The Country Music Association and ABC have announced the first rollout of performers for the 2023 CMA Awards telecast, foremost among them the year’s two most nominated artists: Lainey Wilson, who goes into the ceremony with nine bids, and Jelly Roll, who’ll arrive with five nominations.
Others named as singing on the Nov. 8 telecast include Chris Stapleton, Tanya Tucker, K. Michelle, Megan Moroney, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and show co-host Luke Bryan. More performers are yet to be announced over the next two weeks.
Four duet performances were revealed as part of Wednesday’s announcement: Jelly Roll will be joined by K. Michelle for “Love Can Build a Bridge,” the famous song by the Judds, who are the subject of a new tribute album. Tucker, who was just inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this week, will rope in Little Big Town for a revival of her career-making“Delta Dawn.” Old Dominion will team up with best new artist nominee Moroney for their joint single “Can’t Break Up Now.” Similarly recreating a duo single will be Pearce and Stapleton, doing the recent song of hers on which he is featured, “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”
Stapleton will get a solo spotlight, too, on top of the joint performance with Pearce, doing his currently rising “White Horse,” from an album that comes out two days after the CMAs. Jelly Roll will also get a second spot in the show, opening the proceedings with “Need a Favor.” And Bryan will do a medley in celebration of his 30 No. 1 singles. Whether all 30 Bryan hits will be featured was not revealed, but the CMA did at least promise portions of “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “One Margarita,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” “Play It Again” and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me).”
Bryan is again co-hosting the show with footballer Peyton Manning. It airs live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. ET Nov. 8, with on-demand streaming available starting the next day on Hulu. Tickets for the show are now on sale via Ticketmaster.
Wilson and Stapleton are both nominated for entertainer of the year, with reigning champion Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen as their competition in that top category.
Wilson’s other nominations include dual nods in three categories — single, song and musical event of the year — and single nominations for album of the year, music video of the year and female vocalist.
