Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

CMA Awards 2021: Here’s Who’s Hosting, Who’s Nominated, and More

Everything to Know About the 2021 CMA Awards: Hosts, Performers and More
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

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.

Latest Stories

Cody Johnson performing an acoustic set, sitting with a guitar in hand and eyes closed, delivering a raw and emotional version of “Travelin’ Soldier”.

Cody Johnson’s Acoustic “Travelin’ Soldier” Cover Feels Like A Funeral You Weren’t Ready For

It doesn’t start with a bang. It doesn’t even ask for your attention. It just shows up, quiet as a folded flag. One fiddle, a little steel, and Cody Johnson’s ...

John Foster smiles while holding his guitar on the American Idol stage, reflecting on his runner-up finish and teasing what's next in his rising country career.

John Foster Reveals What Comes Next After Finishing Second on American Idol

John Foster didn’t need a confetti shower to win. He walked off that American Idol stage in second place by the votes, but first place in everything that matters. He ...

Dolly Parton sings onstage in a vibrant patchwork outfit, following reports that Maren Morris unintentionally echoed her iconic “9 to 5” in a new song.

Maren Morris Accidentally Ripped Off “9 to 5” and Dolly Parton Handled It Like an Absolute Queen

Here’s one for the country music archives. Maren Morris, whether you love her or roll your eyes every time she opens her mouth, nearly had a full-blown misstep with the ...

American Idol runner-up John Foster performs with a smile, later breaking his silence about the finale results and clearing up fan speculation.

John Foster Breaks His Silence on What Really Happened in the Idol Finale

If you blinked during the American Idol Season 23 finale, you might’ve missed it, but the internet didn’t. When Ryan Seacrest stood center stage with John Foster and Jamal Roberts, ...

Kenny Chesney sits casually in an empty stadium, wearing a ballcap and “Low Key Crew” T-shirt, addressing long-standing rumors with calm clarity.

The Truth About the Kenny Chesney Gay Rumors and Where They Really Came From

Country music has had its fair share of tabloid trash over the years. But few stories have stuck around as long, or been as stup𝐢d, as the one about Kenny ...

Jon Pardi and his wife Summer Pardi smile on the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards, showing off their down-to-earth charm and country style.

Who Is Jon Pardi’s Wife? Meet Summer Pardi

You know Jon Pardi. The cowboy-hat-wearing, boot-stomping, fiddle-loving country star who’s always one beat away from turning a honky-tonk into a damn dance floor. But behind the twang and the ...

Breanna Nix performs "The Climb" on American Idol in a sparkling blue gown, delivering a powerhouse vocal that rivaled the original.

Breanna Nix Sang “The Climb” and Made Miley Cyrus Sound Like the Opening Act

Let’s call it what it was. Breanna Nix took Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb,” stepped onto the American Idol finale stage, and sang it like she owned the copyright. That performance ...

Breanna Nix sings into a silver microphone in a gold-sequined outfit, as her debut single "Higher" tops the iTunes chart, outpacing fellow Idol finalists.

Breanna Nix Comes in Third on American Idol but Smokes Everyone on iTunes with “Higher”

She didn’t win American Idol. She didn’t take home the confetti, the fake tears, or the post-show media tour crown. Breanna Nix came in third and then turned around and ...

Lainey Wilson performs onstage in black fringe and turquoise jewelry, radiating confidence built from years of grit, hustle, and hard-earned success.

5 Wild Things You Might Not Know About Lainey Wilson That Prove She’s Tougher Than Your Favorite Artist

Lainey Wilson didn’t just show up in Nashville wearing bell-bottoms and luck her way into country stardom. She earned every damn mile the hard way. The Bobby Bones Show recently ...

George Strait sits and performs mid-show after a back injury, reassuring fans with resilience and honesty during his stadium tour stop in Philadelphia.

George Strait Gives Health Update After Fans Spot Something Off During His Show

It happened in Philly. The King of Country, George Strait, sat down during a stadium show, not because he wanted a break. His back gave out mid-performance, and the crowd ...