BREAKING: Miranda Lambert To Open CMA Awards with Several ‘Surprises’

The 2021 CMA Awards will certainly be memorable for Miranda Lambert. Not only is the superstar set to celebrate her…

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 8, 2021

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3:29 pm

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Miranda Lambert; Photo Courtesy CMA

The 2021 CMA Awards will certainly be memorable for Miranda Lambert. Not only is the superstar set to celebrate her 38th birthday on the day of the show, she’s also set to open “Country Music’s Biggest Night” with a surprise-filled performance. 

The Texas native hinted at what’s to come during her CMA opening set during rehearsals for the show. 

“I am opening the show this year, so, I can’t tell you much, other than that, some surprises,” Lambert teased. “But, I’m also done at 7:05, so I get to sit and enjoy my night, which is amazing.”

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Lambert, who holds the record for the most CMA Female Vocalist of the Year wins with seven, went on to share what her CMA Awards nominations mean to her and gushed over the opportunity to still be included after all this time. 

“I’m so thankful to still be coming to the CMAs, it’s been like a decade and a half, and I’ve gotten to be a part of it for a really long time,” she said. “It never gets old. It’s also one of those nights where you just get to reunite with friends. You know, we make all these friends over the years, but we don’t get to see each other as much when we’re all on the road, so it’s a really cool night.”

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Lambert said she is thrilled to be nominated alongside her friend and collaborator Elle King and hopes to celebrate with the new mom on Wednesday.    

“Elle King and I, I’ve just always been a fan of hers since she came out, and I think she’s a really cool chick and I love her music. And we went on tour together, she came out on our Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour, a couple of years ago. It was an all-girl tour we did. We just became really good friends. She’s very genuine and cool, and I just love her vibe,” Lambert gushed. 

Miranda Lambert; Photo Courtesy CMA
Miranda Lambert; Photo Courtesy CMA

She recalled the moment King sent her the song “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” and how she immediately told King “yes” when she asked her to sing on it. 

“What’s not to love,” Lambert said of the song. “And it’s been so fun to watch. We’ve never actually gotten to get drunk and not want to go home together because she got pregnant. So, this CMAs we’re sitting together, and I think this is the first time that we get to live out our song together on a night. So, I’m very excited about that!”

Elle King, Miranda Lambert
Elle King, Miranda Lambert

Heading into Wednesday night’s show, Lambert is a three-time nominee with nods in the Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year categories.

The 55th Annual CMA Awards will also feature performances from Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton featuring Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Jennifer Hudson, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Kane Brown, and Zac Brown Band

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Additionally, the star-studded awards ceremony will feature dozens of presenters, including Trace Adkins, Ingrid Andress, Kelsea Ballerini, Deana Carter, Lauren Daigle, Russell Dickerson, Faith Fennidy, Florida Georgia Line, Freddie Freeman, Amy Grant, Dulé Hill, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Lady A, Zachary Levi, Scotty McCreery, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker, Susan Sarandon, Saycon Sengbloh, Kurt Warner, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood. 

Hosted by Luke Bryan, the star-studded show is set to broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 10 beginning at 8/7c on ABC.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

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.