First Performers Revealed For CMA Awards
The star-packed lineup for The 46th Annual CMA Awards launches with today’s (9/26) announcement that Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, and Little Big Town are the first performers confirmed for “Country Music’s Biggest Night™.” Hosted for the fifth year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the show airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Thurs., Nov. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Aldean holds the current title for CMA Album of the Year for My Kinda Party and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Clarkson. This year, he picked up nominations for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, and Single of the Year for “Dirt Road Anthem,” produced by Michael Knox.
Bentley received three nominations for Album of the Year for Home, produced by Brett Beavers, Luke Wooten, and Jon Randall Stewart; Single of the Year for “Home,” produced by Beavers and Wooten; and Song of the Year for “Home,” written by Bentley, Beavers, and Dan Wilson, lead singer of Semisonic.
Clarkson makes her debut in the Female Vocalist of the Year category this year.
Vocal Group nominee Little Big Town made a splash this year with “Pontoon,” which is in the running for Music Video (directed by Declan Whitebloom) and Single of the Year (produced by Jay Joyce).
The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thurs., Oct. 4. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Mon., Oct. 22 (5:00 PM/CT).
