Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's CMA Awards.
The 53rd Annual CMA Awards air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena starting at 8 p.m. [ET] on ABC. Carrie Underwood hosts with Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
THE NOMINEES:
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Duo of the Year
Brooks and Dunn
Dan + Shay
Brothers Osborne
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie and Tae
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
New Artist of the Year
Cody Johnson
Midland
Carly Pearce
Ashley McBryde
Morgan Wallen
Song of the Year
"Beautiful Crazy"
"Girl"
"God's Country"
"Rainbow"
"Tequila"
Single of the Year
"Burning Man" - Dierks Bentley
"Girl" - Maren Morris
"God's Country" - Blake Shelton
"Millionaire" - Chris Stapleton
"Speechless" - Dan and Shay
Video of the Year
"Burning Man" - Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne
"Girl" - Maren Morris
"God's Country" - Blake Shelton
"Rainbow" - Kacey Musgraves
"Some of It" - Eric Church
Album of the Year
Center Point Road - Thomas Rhett
Cry Pretty - Carrie Underwood
Dan + Shay - Dan + Shay
Desperate Man - Eric Church
Girl - Maren Morris
Musical Event of the Year
"All My Favorite People" - Maren Morris
"Brand New Man" - Brooks & Dunn with Luke Combs
"Dive Bar" - Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton
"Old Town Road" - Lil Nas X f/ Billy Ray Cyrus
"What Happens in a Small Town" - Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell
THE PERFORMANCES
The opening will feature hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, along with Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle,The Highwomen, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles,Tanya Tucker and Gretchen Wilson performing a medley.
Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, Maddie and Tae, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Runaway June will be featured in a performance of a recent CMA Song and Single of the Year.
Kris Kristofferson will receive the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne will perform his song "Me and Bobby McGee."
Other scheduled performances: Kelsea Ballerini ("Homecoming Queen?"), Dan + Shay("Speechless"), Old Dominion("One Man Band"),Thomas Rhett("Remember You Young") and Blake Shelton("God's Country").
Blake will also team up with Garth Brooks for "Dive Bar."Brothers Osborne joins Brooks and Dunn for "Hard Workin' Man." Other collaborations are planned by Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson, Lady Antebellum with pop singer Halsey, Dolly Parton with For King and Country and Zach Williams and Pink and Chris Stapleton.
Other scheduled performers include Eric Church,Luke Combs,Miranda Lambert,Reba McEntire,Maren Morris,Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
THE PRESENTERS
Celebrities who will introduce performances or announce winners:
- Vince Gill
- Kathy Mattea
- Martina McBride
- Midland
- Craig Morgan
- Jennifer Nettles
- Pam Tillis
- Morgan Wallen
- Trisha Yearwood
- Blanco Brown
- Hannah Brown
- Deana Carter
- Janie Fricke
- radio and TV personality Bobby Bones
- actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth
- actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan
- Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch
- actor-comedian J.B. Smoove