Chris Stapleton and Post Malone Ignite the 2024 CMA Awards With Energetic “California Sober” Duet

Chris Stapleton and Post Malone joined forces to open the 58th annual CMA Awards with a lively performance of “California Sober,” bringing together two distinctive musical styles for one of country music’s biggest nights.

The pair took the stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024, setting an energetic tone for an evening celebrating the achievements and standout moments of country music over the past year.

Known as “country music’s biggest night,” the CMA Awards brought together some of the genre’s biggest names for a ceremony filled with live performances and anticipation over the night’s winners. Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson hosted the event.

A Collaboration That Began With Post Malone’s Country Album

The performance marked another milestone in the musical partnership between Stapleton and Malone, whose collaboration was first teased in the lead-up to the release of Malone’s highly anticipated country album, F-1 Trillion.

Their duet, “California Sober,” officially arrived on August 16, 2024, when the album was released. The track brought together Stapleton’s unmistakable country sound and Malone’s increasingly prominent presence in the genre.

F-1 Trillion quickly made an impact on the charts, reaching No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Country Albums charts shortly after its debut. The album’s lineup of high-profile collaborators, including Stapleton, helped draw attention to Malone’s move further into country music.

Acoustic Guitars and Cowboy Hats Set the Tone

For their CMA Awards opening performance, Stapleton and Malone kept things rooted in country tradition while adding their own contemporary flair.

Both musicians took the stage with acoustic guitars and cowboy hats, blending country and bluegrass influences into an upbeat rendition of “California Sober.” Their performance gave the audience an early taste of the musical chemistry behind their collaboration.

The pairing brought together two artists from different musical backgrounds, with Stapleton’s established standing in country music complementing Malone’s crossover appeal.

By choosing their collaborative track to launch the ceremony, the duo put their partnership front and center at an event celebrating the genre’s biggest achievements of the year.