CMA Awards 2016: The Best And Worst Moments

The night's opening number, a medley of famous country hits performed by famous country stars, hit its crescendo when Randy Travis — who suffered a stroke three years ago — sang the final notes of his song "Forever and Ever Amen" solo.  

The living Country Barbie doll wholeheartedly embraced a monologue joke in which Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood held up a "Pulled Pork Barbecue Barbie" version of her — complete with sauce stain on white T-shirt.

We were a little disappointed that Ballerini didn't pull a Pink and levitate through the performance of her song "Peter Pan." (Though  if someone else had to fly, at least it was excellent So You Think You Can Dance vets Melanie Moore and Travis Wall.)

When the New Artist of the Year took to the stage to accept her trophy — moments after a killer performance of "My Church" — she awkwardly fumbled to get her speech out of her purse. Sydney Bristow to the rescue! "I"ll take that and you take this," Garner said cheerfully as she came to the overwhelmed singer's aid.

... Only because it was not the "Cold Hearted" tribute the set led us to believe it might be. [The dancers laugh.] 

Their medley began with "Jackson" and ended with Brooks kissing his bride like he just couldn't help himself. Yee-hawt!

Paisley and Underwood's running monologue bit about Billy Ray Cyrus being country music's "designated survivor" might've provided some corporate synergy for ABC, but laughs? Not so much.

After winning Album of the Year, Eric Church hugged his presenter, then stood still while she adjusted his neckwear. "I'm not sure what's better: winning the award or Faith Hill fixing my tie," he told the crowd. "I think it's Faith Hill fixing my tie."

Sing it with us now: "I just miss you, and I wish you were a better maaaaaaaan!"

At first, while introducing pal Tim McGraw's performance of "Humble and Kind," the Dazed and Confused star just said one "Alright," and we were scared. But then he came through with his trademark "Alright alright alright" and everything was (al)right with the world.

The Oak Ridge Boys' tune "Elvira" is one of the most fun to sing along with (boppa mow mow), so why get it started just to toss to commercial?

Bey proved she was more than a little bit country with a duet of her "Daddy Lessons" — complete with a break featuring the Chicks' insanely catchy "Long Time Gone!"

Yeah, Peyton Manning, we wouldn't wanna follow Queen B and the DCs, either.

The former CMAs host didn't announce the names of the Female Vocalist of the Year contenders, which made for some very awkward moments, especially for Kelsea Ballerini and Miranda Lambert. "See why I lost this gig?" he joked before announcing winner Carrie Underwood.

Between Reba's flubbed "9 to 5" entrance and Kacey Musgraves' unsure cues on "Here You Go Again," the tribute to Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Dolly Parton was on very shaky ground until it pulled back together with Underwood and Martina McBride crooning "I Will Always Love You."