Winners in the Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories for “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” were revealed live on “Good Morning America” this morning. See the big reveal here. Kenny Chesney and David Lee Murphy won Musical Event of the Year for “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” Music Video of the Year went to Thomas Rhett and director TK McKamy for “Marry Me.” “Good Morning America”‘s Lara Spencer has also been added as a presenter for Country Music’s Biggest Night, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville tonight (8:00 – 11:00 p.m. EST) on the ABC Television Network.
Previously announced broadcast awards winners will be acknowledged during the live telecast.
CMA BROADCAST AWARDS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
NATIONAL
“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One
MAJOR MARKET
“Bud and Broadway” (Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, Kelly Rebal, “Captain Mac Douglas” Gregory Paul Ford, “T.Wall” Tom Wall, and “Sweet Becca” Walls) – WIL, St. Louis, MO
LARGE MARKET
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, IN
MEDIUM MARKET
“Ken, Kelley, and Daniel” (Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY, Chattanooga, TN
SMALL MARKET
“Steve and Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, VA
CMA BROADCAST AWARDS RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
Lady Antebellum at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Kane Brown at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
Country artist Jimmie Allen, nationally syndicated personality Bobby Bones, country artist Kane Brown, ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars’” Sharna Burgess, model and actress Olivia Culpo, Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’” Mackenzie Foy, country artists Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride and Carly Pearce, singer/actor Dennis Quaid, ABC’s “American Idol” judge Lionel Richie, actor Noah Schnapp, singer/songwriter, actress and producer Rita Wilson and country artist Trisha Yearwood are set to present at “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards.” Country Music’s Biggest Night, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 (8:00 – 11:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.
CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year nominee LANCO will also host the pre-telecast portion of the night. They will be introduced to the stage by CMA’s inaugural KixStart Artist Scholarship recipients Kassi Ashton, Travis Denning and Jameson Rodgers. During the pre-telecast, the winner for Musician of the Year will be awarded, as well as the winners of the previously announced broadcast awards categories.
In addition to Dan + Shay’s live performance on the CMA Awards, the duo will also deliver an encore performance of “Speechless” for Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers exclusively on Xfinity On Demand. Immediately following the telecast, customers can access the encore performance simply by saying “Show me Dan + Shay” into their X1 Voice Remote. For more information on Xfinity X1, visit Xfinity.com/x1.
Don’t miss Facebook Live interviews with your favorite Country artists on CMA’s Facebook page Monday, Nov. 12, and Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 p.m. EST as artists stop by the CMA Awards Radio Remote in Nashville.
Previously announced performers for the CMA Awards include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean with Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Midland, Kacey Musgraves, Old Dominion, Paisley, Pistol Annies, Thomas Rhett, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Stapleton with Maren Morris and Mavis Staples, Underwood, Keith Urban and Brett Young, as well as special appearances by Lindsay Ell, Vince Gill, Sierra Hull, Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, David Lee Murphy, Jon Pardi, Carson Peters, Marty Stuart, and Cole Swindell.
CMA sat down with the five New Artist of the Year nominees and the people closest to them to learn more about them and their journey to the CMA Awards. To view all five full episodes featuring Alaina, Combs, Janson, Midland and Young, please visit CMAawards.com/new-artist-nominees.
“The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Gary Halvorson is the director and David Wild is the head writer.
For more information on “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” please visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans can listen to playlists featuring CMA Awards nominees and performers, on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and Vevo. To celebrate “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” the official merchandise line, featuring tees, sweatshirts and other gifts, is now available online.
About CMA Awards
The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”
Follow ABC Publicity on Twitter and Instagram.
Facebook: @cma
Twitter: @CountryMusic
Instagram: @cma
Hashtag: #CMAawards
Chris Stapleton at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Maren Morris at the Fifth Annual iHeartCountry Festival at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, on May 5, 2018. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Fox)
Brad Paisley at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
Lauren Alaina, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, and Chris Stapleton with Maren Morris and Mavis Staples have been added as performers for “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” as well as just added special appearances by Lindsay Ell, Vince Gill, Sierra Hull, Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, David Lee Murphy, Jon Pardi, Carson Peters, Marty Stuart and Cole Swindell. Country Music’s Biggest Night, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, November 14 (8:00–11:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network.
Previously announced performers for the CMA Awards include Jason Aldean with Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Midland, Kacey Musgraves, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Brett Young. Presenters will be announced next week.
Alaina is a two-time CMA Awards nominee. She returns this year with a nomination for New Artist of the Year.
Ell made her CMA Awards performance debut in 2016, playing guitar during Underwood’s all-female performance of “Dirty Laundry.”
Gill is a 54-time CMA Awards nominee and 18-time winner. He holds the record for most wins in the Song of the Year category. He is also tied for most wins in the Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year (previously Vocal Event of the Year) categories. He returns this year with his 12th nomination for Musical Event of the Year.
