Back again for its 50th year, the 2016 Country Music Awards (CMAs) will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on November 2nd.
Held for the first time in 1967, this year’s special anniversary production of “Country Music’s Biggest Night” will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who have served as the emcees for the CMAs eight years running.
The festivities will begin with an hour-long red carpet pre-show at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by the main show at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The 2016 CMAs will be a star-packed party, with performances from rising stars and country music legends alike. Along with Underwood and Paisley, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda lambert, and Kacey Musgraves will all perform on Wednesday night.
Chris Janson, whose hit single “Buy Me A Boat” was named Country Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in May, will also perform.
Perhaps most excitingly, a number of country icons have signed on to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CMAs, including Alabama, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Charlie Pride.
“These superstars have been an important part of our legacy and have contributed so much to our current success,” CMA chief executive officer Sarah Trahern told Rolling Stone. “We are delighted they are going to be part of this important milestone anniversary.”
The top nominees for the Country Music Awards this year are Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Chris Stapleton, each with five nominations, followed by Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and co-host Carrie Underwood with four opportunities each to take home a CMA crystal trophy.
Other big-name nominees include Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert, both nominated for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year,’ and groups like Little Big Town (who won big at last year’s CMAs), Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, and Rascal Flatts all under consideration for ‘Vocal Group of the Year.’
But perhaps the biggest feature of the 2016 CMAs will be Dolly Parton’s reception of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors a country artist who has achieved widespread recognition for their music.
“Dolly epitomizes the very definition of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award,” Trahern told an Austin, Texas-based NBC affiliate. “She is a trailblazer who continues to enchant and captivate fans around the world, from her latest No. 1 album, to her sold-out tour, and numerous television projects. She is a treasure and deserving of this industry acclaim for her undeniable contributions to the success of Country Music, today.”
Fans of country music young and old, lovers of the traditional crooners or the new chart toppers, will all find something to cheer for at the 2016 Country Music Awards on November 2, 2016.
How to Live Stream the 2016 Country Music Awards:
The 50th anniversary show will be aired on ABC starting 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 2nd. Music fans can tune in to live stream the show on abc.go.com with a cable login.
The red carpet show will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET with an official red carpet live stream beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
You can also find a full list of nominees for each category and find more information about the performers and history of the CMAs on the official Country Music Awards website.