When: November 2nd at 8PM
Where: Bridgestone Arena- Nashville, Tennessee
How To Watch: The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 8PM ET. Television commercials have been teasing viewers by saying not to miss the first 8 minutes and Carrie Underwood recently said the same thing on ABC’s ‘All Access Nashville’ special on Monday night. So make sure to tune in early.
The Hosts: Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. This marks the 9th consecutive year that the duo has hosted the awards.
Voting: Who exactly votes for the CMA Awards? Nominees and winners are determined by the more than 6,300 industry professional members of the Country Music Association.
Special Awards: Kenny Chesney will receive the Pinnacle Award which has only been given two times in the past- Garth Brooks (2005) and Taylor Swift (2013). The award “recognizes an artist who has achieved global prominence through concert performances and record sales at levels unique in country music” and “has also attained the highest degree of recognition within the broad expanse of music worldwide.”
Dolly Parton will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Past winners include Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson, of course. The award recognizes “an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in country music … [and] who has achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales and public representation at the highest level.”
Nominees: Country music newcomer Maren Morris leads the pack with seven nominations. Just behind Morris is Chris Stapleton with six nominations. Don’t forget that last year’s CMA Awards is when Stapleton-Mania began with his incredible stretch of award wins.
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Single of the Year
‘Die A Happy Man’ – Thomas Rhett
‘Humble and Kind’ – Tim McGraw
‘My Church’ – Maren Morris
‘Nobody To Blame’ – Chris Stapleton
‘Record Year’ – Eric Church
Album of the Year
‘Black‘ – Dierks Bentley
‘Hero‘ – Maren Morris
‘Mr. Misunderstood‘ – Eric Church
‘Ripcord‘ – Keith Urban
‘Storyteller‘ – Carrie Underwood
Song of the Year
‘Burning House’
‘Die A Happy Man’
‘Humble and Kind’
‘Record Year’
‘My Church’
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Musical Event of the Year
‘Different for Girls’ – Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
‘Home Alone Tonight’ – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
‘The Fighter’ – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
‘Think of You’ – Chris Young with Cassadee Pope
‘You Are My Sunshine’ – Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Derek Wells
Music Video of the Year
‘Burning House’
‘Fire Away’
‘Humble and Kind’
‘Record Year’
‘Somewhere On A Beach’
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Performers: It would be the ultimate concert lineup! Performers include Kacey Musgraves, Elle King, Alabama, Pentatonix, Dierks Bentley, Reba, Dwight Yoakam, Eric Church, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Maren Morris, Charley Pride, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Kelsea Ballerini, Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Ricky Skaggs, Luke Bryan, Roy Clark, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Nettles, Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw and Chris Stapleton.
Presenters: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Hayley Orrantia, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandes, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Olivia Newton-John, The Oak Ridge Boys, Samantha Ponder, Sharon Stone, Cole Swindell, Bill Anderson, Lily Tomlin, Cam, Josh Dallas, Jennifer Garner, Lee Greenwood, Kirk Herbstreit, Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell, and Matthew McConaughey.