Hull, McBryde and Peters will all make their CMA Awards performance debut at “The 52ndAnnual CMA Awards.”
Janson is a first-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving nominations in the Music Video of the Year and Song of the Year categories for “Drunk Girl,” as well as New Artist of the Year. This year marks his performance debut on the CMA Awards stage.
Morris is a 10-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving her first win in 2016 for New Artist of the Year. She returns this year with her third Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and second Musical Event of the Year nomination for “Dear Hate” with Vince Gill.
Paisley is a 14-time CMA Awards winner, including a win for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award. He is also the current record holder for most wins (4) in the Music Video of the Year category and tied as the record holder for most Musical Event of the Year wins (4).
Pardi is a two-time CMA Awards nominee, taking home his first win in 2017 for New Artist of the Year.
Skaggs is a five-time CMA Awards winner with 21 career nominations. He received his first CMA Awards nomination in 1982 when he was nominated for both the Horizon Award, which recognized new artists, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year award. Additionally, Skaggs was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year, winning the Horizon Award and Male Vocalist of the Year award. Skaggs was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last month.
R&B/Gospel legend Staples, previously of the group The Staple Singers, continues to carry on her family’s name as a solo artist. This year marks Staples’ CMA Awards debut. The Staple Singers were nominated for Album of the Year in 1994.
Stapleton is a seven-time CMA Awards winner with 16 total career nominations. He is the reigning Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year winner. He returns this year as the most nominated artist of the night with nods in the Album of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year categories.
Stuart is a seven-time CMA Awards nominee, bringing home his first award in 1992 for Vocal Event of the Year. He has performed at the CMA Awards twice before including “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in 1989 and “Mandolin Rain” in 1996.
Swindell, a two-time CMA Awards nominee, first took the CMA Awards stage in 2014, the same year he was nominated for New Artist of the Year.
“The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer; Gary Halvorson is the director, and David Wild is the head writer.
For more information on “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” please visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans can listen to music featuring the CMA Awards nominees and performers, on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and Vevo. To celebrate “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” the official merchandise line featuring tees, sweatshirts and other gifts is now available online.
About CMA Awards
The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest-running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”
Dierks Bentley at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Bebe Rexha (center) and Florida Georgia Line at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 21, 2017. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images via ABC)
Thomas Rhett at the 11th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on August 23, 2017. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM)
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Kacey Musgraves, Pistol Annies and Thomas Rhett have been added to the lineup of performers for the 52nd Annual CMA Awards, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Country Music’s Biggest Night will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, November 14 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.
Previously announced performers for the CMA Awards include Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
Bentley is a three-time CMA Awards winner and 24-time career nominee. He returns this year with his seventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year and sixth nod for Album of the Year.
Brothers Osborne, three-time CMA Awards winners and seven-time career nominees, are the reigning Vocal Duo of the Year winners, bringing home the award consecutively in 2016 and 2017. They return this year with their fourth consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year nomination.
Florida Georgia Line are six-time Vocal Duo of the Year nominees consecutively from 2013-2018 and three-time winners in the category (2013-2015). They have 11 career CMA Awards nominations with four total wins.
Musgraves is a 15-time CMA Awards nominee and two-time winner. She returns this year with her fifth Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and third Album of the Year nomination.
Pistol Annies (Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley) are two-time CMA Awards nominees, receiving nods in 2013 for Music Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year.
Rexha is a first-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving two nods this year in the Musical Event of the Year and Single of the Year categories for her crossover collaboration “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line.
Thomas Rhett is a 10-time CMA Awards nominee receiving three nods this year. He returns with his second consecutive nominations in the Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories, and first nomination for Album of the Year. His first CMA Awards win was in 2016 for Single of the Year.
The 52nd Annual CMA Awards is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer. Gary Halvorson is the director, and David Wild is the head writer.
For more information on the 52nd Annual CMA Awards, please visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans can listen to music featuring the CMA Awards nominees and performers on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify and Vevo. To celebrate the 52nd Annual CMA Awards, the official merchandise line featuring tees, sweatshirts and other gifts is now available online.
About CMA Awards
The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association:
Two-time CMA Awards winner and a three-time CMA Awards nominee this year, Jason Aldean surprised radio stations and broadcast personalities this morning to reveal news of their 2018 CMA Broadcast Awards wins, announced in advance of the award show and presentation.
Listen to Aldean surprise “Country Countdown USA’s” nationally syndicated personality Lon Helton with the news of his win here. Aldean’s tourmate Luke Combs happened to be in studio and shared a moment from their time on the road together. See below for the full list of 2018 CMA Broadcast Awards winners.
