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53rd CMA Awards: Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton to Host

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.

For the first time in 11 years, Carrie Underwood will not have Brad Paisley by her side when she hosts the 53rd CMA Awards this November. Underwood has co-hosted the CMA Awards with Paisley in the past.

Remind Me, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, CMA Awards
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 02: Co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood perform onstage at the 50th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 2, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Fret not, because two country legends will be by her side this time: Country Music Queen Dolly Parton and Country Legend Reba McEntire.

CMA Awards. Reba McEntire, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, Reba McEntire
Via Reba McEntire’s Official Facebook Page

The 53rd CMA Awards Brandishes Femme Fatale

CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahem expressed her excitement with three powerful women on stage for the night.

“It’s an incredible honor to welcome Carrie, Reba, and Dolly to the CMA Awards stage this year. In addition to awarding the year’s best and brightest in the genre, ‘The 53rd Annual CMA Awards’ will celebrate the legacy of women within Country Music, and we couldn’t think of a more dynamic group of women to host the show.”

All three women hold a whopping 124 CMA Awards nominations and 22 total wins among them. The women have 14 nominations in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category, with Parton bagging the prize in 1978 and McEntire in 1986.

CMA Awards, Dolly Parton, Podcast, Kristin Chenoweth
via AFF-USA/Shutterstock/Billboard

Parton seems extra excited for the night, as she posted this on her Facebook page:

“Talk about girl power. I’m so excited to be joining Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire as a guest host of this year’s #CMAawards.

Paisley is all for the idea, too!

Nominations for “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” will be revealed Aug. 28 live during ABC’s Good Morning America. The 53rd CMA Awards will air live directly from Nashville. Shows start at 7 PM on the 13th of November on ABC.

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