2020 CMA Awards Preview: What to Expect
The 54th Annual CMA Awards air live from Nashville’s Music City Center tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020) on ABC at 8pm ET.
Hosts & Presenters:
Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will host the awards, marking McEntire's fifth time hosting and Rucker's first time. After last year's event, Carrie Underwood stepped down from hosting after 12 years in that role, so this is the first year that she will not be hosting. Lauren Akins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Charles Esten, Sara Evans, Taylor Hill, Jake Owen, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and CeCe Winans will all make appearances as presenters.
Performances:
Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Jenee Fleenor, and Ashley McBryde are set to open the show. Other performers include Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce and Charles Kelley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Lady A, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, and Morgan Wallen. Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will also perform together.
Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line were also supposed to perform, but both Brice and Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard tested positive for COVID-19, cancelling their performances.
Nominations:
Overall, Miranda Lambert leads with seven nominations, followed by Luke Combs who has six nods. Ahead of the awards, two winners were announced, which you can find below, and Charley Pride will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award this year. See all of the nominees below.
Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen
Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) and Producer(s))
What You See Is What You Get, Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt)
Heartache Medication, Jon Pardi (Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi)
Never Will, Ashley McBryde (Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets)
Old Dominion, Old Dominion (Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion)
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce)
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter(s))
"Bluebird," Miranda Lambert (Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
"The Bones," Maren Morris (Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)
"Even Though I'm Leaving," Luke Combs (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt Durrette, Ray Fulcher)
"I Hope You're Happy Now," Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton)
"More Hearts Than Mine," Ingrid Andress (Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derek Southerland)
Single of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s))
"I Hope," Gabby Barrett (Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale; Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller)
"Beer Never Broke My Heart," Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
"10,000 Hours," Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber (Producer: Dan Smyers; Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano)
"Bluebird," Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
"The Bones," Maren Morris (Producer: Greg Kurstin; Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin)
Musical Event of the Year (Awarded to Artists and Producer(s))
"10,000 Hours," Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber (Producer: Dan Smyers)
"Be a Light," Thomas Rhett with Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban (Producer: Dann Huff)
"The Bones," Maren Morris feat. Hozier (Producer: Greg Kurstin)
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love," Miranda Lambert with Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King (Producer: Jay Joyce)
"I Hope You're Happy Now," Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Producer: Busbee) - WINNER
Music Video of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) and Director(s))
"10,000 Hours," Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber (Director: Patrick Tracy)
"Bluebird," Miranda Lambert (Director: Trey Fanjoy) - WINNER
"Homemade," Jake Owen (Director: Justin Clough)
"I Hope You're Happy Now," Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Director: Sam Siske)
"Second One to Know," Chris Stapleton (Director: David Coleman)
Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor, fiddle
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Rob McNelley, guitar
Ilya Toshinsky, guitar
Derek Wells, guitar
Pre-Show Information:
There will be a special entitled "Countdown to the CMA Awards, LIVE!" airing at 7pm ET on ABCNews.com/live.
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Article Image: Reba McEntire and Keith Urban at The 50th Annual CMA Awards. (Walt Disney Television [CC BY-ND 2.0] via Flickr.)