Winners will be recognized at “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” Country Music’s Biggest Night, airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, November 14 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
*=winner Broadcast Personality of the Year
Lon Helton (Photo courtesy of Westwood One)
National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) –Westwood One
“Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40” (Bob Kingsley) – Westwood One “Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One*
“The Mayor of Music Row” (Charlie Monk) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
“The Music Row Happy Hour” (Buzz Brainard) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Major Market
Bud Ford and Jerry Broadway of “Bud and Broadway” (Photo courtesy of WIL)
“Bud and Broadway” (Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, Kelly Rebal, “Captain Mac Douglas” Gregory Paul Ford, “T.Wall” Tom Wall, and “Sweet Becca” Walls) – WIL St. Louis, MO*
“Double-L” (Lois Lewis) – KNIX Phoenix, AZ
“Hawkeye in the Morning” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk, Jasmine Sadry, and “Connected K” Katelyn Maida) – KSCS Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
“KYGO Morning Show” (Tracy Dixon, Guy David, and Patrick Knight) – KYGO Denver-Boulder, CO
“Tim, Ben and Brooke” (Tim Hattrick, Ben Campbell, and Brooke Hoover) – KNIX Phoenix, AZ
Large Market
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman of “Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Photo courtesy of WFMS)
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS Indianapolis, IN*
“Obie & Ashley in the Morning” (Obie Diaz and Ashley Stegbauer) – WWKA Orlando, FL
“Q Morning Crew” (Mike Wheless and Janie Carothers) – WQDR Raleigh-Durham, NC
“The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show” (Randy Carroll, Jamie Martin, and Jojo Meza) – KAJA San Antonio, TX
“Ridder, Scott and Shannen” (“Ridder” Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) – WMIL Milwaukee-Racine, WI
Medium Market
Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt of “Ken, Kelley and Daniel” (Photo courtesy of WUSY)
“The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club” (Roger Todd, “Julie K.” Kansy, and “D.J. Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers) – WPCV Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Brent Michaels – KUZZ Bakersfield, CA “Ken, Kelley, and Daniel” (Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY Chattanooga, TN*
“The Odd Squad” (Roger Rhodes, Robyn Adair, and Dan Carson) – CKRY Calgary, AB
“Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX Akron, OH
Small Market
Jessica Cash and Steve Waters of “Steve and Jessica in the Mornings” (Photo courtesy of WFLS)
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU Eugene-Springfield, OR
“The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT Pensacola, FL
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green) – WKSF Asheville, NC
“The Good Morning Guys” (Todd Harding, Susan Moore, and Brian Gary) – KUAD Ft. Collins-Greeley, CO “Steve and Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS Fredericksburg, VA*
Radio Station of the Year
Major Market KKBQ Houston-Galveston, TX*
KNIX Phoenix, AZ
KUPL Portland, OR
WKKT Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
WSOC Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
Large Market
KCYY San Antonio, TX
KUBL Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT
WQIK Jacksonville, FL WUBE Cincinnati, OH*
WWKA Orlando, FL
Medium Market
KUZZ Bakersfield, CA
WBBS Syracuse, NY
WHKO Dayton, OH WUSY Chattanooga, TN*
WYRK Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Small Market
KCLR Columbia, MO
KKNU Eugene-Springfield, OR KTTS Springfield, MO*
WCOW La Crosse, WI
WKSF Asheville, NC
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
The Country Music Association has announced the final nominees for “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” as Chris Stapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. Producer and musician Dann Huff receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while nine garners three each—Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Midland, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.
Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” today, live from Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Bryan’s new restaurant and bar in downtown Nashville, to reveal six of the 12 categories on air. Immediately following the broadcast, Dan + Shay and Sugarland announced the remaining six categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards nominees on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as “Good Morning America’s” Facebook Live and simulcast on the top-rated show’s YouTube channel. The livestream can also be viewed on CMA’s Facebook page.
“Today kicks off CMA Awards season where we get to honor the best of the best in our outstanding format,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “There were some great breakout performances this year and the diversity of the nominations honors new faces and some favorite returning names.”
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for an 11th year to host “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” Country Music’s Biggest Night™, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network.
CHRIS STAPLETON – FIVE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“Broken Halos”), Album of the Year (“From A Room: Volume 2”), Song of the Year (“Broken Halos”), Male Vocalist of the Year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4DXSi4AfCE
Stapleton leads this year’s CMA Awards nominations with five, adding to his previous 11 nominations and seven wins. He lands his third consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year in addition to nominations in the Single and Song of the Year categories for “Broken Halos,” produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton, mixed by Vance Powell, and written by Mike Henderson and Stapleton. Stapleton earns his third nomination for Album of the Year for “From A Room: Volume 2,” produced by Cobb and Stapleton. He previously won Album for his first two solo albums, “Traveller,” awarded in 2015, and “From A Room: Volume 1,” awarded in 2017. Stapleton also receives his fourth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he remains undefeated in, having won the past three years.
