The CMA Awards: Everything You Need to Know

Posted: November 7, 2023 at 6:16 am

Here’s what you need to know before tomorrow’s 57th annual CMA Awards. 

The show will be hosted for the second time by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning and will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC at 8 pm ET.

Lainey Wilson leads the way with a whopping nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, and duet partner Jelly Roll follows with five. Luke Combs and Hardy land four each.

Entertainer of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Chris Stapleton
• Carrie Underwood
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Ashley McBryde
• Carly Pearce
• Lainey Wilson

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen

​​​​​​Vocal Group of the Year

• Lady A
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion
• Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

• Brooks and Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan and Shay
• Maddie and Tae
• The War and Treaty

Album of the Year

• Ashley McBryde – Ashley McBryde: Welcome to Lindeville
• Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country
• Luke Combs – Gettin’ Old
• Morgan Wallen – One Thing at a Time
• Kelsea Ballerini – Rollin’ Up the Welcome Mat

Single of the Year

• Luke Combs – “Fast Car
• Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like a Truck”
• Jelly Roll – “Need a Favor”
• Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
• Hardy (featuring Lainey Wilson) – “Wait in the Truck”

Song of the Year

• Luke Combs – “Fast Car”
• Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like a Truck”
• Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
• Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”
• Hardy (featuring Lainey Wilson) – “Wait in the Truck”

Musical Event of the Year

• Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson) – “Save Me”
• Cole Swindell and JoDee Messina – “She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)”
• Kane Brown (featuring Katelyn Brown) – “Thank God”
• Hardy (featuring Lainey Wilson) – “Wait in the Truck”
• Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton) – “We Don’t Fight Anymore”

Music Video of the Year

• Ashley McBryde – “Light On in the Kitchen”
• Old Dominion – “Memory Lane”
• Jelly Roll – “Need a Favor”
• Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
• Hardy (featuring Lainey Wilson) – “Wait in the Truck”

New Artist of the Year

• Zach Bryan
• Jelly Roll
• Parker McCollum
• Megan Moroney
• Hailey Whitters

The performances include:

• Kelsea Ballerini – “Leave Me Alone”
• Luke Combs – “Where the Wild Things Are”
• Dan and Shay – “Save Me the Trouble”
• Jordan Davis – “Next thing You Know”
• Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
• Ashley McBryde – “Light On in the Kitchen”
• The War and Treaty – “That’s How Love is Made”
• The show will also include a tribute to Jimmy Buffett featuring Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band.
• Post Malone, HARDY and Morgan Wallen will sing a medley of country classics.
• Jelly Roll and K. Michelle will sing The Judd’s “Love Can Build a Bridge,”
• Little Big Town will join Tanya Tucker on “Delta Dawn”
• Old Dominion and Meg Moroney will perform their song, “Can’t Break Up Now.”
• Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton present their current single, “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

The presenters will be: 

• Paula Abdul
• Bill Anderson
• Nate Bargatze
• Kevin Cahoon (actor, Shucked)
• Jordan Davis
• Cynthia Erivo (actor, singer, author producer)
• Sara Evans
• Brian Kelley
• Lady A
• Martina McBride
• Parker McCollum
• Craig Morgan
• Darius Rucker
• Corey Seager (World Series MVP)
• Gerry Turner (The Golden Bachelor)
• Keith Urban
• Hailey Whitters
• Chris Young

Photo Credit:  CMA Country Music Association via Facebook