The Country Music Association revealed the first round of performers for the 2022 CMA Awards, less than two weeks before the Nov. 9 ceremony, and they include Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson. An all-star homage to the late Loretta Lynn will kick off the show. Carly Pearce, the Zac Brown Band, Jimmie Allen, Kelly Clarkson, Hardy, and the show’s co-host Luke Bryan have all been confirmed as performers.
The 56th CMA Awards
At 8 p.m., ABC will broadcast the 56th iteration of the show. Peyton Manning, a legendary player in the game of football, and Luke Bryan will start the performance on Nov. 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The CMA Awards also revealed the songs for this first round of performers, many of which had collaborations that had their roots in more recent releases. For instance, Ballerini will perform “You’re Drunk, Go Home”, a female anthem from her most recent album, with Pearce and Clarkson, two other musicians who worked as a trio with her on the song. Wilson and Hardy will perform their current duet, “Wait in the Car.”
Even King Will Be There!
King, a blues singer-guitarist, will perform with the Brown Band live alongside Allen, the current CMA new artist of the year, on their song “Out in the Middle,” as he does on their album. Among the solo performances is Lambert’s interpretation of “Geraldene,” Underwood’s rendition of “Hate My Heart,” Wallen’s appearance on stage with his hit song “You Proof,” and Bryan’s live performance of “Country On.” In the 15 days leading up to the performance, further performances are expected to be announced.
Wilson, who had the most CMA Awards nominations this year, with six, is followed by Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton, and songwriter/producer Shane McAnally, who each received five. Cody Johnson, writer-producer Josh Osbourne, Underwood, Luke Combs, Hardy, and Midland are all triple-nominated, while Cody Johnson and Josh Osbourne each have four nominations coming into the show. The competitors for the top entertainer of the year title are Lambert, Underwood, Stapleton, first-time nominee Wallen and last year’s winner, Combs.