DANN HUFF – FOUR NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Drinkin’ Problem”), Album of the Year (“Graffiti U”), Album of the Year (“Life Changes”), Musician of the Year (Guitar)
Producer and musician Dann Huff garners the second most nominations, receiving four nominations for his behind-the-scenes work with multiple artists. Huff is a 31-time nominee with three previous wins for Musician of the Year and two previous wins for Single of the Year. This year, he’s once again nominated in both of these categories. His Single nomination for producing Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problem” earns Huff his sixth nomination in the category. He also lands two Album of the Year nods for his production work on Keith Urban’s “Graffiti U” and Thomas Rhett’s “Life Changes.” Huff earns his 18th nomination in the Musician of the Year category, which he last won in 2016.
JASON ALDEAN – THREE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“Drowns the Whiskey”), Musical Event of the Year (“Drowns the Whiskey”)
Jason Aldean adds three nominations to his 14 career nominations. His Entertainer of the Year nomination is his first since 2015 and his fourth nomination in the category. This year, Aldean lands two nominations alongside Miranda Lambert for Single of the Year, along with producer Michael Knox and mix engineer Jeff Braun, and Musical Event of the Year for their collaboration “Drowns the Whiskey.” Aldean has two previous nominations for Musical Event, having won in 2011 for his song “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson, as well as two nominations for Single.
DIERKS BENTLEY – THREE NOMINATIONS
Album of the Year (“The Mountain”), Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Burning Man”)
Dierks Bentley earns his sixth career nomination for Album of the Year, alongside producers Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, and Arturo Buenahora Jr., while also marking his fifth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. He also lands a nod alongside Brothers Osborne for Musical Event of the Year for their collaboration “Burning Man,” Bentley’s third nomination in the category. He won Musical Event in 2016 for his song “Different For Girls” (Feat. Elle King). With this year’s nominations, Bentley collects 24 total career nominations.
DAN + SHAY – THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Tequila”), Vocal Duo of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Tequila”)
Adding to their four career nominations, Dan + Shay receive three nominations this year, with two first-time nominations for “Tequila” in the Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories. “Tequila” lands the song’s producers, Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers along with Scott Hendricks, as well as mix engineer Jeff Juliano, nominations for Single, while director Patrick Tracy earns his first nomination for Music Video. Dan + Shay also land a nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year, their fifth consecutive nomination in the category. Smyers earns a second nomination for Song of the Year for co-writing “Tequila” alongside Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds. A win in any category this year would mark Dan + Shay’s first-ever CMA Award.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE – THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Meant to Be”), Vocal Duo of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Meant to Be”)
Florida Georgia Line becomes six-time Vocal Duo of the Year nominees this year in addition to landing nominations for Single of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for “Meant to Be,” their collaboration with Bebe Rexha. “Meant to Be” also earns Single nominations for producer Willshire and mix engineer Serban Ghenea. Florida Georgia Line previously won in the Single category in 2013 for their song “Cruise.” This year marks Rexha’s first-ever CMA Awards nominations.
CHRIS JANSON – THREE NOMINATIONS
Song of the Year (“Drunk Girl”), Music Video of the Year (“Drunk Girl”), New Artist of the Year
With three nominations this year, Chris Janson ties Midland for the top-earning first-time nominee. His song “Drunk Girl” lands nods for Song of the Year, alongside co-writers Scooter Carusoe and Tom Douglas, and Music Video of the Year, directed by Jeff Venable. Janson is also up for New Artist of the Year.
MIRANDA LAMBERT – THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Drowns the Whiskey”), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Drowns the Whiskey”)
Not only is Miranda Lambert the most-awarded female in CMA Awards history with 13 total wins, but she’s also the reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, earning her 12th consecutive nomination in the category this year. Lambert collects two nominations with her Jason Aldean collaboration “Drowns the Whiskey” for Single of the Year, along with producer Michael Knox and mix engineer Jeff Braun, as well as for Musical Event of the Year, bringing her total career nominations to 47.
MIDLAND – THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Drinkin’ Problem”), Vocal Group of the Year, New Artist of the Year
Midland ties for the top-earning first-time nominees, matching Chris Janson’s three nominations this year. The trio lands a Single of the Year nomination for “Drinkin’ Problem” along with producers Huff, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne, and mix engineer Justin Niebank. Midland also receives nominations for Vocal Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year.
THOMAS RHETT – THREE NOMINATIONS
Album of the Year (“Life Changes”), Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year (“Marry Me”)
Thomas Rhett collects his second consecutive nomination in the Male Vocalist of the Year category this year. His album “Life Changes” earns his first-ever Album of the Year nomination, which he shares with producers Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Huff, and Joe London. Thomas Rhett also receives a nomination for Music Video of the Year for his song “Marry Me,” directed by TK McKamy.
KEITH URBAN – THREE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (“Graffiti U”), Male Vocalist of the Year
This year marks Keith Urban’s 14th nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, 11th nomination in the Entertainer of the Year category, and his sixth nomination in the Album of the Year category for “Graffiti U,” bringing his career nominations to 45 with 11 total wins. Urban shares the nomination with the albums producers Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Copperman, Huff, and Peter Karlsson. Urban is the reigning Single of the Year winner for his song “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which he also produced.
