|
NASHVILLE – Ring in the New Year with one of 2016’s biggest
celebrations when a special encore presentation of “The 50th Annual
CMA Awards” airs Sunday, Jan. 1 (8:00 PM/ET) on AXS TV.
Originally broadcast live
from Nashville on Nov. 2, the ceremony honored the best of the year while showcasing
five decades of Country Music legacy.
Highlights from the gala include:
- The star-packed show opener featuring
12 format legends that culminated with the introduction of 2016 Country Music
Hall of Fame member Randy Travis singing the last line of “Forever
and Ever, Amen,” moving many to tears.
- Hosts Brad Paisley’s
and Carrie Underwood’s topical and hilarious opening monologue.
- Garth
Brooks and Trisha Yearwood trading vocals and stealing
hearts with a medley of Country classics. Brooks was later named CMA Entertainer
of the Year by a surprise presenter, former Entertainer of the Year Taylor
Swift. Brooks is now the most awarded Entertainer in CMA Awards history with five wins!
- Maren
Morris’ tearful acceptance speech after being named New Artist of the
Year and recalling that just last year, she watched the CMA Awards from a bar down the street.
- A surprise
performance from Beyoncé with former CMA Entertainer of the
Year Dixie Chicks in a Texas throw down of “Daddy Lessons,”
which the Dixie Chicks performed frequently on the road, flavored with their song
“Long Time Gone.”
- A collaboration between two of the most awarded men
in CMA Awards history, Alan Jackson and George Strait,
trading riffs and hits.
- A tribute to Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
recipient Dolly Parton featuring five of the strongest female
voices in the format with Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves,
Jennifer Nettles, Reba, and Underwood that was introduced
by Parton’s “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin. Pentatonix
kicked it off with a cover of “Jolene” with Nettles.
For more information, visit CMAawards50.com.
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 Awards have aired on ABC since 2006.
ABC will be the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television
properties, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” and “CMA Country
Christmas,” through 2021. CMA Awards ballots are tabulated by the professional
services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP.
-30-
|
