The Country Music Association’s 60th annual awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show will air live at 8/7c on ABC and stream on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
Host and Leading Nominees
Two‑time Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson returns as host. In addition to her hosting duties, Wilson is a three‑time nominee and could become the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year three times.
Country breakout star Ella Langley leads the night with nine nominations, including her first nod for Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Her chart‑topping singles “Choosin’ Texas” and “Be Her” are up for Song of the Year and Single of the Year. Langley’s previous CMA success includes wins for Song, Single and Music Video of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.
Miranda Lambert co‑wrote both of Langley’s nominated songs and adds seven nominations of her own, among them Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for collaborations with Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton.
Kacey Musgraves Returns
After a quiet stretch since her 2019 wins, Kacey Musgraves returns with five nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and a Song of the Year nod for “Dry Spell.”
Taylor Swift’s First CMA Performance in Over a Decade
Pop icon Taylor Swift will perform at the ceremony, marking her first CMA appearance since 2013. Swift’s country‑flavored single “I Knew It, I Knew You” from the upcoming Toy Story 5 soundtrack earned her a nomination for Single of the Year. She also announced a surprise performance during the broadcast.
Swift, who married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in July, last appeared at the CMAs when she sang an acoustic version of “Red” alongside Alison Krauss and Vince Gill.
Special Tributes and Collaborations
The ceremony will honor Dolly Parton with a dedicated tribute and a tour of the new Dolly Parton museum, guided by her niece.
Brooks & Dunn will receive the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrated with performances by Brothers Osborne, HARDY, Luke Bryan, Marcus King and Halestorm.
Additional collaborations include Mumford & Sons teaming with Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. joining Stapleton for a special set.
Full Performer Lineup
Fans can expect performances from Taylor Swift, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, The Red Clay Strays, Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore, Vince Gill and Zach Top.
How to Watch
Live coverage of the red‑carpet arrivals begins at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday via OnTheRedCarpet.com and Disney+. The ceremony will be streamed on Disney+ and later available on Hulu for on‑demand viewing.
The CMA Awards continue to showcase the strength of country music’s female talent, with multiple women leading nominations and performances. Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry will host a backstage interview with two‑time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, adding another local highlight to the night’s festivities.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