Winners of “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Monday, Oct. 1. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 23 (6:00 p.m. CDT). All balloting is tabulated by the professional services firm Deloitte.
“The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Gary Halvorson is the Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer.
Here is the complete list of nominations for the 2018 CMA Awards:
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Single of the Year Award goes to artist, producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
Chris Stapleton – “Broken Halos”
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert – “Drowns the Whiskey”
Producer: Michael Knox
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Producer: Willshire
Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Dan + Shay – “Tequila”
Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
Album of the Year Award goes to artist and producer(s)
Chris Stapleton – “From a Room: Volume 2”
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Kacey Musgraves – “Golden Hour”
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves
Keith Urban – “Graffiti U”
Producers: Keith Urban, Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Ross Copperman, Dann Huff, Peter Karlsson
Thomas Rhett – “Life Changes“
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Dierks Bentley – “The Mountain”
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Song of the Year Award goes to songwriter(s)
“Body Like a Back Road”
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Broken Halos”
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
“Drowns the Whiskey”
Songwriters: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson
“Drunk Girl”
Songwriters: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson
“Tequila”
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland
Musical Event of the Year Award goes to each artist
Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne – “Burning Man”
Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill – “Dear Hate”
Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert – “Drowns the Whiskey”
David Lee Murphy with Kenny Chesney – “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas, Dobro
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Dann Huff, Guitar
Mac McAnally, Guitar
Derek Wells, Guitar
Music Video of the Year Award goes to artist and director(s)
Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift – “Babe”
Director: Anthony Mandler
Carrie Underwood– “Cry Pretty”
Director: Randee St. Nicholas
Chris Janson – “Drunk Girl”
Director: Jeff Venable
Thomas Rhett – “Marry Me”
Director: TK McKamy
Dan + Shay – “Tequila”
Director: Patrick Tracy
New Artist of the Year
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
Broadcast Personality of the Year
National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Westwood One
“Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40” (Bob Kingsley) – Westwood One
“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One
“The Mayor of Music Row” (Charlie Monk) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
“The Music Row Happy Hour” (Buzz Brainard) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Major Market
“Bud and Broadway” (Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, Kelly Rebal, “Captain Mac Douglas” Gregory Paul Ford, “T.Wall” Tom Wall, and “Sweet Becca” Walls) – WIL St. Louis, MO
“Double-L” (Lois Lewis) – KNIX Phoenix, AZ
“Hawkeye in the Morning” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk, Jasmine Sadry, and “Connected K” Katelyn Maida) – KSCS Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
“KYGO Morning Show” (Tracy Dixon, Guy David, and Patrick Knight) – KYGO Denver-Boulder, CO
“Tim, Ben and Brooke” (Tim Hattrick, Ben Campbell, and Brooke Hoover) – KNIX Phoenix, AZ
Large Market
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS Indianapolis, IN
“Obie & Ashley in the Morning” (Obie Diaz and Ashley Stegbauer) – WWKA Orlando, FL
“Q Morning Crew” (Mike Wheless and Janie Carothers) – WQDR Raleigh-Durham, NC
“The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show” (Randy Carroll, Jamie Martin, and Jojo Meza) – KAJA San Antonio, TX
“Ridder, Scott and Shannen” (“Ridder” Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) – WMIL Milwaukee-Racine, WI
Medium Market
“The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club” (Roger Todd, “Julie K.” Kansy, and “D.J. Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers) – WPCV Lakeland-Winter Haven, FLA
Brent Michaels – KUZZ Bakersfield, CA
“Ken, Kelley, and Daniel” (Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY Chattanooga, TN
“The Odd Squad” (Roger Rhodes, Robyn Adair, and Dan Carson) – CKRY Calgary, AB
“Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX Akron, OH
Small Market
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU Eugene-Springfield, OR
“The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT Pensacola, FL
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green) – WKSF Asheville, NC
“The Good Morning Guys” (Todd Harding, Susan Moore, and Brian Gary) – KUAD Ft. Collins-Greeley, CO
“Steve and Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS Fredericksburg, VA
Radio Station of the Year
Major Market
KKBQ Houston-Galveston, TX
KNIX Phoenix, AZ
KUPL Portland, OR
WKKT Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
WSOC Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
Large Market
KCYY San Antonio, TX
KUBL Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT
WQIK Jacksonville, FL
WUBE Cincinnati, OH
WWKA Orlando, FL
Medium Market
KUZZ Bakersfield, CA
WBBS Syracuse, NY
WHKO Dayton, OH
WUSY Chattanooga, TN
WYRK Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Small Market
KCLR Columbia, MO
KKNU Eugene-Springfield, OR
KTTS Springfield, MO
WCOW La Crosse, WI
WKSF Asheville, NC
Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini at 2017 CMA Fest in Nashville. (Photo by Mark Levine/ABC)
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
The Country Music Association has announced that Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini will return for a second year as hosts of “CMA Fest,” the three-hour special that brings country music’s ultimate fan experience to a national television audience. “CMA Fest” airs WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 (8:00–11:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network and is executive produced by Robert Deaton.
