CMA AWARDS 2023: Everything to Know About Country Music’s Biggest Night

Get ready for a night of glitz and music magic in Nashville! The 57th annual CMA Awards are happening at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. You can catch all the action live on ABC, and if you miss it, no worries – it’s exclusively streaming on Hulu on Thursday.

Guess who’s steering the ship? The dynamic duo of Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning are your hosts for the night. They’ll be leading the show, celebrating all the cool things happening in country music and giving props to the awesome artists, songwriters, and producers.

And hold onto your cowboy hats because the lineup is top-notch! The biggest stars in country music will be lighting up the stage as performers and presenters. It’s going to be a star-studded, can’t-miss night for all you country music fans out there. So, mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy the best of country at the CMA Awards!

Who is nominated at the 2023 CMA Awards?

Who’s in the spotlight at the 2023 CMA Awards? Well, Lainey Wilson is stealing the show with a whopping nine nominations, making her the first artist ever to lead nominations twice in her first two times on the ballot. That’s history in the making!

Right behind her is Jelly Roll, a first-time contender, racking up five nominations. Then we’ve got HARDY and Luke Combs with four nods each, bringing some serious competition. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen are also in the race with three nominations each.

And hold on, the entertainer of the year prize is up for grabs! It’s a showdown between Combs, Stapleton, Wallen, Wilson, and the incredible Carrie Underwood.

Let’s not forget the new artist of the year category, where last year’s winner, Lainey Wilson, is facing off against Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, and Hailey Whitters. It’s a stacked lineup of fresh talent.

But here’s the cool part – 29 nominees are stepping into the CMA Awards spotlight for the first time! Shoutout to Bryan, Whitters, and Josh Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who got his first solo nod. Oh, and Tracy Chapman, the genius behind “Fast Car,” covered by Combs this past year, is also a first-time nominee in the song of the year category. Talk about an exciting lineup of new and seasoned talent!

Who is hosting the 2023 CMA Awards?

The dynamic duo of Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning are back to host for the second year in a row. The “Play It Again” singer and the NFL star were announced as returning hosts back in May. 

Last year marked the first time the pair tag-teamed on emceeing duties, one year after Bryan hosted solo in 2021. 

The pair previously expressed their excitement about reuniting. In a hilarious promotional video, the two decided they would rather go for round two, instead of riding off into the sunset. 

As the two fulfill the role yet again, they join a storied history of CMA Awards hosting partners, including Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and Brooks & Dunn. 

Who is performing at the 2023 CMA Awards?

More than a few of country music fans’ favorite acts will take the CMA Awards stage. 

A handful of nominated artists will perform: Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, The War and Treaty, Lainey Wilson and Zac Brown Band. 

Additionally, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally, K. Michelle, Post Malone and Tanya Tucker will also entertain. 

Many of the nominees are confirmed to play renditions of their work being honored at the award show. Ballerini will showcase “Leave Me Again” off album of the year contender Rolling Up the Welcome Mat; Davis will play three-time nominee “Next Thing You Know;” McBryde serenade with “Light On In the Kitchen;” Wallen will sing a song off his nominated One Thing at a Time; and Wilson will bring to life “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” from Bell Bottom Country.