Country superstars Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band were all in one place this week when they were recognized as CMT’s first ever “Artists of the Year.”
The 90-minute special that airs Friday, Dec. 3, on CMT features presenters Cat Cora, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Boston Red Sox’s Josh Beckett, Kid Rock, Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Randy Travis, Smokey Robinson and host Kevin Costner.
The Artists of the Year collectively received more than 2.5 million plays of their current songs, sold more than 8.5 million copies of their current albums and saw more than 21 million individual downloads of their current singles and topped both the touring and CMT.com charts.
“Tonight is about you. It’s not just about numbers this past year – it’s about impact,” host Costner said.
Aerosmith’s Joe Perry joined Aldean on stage during the performance of the title-track to his new album, My Kind of Party. Underwood sang a medley, while Maroon 5, Darius Rucker and Adele treated Lady A and Swift with special performances of their hits “Need You Now” and “Mine.”
Zac Brown Band performed their new single, “Colder Weather,” with Amos Lee. Before the taping, the group tweeted they were “honored and stoked” to be at the ceremony.
The stars also received surprise accolades from some of their biggest fans, including Charlie Daniels, Reba McEntire, Ryan Seacrest, Selena Gomez and more.
CMT’s “Artists of the Year” premieres Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on both CMT and CMT.com.
