Everything You Need To Know About The 2021 CMA Awards

“Country Music’s Biggest Night” is upon us! The 55th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena TONIGHT…

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

November 10, 2021

at

9:42 am

Share on:

Luke Bryan; Photo Courtesy of ABC

“Country Music’s Biggest Night” is upon us! The 55th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena TONIGHT – Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 8/7c on ABC.

The star-studded telecast will host an array of performances, including some once in a lifetime collaborations, live debuts and more.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about the awards show, including performers, presenters, nominees and more.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma)

How To Watch?

The 55th Annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC on Wednesday, November 10 at 8 p.m. EST.

The show will air again on Thursday, November 11 on Hulu. 

Additionally, the CMA Awards will broadcast around the world. See details below. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma)

Who Is Hosting?

Luke Bryan will make history as the host of the 2021 CMA Awards, marking the first solo host in 18 years since Vince Gill hosted from 1994-2003. The hosting gig also marks Bryan’s first time ever hosting the CMA Awards.

“To be a representative of the music that I love, to be someone to carry on a tradition, and to be the host, and to conduct this show with elegance, class, humor, reverence,” Bryan shared. “To really make the show to be an example of country music and to represent the show to the best of my ability to the people watching at home is a big task, and it’s something that I’m so honored to have the chance to do.”

“We are so thrilled to have Luke join us as this year’s CMA Awards host,” Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer said. “His fun and playful energy is something television viewers have welcomed into their homes week after week as a judge on ‘American Idol,’ and I know he has something exciting up his sleeve for the CMA Awards. We cannot wait to bring music fans a magical night of performances and truly some of the most special moments our show has ever delivered in just a few weeks.” 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma)

Who Is Presenting?

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 and more.

In addition to the above-mentioned presenters, 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 will also appear during the show.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma)

Who Is Nominated?

Eric Church and Chris Stapleton lead the pack with five nominations each.

Gabby Barrett follows with four nominations alongside mix engineer Jason Hall and producer Jay Joyce. 

Other top nominees include Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris and Chris Young, who each scored three nominations.

First-time CMA Awards nominees include Brown, Dave Cohen, Corey Crowder, Jordan Davis, Paul DiGiovanni, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Aaron Eshuis, Chris Galland, Mickey Guyton, Charlie Handsome, Nicolette Hayford, Ryan Hurd, Martin Johnson, Emily Landis, Manny Marroquin, Jim McCormick, Sean Moffitt, Travis Nicholson, Drew Parker, Ed Pryor, Teddy Reimer, Running Bear and Aaron Sterling.

Click HERE to see the full list of nominations.

Who Is Performing & What Song?

The coveted awards show will feature 20+ unforgettable performance from some of the biggest names in country music.

Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood – “If I Didn’t Love You”
Jimmie Allen – “Freedom Was A Highway”
Gabby Barrett – “The Good Ones”
Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND & HARDY – “Beers On Me”
Brothers Osborne – “Younger Me”
Luke Bryan – “Up”
Eric Church – “Heart On Fire”
Luke Combs – Unreleased Song, TBD
Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed
Mickey Guyton feat. Brittney Spencer & Madeline Edwards – TBD
Jennifer Hudson – “Respect” 
Miranda Lambert – TBD
Old Dominion – “I Was on a Boat That Day”
Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde – “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
Thomas Rhett – “Country Again”
Blake Shelton – “Come Back As A Country Boy”
Chris Stapleton – “Cold”
Keith Urban: “Wild Hearts”
Chris Young & Kane Brown: “Famous Friends”
Zac Brown Band – “Same Boat”

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma)

Share on:

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.