“This year’s CMA Fest is our biggest yet with many artists debuting full sets on the Nissan Stadium stage,” said Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer, CMA. “We’re thrilled once again to broadcast ‘CMA Fest’ and bring the festival to millions of country music fans not only here in the U.S. but all around the world.”
“Thomas and Kelsea are the embodiment of the summer fun that is CMA Fest, and we are so excited they’ll be back for year two,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials & Late-Night, ABC Entertainment.
Filmed during Nashville’s annual CMA Fest, Thursday, June 7, through Sunday, June 10, the television special features more than 25 of country music’s biggest names as they hit the stage during the four-day event. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast, a feat no other U.S. music festival has achieved. Last year’s broadcast of “CMA Fest” achieved three-year ratings highs.
Ballerini will perform at Nissan Stadium Saturday, June 9, in addition to appearing as Artist of the Day at Xfinity Fan Fair X on Sunday, June 10. A limited number of four-day tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium, which also includes four-day access to Xfinity Fan Fair X, are still available at CMAfest.com/tickets or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.
CMA Fest is unlike any other with live music on 11 official stages throughout downtown Nashville; meet and greets and up-close-and-personal experiences for fans at Xfinity Fan Fair X; over 300 acts donating their time in support of music education through the CMA Foundation; and nearly 90,000 country music fans from the all over the U.S. and abroad flocking to Music City each summer. All of CMA Fest’s outdoor daytime stages, as well as nightly shows at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, are free and open to the public. Fans can purchase the CMA Fest Nash Pass for $60 plus fees, allowing a limited amount of fans VIP early access at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage. The Nash Pass also includes a Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum tour, Ryman Auditorium tour and four-day admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X. Tickets for Xfinity Fan Fair X are available for $10 each day or $25 for a four-day pass.
Guided by the generosity of the country music community, proceeds from CMA Fest are used to drive the CMA Foundation’s mission of enriching and sustaining music education programs. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested over $21 million in 85 programs across the national public school system, after-school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations.
Don’t miss a beat—download the CMA Fest app, or get connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.
About CMA Fest
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts in excess of 90,000 fans from all 50 states and two dozen foreign countries. In 2017, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 350 artists, 1,100 musicians, and 167 hours of music – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated more than $21 million to sustainable music education initiatives across the U.S. thanks to the fans who attend CMA Fest and the artists who perform for free. CMA Fest is filmed for a three-hour ABC Television Network special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast.
Garth Brooks at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017 (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Miranda Lambert at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017 (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Chris Stapleton at the 51st Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017 (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton were among the winners at the 51st Annual CMA Awards, which took place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 8, 2017. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosted the show for the 10th year. ABC had the U.S. telecast of the show, which is a production of the Country Music Association.
Brooks took the prize for Entertainer of the Year, making it the sixth time he has won this prize at the CMA Awards. He is the most-awarded artist in this CMA Awards category. Lambert was named Female Vocalist of the Year. Stapleton won two awards: Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year (for “From a Room: Volume 1”). All three artists performed on the show.
Other 2017 CMA Awards performers included Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, Underwood and Alan Jackson.
Winners of the 51st Annual CMA Awards were determined in a final round of voting by eligible CMA members. Ballots were tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP. Robert Deaton was the executive producer and Gary Halvorson was the director of the awards telecast.
Here is the complete list of winners and nominees for the 51st Annual CMA Awards:
** = winner
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks**
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton**
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert**
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
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
LoCash
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Old Dominion Jon Pardi**
Brett Young
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (dobro)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Dann Huff (guitar) Mac McAnally (guitar)**
Derek Wells (guitar)
Album of the Year
Little Big Town – “The Breaker”
Lady Antebellum – “Heart Break”
Jason Isbell – “The Nashville Sound”
Miranda Lambert – “The Weight of These Wings” Chris Stapleton – “From A Room: Volume 1″**
Single of the Year
Little Big Town – “Better Man ”
Sam Hunt – “Body Like a Back Road”
Jon Pardi – “Dirt on My Boots”
Miranda Lambert – “Tin Man” Keith Urban – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”**
Song of the Year
Taylor Swift – “Better Man”**
Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne – “Body Like a Back Road”
Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley – “Dirt on My Boots”
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall – “Tin Man”
Vocal Event of the Year
Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris – “Craving You” Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell – “Funny How Time Slips Away”**
Eric Church and Rhiannon Giddens – “Kill a Word”
Kenny Chesney and P!nk – “Setting the World on Fire”
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill – “Speak to a Girl”
Video of the Year
Brothers Osborne – “It Ain’t My Fault”**
Little Big Town – “Better Man”
Keith Urban – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris – “Craving You”
Miranda Lambert – “Vice”
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association (CMA) and ABC:
Excitement continues to build as the first round of performers are announced for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards,” hosted for the 10th year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST).
