Here’s how you can watch the 2018 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony featuring Carrie Underwood online or the old-fashioned way right on your TV.
The 2018 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony hosted by country music Little Big Town airs tonight on CMT at 8 p.m. ET. You can watch the annual award show online with CMT’s official live stream.
Honorees include Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, and Hillary Scott. Live performances include Maddie & Tae and Runaway June with Carrie Underwood, Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss with Kelsea Ballerini, Gladys Knight with Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, Tori Kelly with Hillary Scott, and Brandi Carlile with Maren Morris performing a tribute to Aretha Franklin!
Emanating from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, this year’s CMT Artists of the Year awards boasts its usual who’s who nominees and attendees in the genre. Female Vocalist of the Year nominees are Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, and Miranda Lambert. Male Vocalist of the Year nominees are Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, and Thomas Rhett. Entertainer of the Year nominees are Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, and Luke Bryan.
Vocal Group of the Year nominees include host Little Big Town along with LANCO, Lady Antebellum, Midland, and Old Dominion. Vocal Duo of the Year nominees are Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Maddie & Tae, and Sugarland.
New Artist of the Year nominees are Brett Young, Chris Janson, Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, and Midland. Album of the Year nominees are Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 2, Dierks Bentley’s The Mountain, Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour, Keith Urban’s Graffiti U, and Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes.
For a complete list of nominees visit this CMT link.
According to The Tennessean, this year’s ceremony promises to put the spotlight on its women performers. CMT Senior Vice President of Music Strategy and Talent Leslie Fram commented on pushing the charge to highlight female artists.
"I hope that we’re at the beginning of change. I feel like female artists are writing the best music they’ve ever written right now and I think radio and any kind of streaming platform should be about variety and balance and women provide that."
This year we're celebrating the women of country! Join us for #CMTAOTY LIVE Wed, Oct 17 at 8/7c. pic.twitter.com/FrJvdgtrGe
— CMT (@CMT) September 19, 2018
How to watch the CMT Artists of the Year 2018 ceremony online via live stream or old-school on your TV:
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 17
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. Central
TV Channel: CMT
Live Stream: CMT’s official live stream
This is Little Big Town’s first year hosting the ceremony, Charles Esten hosted the 2017 CMT Artists of the Year awards show from Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. From 2010 through 2016, the ceremony was held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.