Here’s what to expect from tonight’s CMA Awards, with or without Maren Morris:
The night’s other big name is the country singer, who has a two-week residency at Austin’s famed Live 8 event, which she won in 2011. The CMA Awards ceremony, set for 8:15 PM in the Austin Convention Center Conference Room, will pay tribute to the late Aretha Franklin on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the singer’s death. Franklin died in 1997 of complications related to heart disease, but even after her death, artists such as Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin’s son wrote songs inspired by her memory.
It was a different kind of night for Mavis Staples with her first nomination for a CMA Award, but this was a fitting sendoff to her career. The singer won the 2011 edition of the CMA Award for Top Female Vocalist, taking over from Carrie Underwood.
The CMA Awards, hosted by Kelly Clarkson, will honor artist from across the country who have found their own voices in the past year. It will feature musical performances from artists such as Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Dixie Chicks and Kenny Chesney.
And the winner of the 2018 CMA Awards goes to country artist Chris Trugman.
The artist was nominated in three categories, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year. He has three number one albums on the country music charts, including his self-titled debut, Country Star, released in 1994.
He is the first male nominee for the Vocal Group of the Year category – and may be the first artist in country music history to do so. The nominees for Vocal Group of the Year will be released Wednesday morning on Billboard.
The CMA Awards is presented by CMT Nashville and Nielsen Music. It’s set to broadcast live on CBS at 8:30 PM.
The other big awards tonight will be presented by the CMA Awards Committee, as well as a performance by Carrie Underwood — who performed “I’m On
