Jason Aldean + Bryan Adams Bring Soaring ‘Heaven’ to the 2022 CMT Music Awards
Jason Aldean and rocker Bryan Adams reunited on the stage of the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (Apr. 11), delivering a performance of Adams' hit power ballad, "Heaven."
The pair performed from an outdoor stage on Music City's iconic Lower Broadway. The rain that began earlier in the evening continued as the two stars began their performance, but a poncho-covered crowd didn't seem to mind. They cheered on Aldean and Adams as they performed the classic ballad.
Blue lights and fog upped the drama during the performance, with the rain only adding to the power of the song. The two artists donned black leather jackets onstage, with Aldean rocking a matching cowboy jacket and silver jewelry. Meanwhile, Adams strummed a guitar as the two traded verses.
"Heaven" was a No. 1 hit for Adams on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1985. It originally appeared on the soundtrack for the movie A Night in Heaven, and Adams subsequently included the song on his own Reckless album from 1984.
Aldean and Adams first shared a CMT stage during an installment of CMT Crossroads in 2009. "Heaven" was one of the songs they performed together during that special, and the song soon became something of a live fan favorite for Aldean, who continued to incorporate it into his live shows.
On the first half of his tenth album, the double-length Macon, Georgia, Aldean included a studio version of "Heaven" for the first time. That project, dubbed Macon, arrived in late 2021; its second half, Georgia, follows on April 22.
Aldean walked into the 2022 CMT Awards a nominee in two different categories. His duet with Carrie Underwood, "If I Didn't Love You," is a finalist for Video of the Year — the biggest award of the night. The song also won Collaborative Performance of the Year earlier in the show.
The 2022 CMT Music Awards broadcasted live from Nashville on CBS. Kelsea Ballerini, Anthony Mackie and Kane Brown are co-hosting the show; Brown was a last-minute addition to the hosting lineup after Ballerini received a positive COVID-19 test in the days leading up to the event. Ballerini still served as co-host, but she did her hosting duties virtually, from home.