Fans will enjoy special performances by CMA Awards nominees Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett and Underwood. Alan Jackson, 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee and 16-time CMA Award winner, will also take center stage during Country Music’s Biggest Night.
Reigning Entertainer of the Year Brooks returns this year with his 12th career nomination for CMA Entertainer of the Year, a title he has won five times (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2016). He is the most awarded artist in this category.
Current CMA Vocal Duo Brothers Osborne received their first Music Video nod for “It Ain’t My Fault” and will once again vie for Vocal Duo, their third nomination in the category.
Bryan is a two-time consecutive Entertainer of the Year (2014, 2015), returning to compete for his fifth nomination in the category. He has garnered 15 CMA Award nominations since 2010.
Up for three nominations this year, Church is a three-time CMA Award winner with 25 total career nods. He returns this year with recognition in the Entertainer of the Year category, in addition to Musical Event and his sixth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist.
With five nominations under her belt this year, Lambert tops the list of finalists with nods in the Single and Song of the Year categories for “Tin Man,” Album with “The Weight of These Wings,” Music Video of the Year for “Vice,” and her 11th nomination for Female Vocalist, a category she has won six times consecutively (2010-2015). She has a career total of 44 CMA Award nominations and is the most awarded female in CMA Awards history, nabbing 12 trophies since 2010.
Little Big Town claims four nominations this year including Vocal Group, Album for The Breaker, and Single and Music Video for “Better Man.” They are seven-time CMA Award winners with a career total of 26 CMA Award nominations.
Old Dominion receives their second nominations in both Vocal Group and New Artist of the Year, securing four career CMA Award nods.
First-time nominee Pardi vies for two categories with nominations for New Artist of the Year and Single for “Dirt On My Boots,” which he co-produced. He receives one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer.
Stapleton is a five-time CMA Award winner nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Album for “From A Room: Volume 1.” He receives one nomination for Album but can receive an additional trophy as producer. This is his third consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist, which he has won the past two years. He was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year last year and won Album for “Traveller” in 2015. He is an 11-time CMA Award nominee.
Thomas Rhett receives first-time nominations in three categories – Musical Event and Music Video for “Craving You,” featuring Maren Morris, and Male Vocalist. He took home his first CMA Award last year, securing Single of the Year with “Die A Happy Man.”
With six CMA Awards to her name, co-host Underwood returns to vie for Female Vocalist, a category she has won four times (2006-2008, 2016) and nominated for consecutively since 2006.
With 81 career nominations, Jackson is the second most nominated artist in CMA Awards history. This year marks Jackson’s 24th CMA Awards performance since debuting in 1990 with “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” He will receive Country Music’s highest honor, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, on Sunday, Oct. 22, during the official Medallion Ceremony at the CMA Theater.
Winners of “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible CMA members. The third and final ballot closes Wednesday, Oct. 25 (6:00 p.m. CST). Ballots will be tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP.
“The 51st Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer and Gary Halvorson is the director.
Billy Ray Cyrus at the 50th Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville onNovember 2, 2016. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Kellie Pickler (Photo courtesy of E.W. Scripps Company)
Hunter Hayes at the 50th Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville onNovember 2, 2016. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
CMA Music Festival announces free nightly concerts at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage located in downtown Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10, beginning at 7:00 PM/CT each evening.
Big and Rich “Bring the Party” will kick off the 2017 festivities Thursday with special guests DJ Sinister & the Country Fried Mix and Cowboy Troy. Additional performers include Deana Carter, Billy Ray Cyrus and Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys, presented by Nash Icon.
Sara Evans will headline Ladies of Country Friday. Also performing are songstresses 3 Girls Rock into a Bar featuring Kelleigh Bannen, Ruthie Collins, and Natalie Stovall; Danielle Bradbery; Kellie Pickler; and Aubrie Sellers, hosted by media partner WKRN-TV, ABC’s Channel 2 Nashville.
SiriusXM The Highway presents Saturday with Dan + Shay, Hunter Hayes, High Valley and RaeLynn, with additional performances by newcomers Cale Dodds, Ryan Kinder and Bailey Bryan, all powered by Warner Sound.
“With tens of thousands of Country Music fans pouring in from all over the U.S. and over two dozen countries, CMA’s partnership with Cracker Barrel to present free nightly concerts at Ascend offers non-four-day ticket holders access to additional nighttime options and the chance to see even more of their favorite artists,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.
“Music and entertainment are an important part of the Cracker Barrel brand experience because the platform provides an invaluable and resounding connection with our guests, which is why we’ve committed to this partnership for the next three years,” said Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Senior Vice President of Marketing Don Hoffman.
