You wouldn't really know there was a pandemic from watching the Country Music Awards

Vulture

There was no social distancing or mask-wearing at the Wednesdays' CMAs, which was held in person unlike many other award shows during the pandemic. "Welp, the second wave of coronavirus has officially arrived with COVID-19 cases reaching record highs as the U.S hits it’s seventh straight day of over 100,000 new reported cases," says Chris Murphy. "However, you’d never know that we were at the apex of a global pandemic watching the somewhat but not really socially-distanced 2020 Country Music Awards. Even before airing on ABC on Wednesday night, the CMA’s were already a hot, COVID-y mess with three artists, including the problematically named Lady A, dropping out at the last minute due to exposure to COVID-19. Nevertheless, the show (for some reason) decided to go on, with a mask-less, semi-socially distanced event at Nashville’s Music City Center. Can you say… yikes! The attendees, most of whom appeared to be nominees, were dispersed at various tables and booths surrounding a circular stage with approximately 4 people per table sitting. From our vantage point, there were at least 20 booths/tables which by our expert calculations would mean at least 80 people (not counting crew members and performers) are currently in an enclosed space listening to live music at the height of the pandemic. Oof. Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker definitely came within 6 feet of each other while making light of the super spreader event of it all during their joint-opening monologue, joking that McEntire’s new man, actor Rex Linn, has to stay 6 feet away from country music sweetheart Carrie Underwood at all times, per Reba’s rules. Ha. Ha. Ha. The worst part is there’s not a mask in sight on stage or in the audience. So, if you want to feel even the least bit positive, about the nation’s prospect’s of defeating the coronavirus, we recommend watching truly anything other than the CMA’s right now."