Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan performed “Cowboys Cry Too” at the CMA Awards

Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan let all of Nashville’s cowboys cry a little at the 2024 CMA Awards. The pair took the stage for a performance of their anti-toxic-masculine duet “Cowboys Cry Too,” which was nominated for Musical Event of the Year.

“In our world and culture and echo chamber of highlights and beautiful things, sometimes real feelings start to feel like something you just put off or put off to keep up,” Ballerini shared when the song was first released in June. “Especially the way a lot of men grow up, with this toxic masculine, saddle up and ride it out mentality.” I wanted to write my point of view and essentially celebrate the vulnerable men in my life, and Noah adding his really unfiltered point of view to it just brought it to life in a more meaningful and beautiful way.”

Kahan’s appearance marks Kahan’s debut at the CMA Awards, and Ballerini is something of a returning champion—she’s been collecting nominations since 2015. She is competing for the title of “Female Vocalist of the Year”.

Ballerini and Kahan got into a rhythm as they performed together for a year. In May, they took the stage together at the 2024 ACM Awards as a double duo. They opened their set with “Mountain With a View” from Ballerini’s album. Roll up the welcome mat (permanently). They continued with “Stick Season”, the title track of Kahan’s breakthrough album.

Earlier this month, “Cowboys Cry Too” was nominated for Best Country Duo or Group Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. “There are no words,” Ballerini wrote on Instagram in response to the nomination. “Love you @noahkahanmusic let’s go to the Grammys.”