Old Dominion is the reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year. The band took the stage to accept the honor, while paying tribute to Alabama‘s Jeff Cook, who passed away earlier this week, after a ten-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Obviously, we’ve lost a lot of legends, but there’s nobody in this category, and really any category, that would be here without Alabama,” lead singer Matt Ramsey said from stage. “And this is crazy. It’s got me thinking, and I’m just so grateful. There’s nothing like being in a band.

“I’m just so grateful to have my friends, and I can’t imagine losing one of you,” he continued, addressing his bandmates. “We love the opportunity to do what we love doing. So thank you guys so much for allowing us.”

Old Dominion is currently at radio with “Beer With My Friends,” their collaboration with Kenny Chesney. The song was released on the final night of Chesney’s Here and Now Tour, which featured Old Dominion as one of the opening acts, along with Dan + Shay and Carly Pearce.

“There are people you meet and just click,” Chesney said. “Matt and Brad [Tursi] have been singing ‘Save It for a Rainy Day’ with me on all these tours, and that’s always – every single night – one of the highlights of the show for me. You can feel the energy, so I started thinking we better catch that while we can.”

It was because of the fun they had on the Here and Now Tour that Chesney decided to release a collaboration with Old Dominion.

“I’ve never seen anything like this summer,” Chesney acknowledged. “Before it’s over, I wanted to give everyone something to remember it by, a song that we can all sing wherever we are – and know there’s nothing like these moments we’ve shared. All you gotta do is put it on, turn it up and we’ll all be right back there; bringing OD in reinforces it all. So, here’s to kicking it all off at Gillette Stadium this weekend.”

Old Dominion has been nominated for the CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year seven times, winning four.

See a complete list of CMA Awards winners here.