Country superstar Carrie Underwood will host the 53rd CMA Awards on Wednesday evening from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. She will be joined by fellow guests hosts and country legends, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
Tickets to the show have sold out, but you can watch all of the action on ABC15! The show starts at 7 p.m.
Before the show begins, here are three performances not to miss:
"HISTORIC" OPENING PERFORMANCE
The opening performance of the Country Music Association Awards is said to be "historic" and "not to be missed," according to an ABC news release.
Fourteen country women will grace the stage to perform iconic country songs in what will be a "monumental decade-spanning medley never before seen," the release said.
The performance will be led by hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton. It will feature Terri Clark; Sara Evans; Crystal Gayle; The Highwomen, a country group made up of Brandi Carlile, Natalia Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires; Martina McBride; Jennifer Nettles; Tanya Tucker; and Gretchen Wilson.
We. Can’t. Wait! 🙌🤩 #CMAawards https://t.co/Oa9rOjcNhg
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 12, 2019
KELSEA BALLERINI AND BREAKTHROUGH ARTISTS
The CMAs will also feature a special performance from country singers Kelsey Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, and Runaway June. It will also include a special performance from country group Little Big Town. ABC described it as an "epic performance of an iconic CMA Song of the Year and CMA Single of the Year."
Be back next week! 🖤👯♀️🥂 https://t.co/2PW1joa7vt
— Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) November 10, 2019
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON TRIBUTE
Country singer Kris Kristofferson will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMA Awards. Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne will perform Kristofferson's song, "Me and Bobby McGee." Kristofferson will not be at the award show, according to ABC.
“Kris is a living legend whose impact on our genre has been monumental,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. “He is the definition of an icon and someone our community holds with such high regard. I’m thrilled our Board selected Kris this year for one of CMA’s highest accolades. Though he won’t be joining us at the CMA Awards, I hope our tribute performance brings a big smile to his face.”
According to his website, Kristofferson has a concert scheduled in Davenport, Iowa on the night of the CMAs.
