It isn’t every year that the CMAs gives out the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the award ceremony. Since its inception in 2012, six iconic country singers have been honored with the special trophy. Nelson himself was first, of course, followed by Kenny Rogers in 2013, Johnny Cash in 2015, Dolly Parton in 2016, Kris Kristofferson in 2019, and Charley Pride in 2020. And it was at the 2020 ceremony, held on Nov. 11, that Pride undeniably became the highlight of the entire show.
Rising country star Jimmie Allen was on hand to introduce Pride to the audience and quite literally sing his praises, thanking him for his influence on the genre and on himself. Together they sang “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” Pride’s 1971 hit song. It’s one of Pride’s biggest songs he ever released, topping the country charts back in the day and even cracking the Billboard Hot 100. It’s been covered by the likes of Conway Twitty and Alan Jackson, and will forever have a place in country music history — just like Pride himself.
And when Pride accepted his Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, he melted the heart of every single person watching the CMAs.
