CMA Names Awards Co-Hosts, Plans Tweet N Greet

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return as co-hosts of the CMA Awards when the show airs live from the Sommet Center Wed., Nov. 11 on ABC. They are the respective reigning Male and Female Vocalist of the Year. See the full story at People.com.

Since Paisley won the Horizon Award in 2000, he has garnered 11 CMA Awards. Underwood also won the Horizon Award in 2006, and has gone on to claim a total of five CMA trophies.

The second round of voting for the awards ended yesterday (8/24) and the Final Ballot will be sent Fri., Oct. 16. Voting ends Tues., Nov. 3 at  5:00 PM/CDT.

Tweet ‘N’ Greet
In related news, the CMA will host its first-ever live Twitter feed on ABC.com, Monday, Aug. 31 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/ET), during CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, airing on the ABC Television Network.

Fans can log on to see Tweets from artists including Trace Adkins (@traceadkins), Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley), Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum), Martina McBride (@martinamcbride), Reba McEntire (@Reba), Kellie Pickler (@therealpickler), and the Zac Brown Band (@zacbrownband). Each artist will be posting their observations about the show as well as behind-the-scenes tidbits, anecdotes about other artists performing on the show, as well as memories from past Music Festivals.

“Twitter is one of the best ways right now to directly connect with fans – especially ones on the cutting edge of technology,” said Dan Bowen, CMA VP of Strategic Marketing and Communications. “We’re excited to work with ABC.com to be able to bring a great group of Country Music artists together with their current fans and hopefully some new ones.”

The “Tweet ‘N’ Greet” will create an interactive feed between the fans and artists. Fans will have a direct connection to some of their favorite performers, not only allowing them the opportunity to ask questions, but also providing them with behind-the-scenes access. In addition, CMA (@CountryMusic) will be updating fans with information on the participating artists’ upcoming album releases, tour dates, and appearances.

“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” expanding to three hours for the first time, features high-voltage stage performances by chart-topping superstars, along with revealing special segments about fan favorites. Scheduled to perform are Adkins, Jason Aldean, Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, McBride, McEntire, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Pickler, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Zac Brown Band. In addition, Kid Rock performs his smash hit “Picture” with McBride, while Wynonna and Naomi Judd reunite as The Judds to perform together for the first time at the CMA Music Festival in six years.

“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson.