Accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, McBryde performed the classic song of loneliness and connection to a montage of photos from Kristofferson's life, including a shot of the singer with his friends Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Written in 1970, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" placed at No. 71 on the Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Country Songs of All time.

A salute to Kristofferson, who died in September at age 88, was one of the night's most anticipated moments. Arguably country's most poetic and introspective songwriter, Kristofferson was the thinking man's outlaw-country star. Versions of his songs, like Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Comin' Down," Ray Price's "For the Good Times," and Sammi Smith's "Help Me Make It Through the Night," have long been considered sone of Nashville's greatest moments.

In his wider-ranging career, Kristofferson was also a Rhodes scholar, flew helicopters, ad served in the Army. Kristofferson, who retired from touring several years before his death, also left his mark as a social justice activist and actor.

McBryde, who won the CMA Artist of the Year in 2019, is up for Female Vocalist of the Year alongside Kelsea Ballerina, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson and Kacey Musgraves. Before the awards, she announced she would be releasing a new single, "Ain't Enough Cowboy Songs," on Dec 6. Last year, she was nominated for album of the year for Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, her ambitious concept album.