55th Annual Country Music Association Awards
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| 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | November 10, 2021 |
| Location | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Hosted by | Luke Bryan |
| Most wins | Chris Stapleton (4) |
| Most nominations | Eric Church Chris Stapleton (5 each) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | ABC |
| Viewership | 8.4 million |
The 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards were held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony was hosted by CMA Award winner Luke Bryan.[1]
After a video clip surfaced in early 2021 showing an inebriated Morgan Wallen using a racial slur[2] the Country Music Association announced on May 21, 2021, that Wallen's 2021 CMA Awards eligibility would be limited to, “categories that honor artistic works (Single, Song, Album, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year categories), so as not to "limit opportunity for other credited collaborators," but the press release further states that Wallen would not be eligible in solo categories as Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.[3][4][5]
On October 1, 2021, the CMA announced that Wallen would not be allowed to attend the 2021 ceremony or any of the pre-show pageantry, despite being nominated in the Album of the Year category.[6] Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said she didn't believe anyone had ever been disqualified from the show due to conduct before. "Honoring him as an individual this year is not right, and he will not be allowed on the red carpet, on our stage, or be celebrated in any way," she says.[7][8]
On October 18, 2021 it was announced by the CMA that Luke Bryan will host the ceremony for the first time. This is the first time the ceremony has had a solo host in 18 years, the last being Vince Gill.[1]
The CMA announced that ticketed audience members would have to prove full vaccination status against COVID-19 and wear appropriate face coverings.[9][10] Performers and presenters were not expected to follow the same requirements as the audience.[citation needed]
Winners and nominees
The eligibility period for nominees is July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.[11] The nominees were announced on September 9, 2021.[12]
Winners in Bold.
International Awards
| International Artist Achievement Award | Global Country Artist Award |
|---|---|
Performers
The first wave of performers were announced on October 21, 2021, followed by the second and third waves on October 27 and November 4.[13][14][15]
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Miranda Lambert | Medley of Greatest Hits “Kerosene” “Mama’s Broken Heart" “Bluebird” “Little Red Wagon” “Gunpowder and Lead” |
| Dierks Bentley Hardy Breland |
"Beers on Me" |
| Eric Church | "Heart on Fire" |
| Carly Pearce Ashley McBryde |
"Never Wanted to Be That Girl" |
| Zac Brown Band | "Same Boat" |
| Gabby Barrett | "The Good Ones" |
| Chris Young Kane Brown |
"Famous Friends" |
| Jason Aldean Carrie Underwood |
"If I Didn't Love You" |
| Blake Shelton | "Come Back as a Country Boy" |
| Keith Urban | "Wild Hearts" |
| Mickey Guyton Brittney Spencer Madeline Edwards |
"Love My Hair" |
| Old Dominion | "I Was on a Boat That Day" |
| Chris Stapleton | "Cold" |
| Luke Combs | "Doin' This" |
| Thomas Rhett | "Country Again" |
| Dan + Shay | "I Should Probably Go to Bed" |
| Jennifer Hudson Chris Stapleton |
Tribute to Aretha Franklin "Night Life" "You Are My Sunshine" |
| Jimmie Allen | "Freedom Was a Highway" |
| Brothers Osborne | "Younger Me" |
| Luke Bryan | "Up" |
| Closing Performance "I Don't Want This Night to End" |