ABC the previous year, so I assume the network thought the awards show was a good way to promote another one of their shows instead of actually getting another country artist to present the night’s biggest award. But anyway, Blake Shelton was one of the biggest stars in country music at the time, and was nominated for Entertainer of the Year along with Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Over You,” which he had written with his then-wife, Miranda Lambert. That’s an important point in this whole story: Blake and Miranda were obviously still married, and were quite the power couple in country music at the time. Well Tim Allen was seated behind Blake during the awards show, and the two got to chatting during the show when a hot blonde singer comes on stage. But Tim, who clearly doesn’t know much about country music, has no idea that Blake and Miranda are married. Tim told the story of the awkward conversation that followed during an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show: “I’m watching right behind Blake Shelton, who wouldn’t move, and he’s the largest man on the planet, I can’t see anything. I’m actually irritated with the guy. He turns around I happened to a fan of that show ‘The Voice,’ and I happen to be of his on that show so we started a conversation.” Here’s where it gets awkward: “Then a woman comes up, and you probably know this, and everybody else knows it, but I didn’t know this… Miranda Lambert. So she’s up there rocking out with the crazy one, some song about her being nuts and tattoos and booze. I was like, ‘I love this woman’ and he turns around and says ‘Boy, I’d love to tap that’ and I said ‘Me too!’ And then I get that look. And he goes, ‘That’s my wife!’ And like a comic I said, ‘Let me finish…’ So we haven’t spoken since… but she’s really good.” Yikes. Well to make things even more awkward, Tim Allen would go on to present the Entertainer of the Year award that night to…Blake Shelton. After telling him that he wanted to f*ck his wife. Hilarious. Maybe that’s why the CMA Awards should invite actual country music artists and fans instead of random celebrities. But then again we wouldn’t get awkward moments like this if they did. The 2025 CMA Awards will be held November 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Lainey Wilson will be hosting the show solo this year, with performances from artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Stephen Wilson Jr., Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, and BigXthaPlug. 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 CMA Awards 2012: Tim Allen Tells Blake Shelton He Wants To “Tap” The Blonde On Stage – Not Knowing It Was Miranda Lambert first appeared on Whiskey Riff.