2022 CMA Awards: How to watch the country music celebration

Here’s what to expect from tonight’s CMA Awards, with or without Maren Morris

A woman with long blond hair wearing a hat and vest and holding a guitar

Nov. 9, 2022 10:47 AM PT

The 56th CMA Awards on Wednesday night will bring together the stars of country music in Nashville.

The annual music ceremony will air live on ABC on the East Coast starting at 8 p.m. from Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena. A prerecorded version of the show will come to the West Coast at 8 p.m. Pacific. ABC’s “On The Red Carpet” will begin streaming its live preshow at 3:30 p.m. Pacific on Hulu and its website.

Here’s what else you need to know about this year’s CMA Awards.

Who’s hosting?

Country-music superstar and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan will return to emcee the Country Music Assn.’s biggest night. He will share hosting duties with football star Peyton Manning.

A multi-time CMA Awards winner, Bryan made his hosting debut at last year’s ceremony. Wednesday’s show will mark Manning’s first go at the country music event, but he’s no stranger to hosting ceremonies. He hosted the ESPY Awards in 2017.

Who’s nominated?

This year’s crop of CMA Awards nominees boasts both familiar and new names. Previous winners Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton are up for entertainer of the year.

Newcomer Lainey Wilson’s first CMA Awards run is off to an impressive start already. With six nominations, the “Things a Man Oughta Know” singer leads the pack of nominees. She is up for album of the year, song of the year and female vocalist of the year, among other categories.

A woman in black holds a microphone and performs onstage

Following closely behind with five nods apiece are Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Stapleton.

Maren Morris and her “Humble Quest” received a nomination for album of the year, but the singer told The Times in September that she might skip this year’s ceremony, following a public feud with Brittany Aldean, the wife of country star and CMA Award nominee Jason Aldean.

“I don’t know if I feel [at] home there right now. So many people I love will be in that room, and maybe I’ll make a game-time decision and go,” she said in an interview. “But as of right now, I don’t feel comfortable going.”

Hours before the show, “Good Morning America” unveiled some of this year’s winners Wednesday morning: Cody Johnson for music video for the year (“‘Til You Can’t”) and Pearce and McBryde for musical event of the year (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl”).

Who’s performing?

The 56th CMA Awards show touts a packed lineup of performances and tributes. The show will begin with a tribute to late country icon Loretta Lynn, who died in October. Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and Underwood will perform the Lynn tribute.

Wednesday’s show will also honor Alan Jackson with a tribute performance by Underwood, Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi.

There will also be performances by:

Jimmie Allen
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Luke Bryan
Brandy Clark
Kelly Clarkson
Luke Combs
Caylee Hammack
HARDY
Cody Johnson
Elle King
Marcus King
Miranda Lambert
Patty Loveless
Ashley McBryde
Reba McEntire
John Osborne
Jon Pardi
Carly Pearce
Katy Perry
Pillbox Patti
Chris Stapleton
Cole Swindell
The Black Keys
The War and Treaty
Thomas Rhett
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Zac Brown Band

Who’s presenting?

The lineup of presenters boasts some L.A. pride with Dodgers star Mookie Betts among the personalities set to hand out prizes. Actors Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, who star as country legends Tammy Wynette and George Jones in Showtime’s upcoming series “George & Tammy,” will also present, along with: