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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…
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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
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”
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Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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