The Red Clay Strays brought raw emotion with a powerful performance of their song “People Hatin’” at 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 19.

The Southern rock band, composed of Brandon Coleman (vocals/guitar), John Halls (drums), Drew Nix (guitar), Sevans Henderson (keys), and Andy Bishop (bass), delivered one of the night’s most stirring moments as they confronted division and frustration through their music.

“Hey/ People hatin’/ You’re not listening to what I’m saying/ I’m sick of waiting/ All this arguing is aggravating/ You people hatin’/ You’re not listening to what I’m saying/ I’m so sick of waiting/ All this arguing gets aggravating,” The Red Clay Strays sang on the chorus.

Produced by Dave Cobb, “People Hatin’” arrived in October 2025, following Charlie Kirk’s death, the social unrest and political violence that followed. The Red Clay Strays wrote the song in April 2025, but didn’t have plans to release the track as a single until they collectively realized that it’s a “message everyone needs to hear.”

“We got so sick of seeing people put politics above humanity, we actually, we had wrote a song about it in April in the studio, called ‘People Hatin’,’” frontman Brandon Coleman told Joe Rogan of the track during a recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. “We weren’t going to put it out as a single, at first, we were going to do another song, but after the Charlie Kirk thing it was just like, we got together … I think we need to put ‘People Hatin’’ out instead for the first single.”

Coleman continued, “We’ve got to stop killing each other over beliefs, and hating each other over beliefs,” he said. “Everybody’s race is different, everybody’s experiencing life different, and trying to figure it out the same as you are.”

The group is nominated for Vocal Group Of The Year at this year’s award show, marking their second consecutive nod in the category. Of the nomination, “It’s a big honor. It’s a big honor to be recognized as Vocal Group of The Year. Considering, we started out playing in bars and people’s patios and weddings and birthdays. It is a huge honor to be nominated,” The Red Clay Strays shared collectively.

The 59th Annual CMA Awards featured unforgettable performances from BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, Chris Stapleton and more.

In addition to performances, the show also featured a star-studded list of presenters and special guests, including Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman and more.

“Country Music’s Biggest Night” also honored Vince Gill with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The 68-year-old country music legend was celebrated with a special tribute performance before accepting the coveted award. The 59th Annual CMA Awards was a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton was the Executive Producer, Alan Carter was the Director and Jon Macks was the Head Writer.