Are you ready for another house-rockin’ awards ceremony? The country music’s biggest night is almost here as the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards prepares to honor the genre’s best artists.
Rest assured, it will be a star-studded night, complete with performances from your favorite country crooners. In fact, a list of performers, nominees, and other details about the ceremony have already started doing rounds among the fans. So, without further ado, we’re sharing with you what we know so far.
CMA Awards Return To Bridgestone Arena
The 55th Annual CMA Awards are to be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, and it will be returning to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to reclaim the ceremony’s pre-pandemic splendor.
Unlike last year, the show will be once again open to the public – but with new health protocols in place. All ticketed audience members will have to provide proof that they’re fully vaccinated against the COVID-19. Meanwhile, wearing a mask will also be mandatory at all times, except for when attendees are actively drinking or eating.
A limited number of tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, November 1 via Ticketmaster.
The 55th Annual CMA Awards Have A New Host
Sharing the exciting news on their social media pages, the show finally announced that American Idol judge Luke Bryan would take on the important role as this year’s host. In 2020, Darius Rucker and Reba McEntire teamed up to host the show.
It’s not only Bryan’s CMA Awards hosting debut, but the two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner will also be the show’s first solo host in 18 years. Bryan took to Instagram to share his “pinch me a moment,” saying that the hosting gig was “definitely something I put a lot of thought into before answering.”
CMA Awards 2021 Full List Of Nominees
RELATED: CMA Awards 2021: Full List of Nominees and Winners
The nominees were revealed in early September, and it sure got a mix of familiar stars and new face dotting.
Eric Church and Chris Stapleton are the most nominated artists this year – tied for most nominations, with five nods each in major categories. This includes Single of The Year, Song of the Year, along with Male Vocalist Of The Year, wherein Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett, and Luke Combs are also nominated.
Church and Stapleton will also join Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert (who is, by the way, the most nominated female artist in the history of CMA Awards) as Entertainer Of The Year nominees.
Meanwhile, American Idol finalist Gabby Barrett continues to shine in country music, vying for four nominations – including Female Vocalist Of The Year, where she’s joined by another first-time nominee, Carly Pearce.
There’s also stiff competition for New Artist of the Year for nominees Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, and HARDY. They are joined by Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen, who are making a milestone in CMA Awards history for being the first two Black artists to have been simultaneously nominated in the category.
Everyone’s excited to find out who will take home the Musician of the Year and Musical Event of the Year, too, in which Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis are nominated for their song “Buy Dirt.” Other nominees include Marren Morris and husband Ryan Hurd, the team-up of Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney, and the women empowering tandem of Elle King and Miranda Lambert.
Another highly anticipated moment is the Vocal Duo of the Year award, wherein the popular American country music duo Brooks & Dunn were one of the nominees alongside fellow — and certainly younger duos. Brooks & Dunn have won a total of fourteen Vocal Duo of the Year within their career.
On the other hand, Morgan Wallen, who was rebuked by the music industry after using a racial slur, is not invited to the CMA Awards despite earning an Album of the Year nomination for his Dangerous: The Double Album.
First Round of Performers Was Also Revealed
RELATED: First Round of CMA Awards 2021 Performers Was Revealed
Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osborne, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Eric Church, Dan + Shay are some of the chart-topping artists slated to perform at the CMA Awards next month.
On the night of the show, Pearce and McBryde will perform their powerful new duet, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” while Dan + Shay will deliver a rendition of “I Should Probably Go To Bed.” Meanwhile, Brothers Osborne is expected to grace the show with a “deeply personal” performance from their third studio album, Skeletons.
Additional performers are anticipated to be announced in the coming weeks as the show draws nearer. A set of presenters will soon be announced, too.
Don’t Miss Country Music’s Biggest Night!
The 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
Afraid that you won’t be able to catch the show as it’s aired smack-dab in the middle of the weekdays? No worries, though! You can rewatch and enjoy the whole event by streaming on CMA’s official website. The show will also be available to stream at Hulu up to ten days after the original air date.
So, make sure to tune in on country music’s biggest night.
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CMA Awards 2021