Oct. 29, 2020

HOSTS REBA McENTIRE AND DARIUS RUCKER, ALONG WITH GABBY BARRETT, ERIC CHURCH, LUKE COMBS, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, LADY A, MIRANDA LAMBERT, ASHLEY McBRYDE, MAREN MORRIS, CHARLIE PUTH, RASCAL FLATTS, THOMAS RHETT, HILLARY SCOTT AND CHRIS TOMLIN TO PERFORM AT ‘THE 54TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS’

All-Star Evening Will Bring Country Music’s Biggest Stars Together Safely in One Room for the First Time This Year

‘The 54th Annual CMA Awards,’ Country Music’s Biggest Night™, Will Broadcast Live From Nashville’s Music City Center Wednesday, Nov. 11, on ABC

Click Here to View Promo

The Country Music Association today announced the first round of performers for “The 54th Annual CMA Awards.” Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will take the stage together for an emotional, groundbreaking tribute performance. Rucker will also take the stage with Lady A. Additional performances include Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Rascal Flatts and Thomas Rhett featuring McEntire, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin. “The 54th Annual CMA Awards” will mark the first time the biggest names in country music will come together—safely, all in one room—this year. In celebratory fashion, this year’s show will honor the very best in the genre and deliver an unparalleled evening of entertainment and surprises. Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will broadcast live from Nashville’s Music City Center, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC.

“We are thrilled to have this incredible group of artists taking the stage at the CMA Awards this year! It is a privilege to bring these live performances to our viewing audience with the energy and excitement that the CMA Awards are known for,” says CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “And although the show will feel a bit more intimate this year, we look forward to hosting our nominated artists and their guests as we celebrate the best of country music in a fully safe and physically distant environment. It will be an honor to bring the biggest country stars in the world together – in one room – for the first time this year. You won’t want to miss it!” This year’s performers range from all-time CMA Awards record breakers to those enjoying their first-ever nomination. Two-time CMA Awards nominee this year Barrett will be joined by Puth, making his CMA Awards debut to perform Barrett’s CMA Single of the Year-nominated, “I Hope.” Two-time nominee this year Thomas Rhett performs his CMA Musical Event of the Year-nominated, “Be A Light,” alongside McEntire, Scott and Tomlin. McEntire will also be joined by Rucker for a show-stopping collaboration, while Rucker enlists nominees Lady A to perform his new single “Beers & Sunshine.”

With two nominations this year, Church will perform “Hell of a View,” while six-time nominated Combs will perform “Cold As You.” Nominees Florida Georgia Line will perform “Long Live,” while Lambert, this year’s top nominee with seven nominations, will perform “Settling Down” from her CMA Album of the Year- nominated album “Wildcard.” Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year and three-time nominee this year McBryde will perform “One Night Standards” from her CMA Album of the Year-nominated album “Never Will.” Morris, a five-time nominee this year, will perform her CMA Single and Song of the Year-nominated “The Bones.” And nominees Rascal Flatts will take the stage to perform “Bless the Broken Road.” Additional performers and presenters will be revealed soon.

“The 54th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer. Alan Carter is the director, and David Wild is the head writer.

For more information about “The 54th Annual CMA Awards, visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About the CMA Awards The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time –making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”

Reba McEntire Darius Rucker Photo Credit: Robby Klein Photo Credit: David McClister Gabby Barrett Florida Georgia Line Photo Credit: Robby Klein Photo Credit: John Shearer

Eric Church Miranda Lambert Photo Credit: Anthony D’Angio Photo Credit: Ellen Von Unwerth

Luke Combs Ashley McBryde Photo Credit: Zack Massey Photo Credit: Daniel Meigs Maren Morris Thomas Rhett Photo Credit: Alex Ferrari Photo Credit: John Shearer

Charlie Puth Hillary Scott Photo Credit: Danielle Levitt Photo Credit: Dove Shore

Rascal Flatts Chris Tomlin Photo Credit: Robby Klein Photo Credit: Robby Klein To download media assets for “The 54th Annual CMA Awards,” visit CMApress.com. For more information about the CMA Awards, visit CMAawards.com.

ABC Media Relations Bridgette Maney [email protected]

Chelsie Tanamachi [email protected]

CMA Media Contacts Catharine McNelly, CMA [email protected]

Krista Farmer, CMA [email protected]

-- ABC --