2019 CMT Artists of the Year Revealed

Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett have been named the 2019 CMT Artists of…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

September 17, 2019

Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett have been named the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year, the network announced on Tuesday.

The artists will be honored as the top country artists of 2019 during the 10th Annual CMT Artists of the Year special, broadcasting live from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT.

The 90-minute special will highlight the five Artists of the Year with surprise musical pairings and special guests. Additionally, the live television special will feature a live-streamed remote performance from Underwood’s Cry Pretty Tour 360 in Cleveland, Ohio.

“These five, stand-out honorees have dominated country music this year and we look forward to paying tribute to each of them at the 10th year anniversary CMT Artists of the Year event,” said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy & Talent, CMT. “From first-time honorees Dan + Shay, Kane Brown and Luke Combs to two-time honoree Thomas Rhett and now five-time honoree Carrie Underwood, this incredible collection of talent coming together at what marks a pivotal time in each of their careers promises to be a night of incredible performances and reflection.”

Additional performers and presenters for the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year special will be announced at a later date.

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Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.