A big congratulations goes out to Maren Morris who won this year’s New Artist Of The Year award at the 50th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday night. Maren has had an incredible 2016, between her hit song “My Church” (which she did a stellar version of during the award show), her current single “80s Mercedes,” the release of her number-one album HERO, and now walking away with the CMA New Artist award…quite a turn around from where she was last year. Maren shared with the audience that she wasn’t at the CMAs last year, she was in a bar across the street watching the awards. What a difference a year can make.

  Maren Morris wins the 2016 New Artist Of The Year award at the 50th Annual CMA Awards. (1:29)
“Yall. I can’t win this award after performing I’m going to fall apart. Ok I’m sorry. So this is so crazy, this is so crazy. I have amazing seats tonight. This is incredible. Sorry they’re telling me to wrap it up. So last year I sat across the street at a bar and watched this show. I never thought as a song writer id be standing here today. Thank ya’ll so much for voting for me. My songwriting community here in Nashville, you gave me the courage to do this so thank you. My mom and dad are here tonight from Texas, and Carson…I don’t know where yall are but thank yall so much. You have supported me, ever sense I was eleven, and this crazy dream and thank you to my Janet…or my manager Janet, and everyone, she is my Janet technically. My love Ryan. Happy birthday. I have a lot of people to thank but I’m really sorry, I don’t know. Thank yall so much. I really appreciate it.”