During the Festival, Cracker Barrel will also launch “Rock-A-Thon,” a rocking chair experience to raise money for the CMA Foundation, Thursday through Saturday evening. The brand will bring a little piece of home to downtown Nashville by displaying 644 rocking chairs, a symbol of its nationwide store count. If Festival-goers collectively rock at least 150,000 times in a rocker, Cracker Barrel will donate $15,000 to the CMA Foundation. Fans can follow along online and on smart phones to track the progress at www.CBRockathon.com. For more information on Cracker Barrel activations at CMA Music Fest, follow along on social media using hashtag #CBMusic.
Funds generated through CMA Music Festival benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated more than $17.5 million to support quality, sustainable music education initiatives across the country on behalf of the artists who participate in the event for free, impacting the lives of one million children through the power of music.
Joining the star-packed lineup of the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium to sing the National Anthem each evening will be Phil Vassar on Thursday alongside the United States Customs and Border Protection color guard, Brooke Eden on Friday, the Knoxville, Tennessee Central High School Bobcat Company choral group, led by Choral Director Matt Parks Saturday, and Restless Heart Sunday.
The HGTV Lodge returns to the 2017 CMA Music Festival with Country Music’s hottest stars taking the stage in the network’s popular and unique venue. The 3,500-square-foot HGTV Lodge, located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Broadway, will offer Festival-goers the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™, including live musical performances by popular artists Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban, as well as special appearances by HGTV stars Mina Starsiak and Karen E Laine (“Good Bones”), Ben and Erin Napier (“Home Town”), Jonathan and Drew Scott (“Property Brothers”) and Dave and Kortney Wilson (“Masters of Flip”).
The HGTV Lodge, which celebrates its sixth consecutive year at CMA Fest, also will host performances and autograph signings with many more Country Music stars, including Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Tyler Farr, Chris Janson, Eric Paslay, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, Josh Turner and Brett Young. Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander will serve as the HGTV Lodge emcee during the four-day event.
Social discovery app Bumble is teaming up with Grammy and seven-time CMA Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum to bring the “You Look Good” Beetique to CMA Fest on Saturday from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM/CT at The Bell Tower. The Beetique will feature a beautiful indoor aesthetic and create a space that complements both Bumble’s mission of empowering women and the meaning behind the group’s new single — the lighthearted spirit of feeling good. Bumble users are invited to attend and experience a beauty bar powered by Sephora and styling studio from The Dry House, as well as a BFF Lounge, photo booths, a custom menu of bites and refreshments provided by Brancott Estate Wines, all curated by Cassie Kelley of Womanista.
The event will also feature artist appearances throughout the day from Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Bannen, Bradbery, Cam, Sara Evans, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town, Megan & Liz, Kacey Musgraves, Post Monroe and influencers Caroline Hobby and Brooke Webb of KBStyled. Select attendees of the Beetique will have the chance to attend the evening’s exclusive private event “Hottest Date Night Ever” with special performances by Walker Hayes, Lady Antebellum and Young. Fans can follow the event and join the conversation using hashtags #BumbleBeetique and #YouLookGood, and see highlights at @Bumble on Instagram or blog.bumble.com.
“CMA identified a unique opportunity in partnering with Bumble for this digital activation so that fans can interact with some of their favorite artists in an engaging, and more accessible way,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer.
A limited number of tickets for the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium are still available through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Nightly Concert tickets also include four-day access to Xfinity Fan Fair X. Outdoor daytime stages including the Chevrolet Riverfront and Park Stages, Budweiser “Forever Country” Park Stage, Gildan Broadway Stage at Hard Rock Cafe and the Music City Stage inside the Nashville Visitor Center at Bridgestone Arena are free and open to the public.
CMA is offering a special CMA Fest Nash Pass for $50 plus tax which includes a four-day Xfinity Fan Fair X ticket, a self-guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium (that must be used during the Festival), admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and VIP entry and seating at Ascend Amphitheater’s nightly concerts. Nash Pass VIP entry will be accessible from 5:00 PM/CT to 7:00 PM/CT. Gates open to the general public at 6:00 PM/CT.
Updates to the Official 2017 CMA Fest App, including information on more stages, real-time alerts for secret shows, schedule customizations and share options, and connecting with friends, are all now available. Fans can also register for CMA Fest Fan Access within the app for a chance to win a VIP trip for two to the 2018 CMA Fest, airfare, hotel accommodations, and front row tickets to the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium. Fans who sign up can enter the Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing starting Tuesday, May 30 at 10:00 AM/CT for chances to win meet & greets with artists and special performances in the HGTV Lodge, plus register their QR code at scan stations throughout the Festival for chances to win instant prizes.
The app is available for iOS in the Apple App Store and Android in the Google Play Store. For more details, visit CMAfest.com/app.
Stay connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Instagram.com/CMA, “CMAsnaps” on Snapchat, and sign up for CMA Country Connection, CMA’s e-newsletter.
CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of WSM, Incorporated and is used by permission.
