CMA Awards Add Top Female Performers

Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maddie & Tae, Kacey Musgraves, and host Carrie Underwood will perform during the 49th Annual CMA Awards.

“From Miranda Lambert’s explosive debut CMA performance in New York in 2005 to Reba’s performance in that famous red dress that now resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the females in our format deliver some of the most dynamic and talked about awards moments and this year should be no different,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern.

Ballerini is nominated for the first time this year, earning a spot in the categories of Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year.

Lambert received her third Entertainer of the Year nomination in 2015 along with nominations for Female Vocalist, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year for “Little Red Wagon.” Lambert is the most awarded female in CMA Awards history with 11 wins and 38 nominations.

Duo Maddie & Tae received their first nominations for Vocal Duo of the Year; Music Video of the Year for “Girl in a Country Song,” and New Artist of the Year.

Musgraves, who won New Artist of the Year in 2013 and Song of the Year in 2014, has three nominations this year including Album of the Year for Pageant Material, which she co-produced with Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, Female Vocalist; and Music Video of the Year for “Biscuits.”

CMA previously announced the performance collaborations of Eric Church with iconic country rocker Hank Williams, Jr. and Thomas Rhett collaborating live with Fall Out Boy, as well as performances by CMA Awards hosts Brad Paisley and Underwood.

The 49th Annual CMA Awards will air live Wednesday, Nov. 4 (8:00-11 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.