Performers Announced for CMA Awards

Brooks and Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are among the first round of artists scheduled to perform at the 42nd Annual Country Music Association Awards. Many of the artists are past CMA Award recipients, and all are up for awards this year.  Brooks and Dunn have won more CMAs than any other artist (19 awards), and are up for Vocal Duo and Album of the Year for Cowboy Town. The duo could also pick up an additional award for producing Cowboy Town with Tony Brown. Chesney, this year's most nominated artist, received seven nominations, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album (for Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates), Single and Music Video of the Year (for "Don't Blink"), as well as two Music Event of the Year nods. He has the potential to win two more categories for producing his album and single with Buddy Cannon.  Jackson has received more CMA nominations than any other artist in history, with 79 total career nominations. This year, he is up for four nominations, including Male Vocalist, Album (for Good Time), and Song and Music Video of the Year for "Good Time."  Lambert is up for Female Vocalist and Single of the Year for "Gunpowder and Lead." This year marks the first that she has received a nomination in the category of Single of the Year.  Strait received five nominations, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album (for Troubadour), Single (for "I Saw God Today") and Musical Event of the Year. He could also pick up two more awards for producing his album and single with Brown. Sugarland are up for five nominations, including Entertainer, Vocal Duo, Musical Event and Single and Music Video of the Year for “Stay.” Band members Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles are also up for an award for producing their single, “Stay,” with Byron Gallimore. Nettles could also win another award as the songwriter of “Stay.” Swift, the reigning Horizon Award recipient, is up for her first Female Vocalist of the Year nomination. Finally, Urban received two nominations, with Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year. The performances can be caught at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 12, when the 42nd Annual CMA Awards airs live on ABC from the Sommet Center in Nashville.