The Country Music Association has added 17 performers to the official lineup for next week’s CMA Awards show, with a couple of guests from outside the genre, Katy Perry and the Black Keys, joining the bill alongside such stalwarts of country as Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne and Ashley McBryde.
But it’s two artists not on the bill that may stand out among the influx of names. All-star tribute performances will be given to Jerry Lee Lewis and The Rolling Stones, in addition to salutes for Loretta Lynn (and Alan Jackson) already announced.
Other than the above, there are also multiple nominees Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire, Thomas Rhett and Patty Loveless. The second major rollout of talent on ABC’s Nov. 9 telecast features Cole Swindell and Elle King. Pillbox Patti, War and Treaty and John Osborne (apart form his role in Brothers Osborne).
King and the Black Keys will team up to pay tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis, the pioneer of rock music, in the form of a collective salute. “Great Balls of Fire.”
The Stones tribute will include a rendering “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll”Brothers Osborne and husband/wife duo, the War and Treaty, were jointly executed.
Perry will be joined by Rhett to perform their new duet. “Where We Started.”
McBryde recently released the highly acclaimed concept album. “Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville,”Osborne and Pillbox Patti (aka songwriter Nicolettehayford), and Hammack will be along. The song they’ll perform is the one cover on the new album, “When Will I Be Loved.”
Loveless and Stapleton will collaborate to record a version of one her classic recordings. “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”
Combs, the reigning CMA entertainer-of-the year, is one of those who took to the stage solo. He sang his new single. “The Kind of Love We Make,” four-time nominee Johnson doing “Till You Can’t”Swindell and the things they do “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.”
Announced last week in the initial talent announcement were Miranda Lambert, Lainey WIlson, Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Dierks Bentley, Marcus King, Jimmie Allen, Kelly Clarkson, Hardy, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Morgan Wallen and the Zac Brown Band.
Luke Bryan, the co-host of the show, will also perform. The usually controversy-avoidant Bryan has been in the news this week for deeply split fan views about his having welcomed Florida governor Ron DeSantis onto his stage, which many viewed as an implicit campaign stop, but which Bryan defended on social media as a nonpartisan awareness-raiser for Florida’s flood relief efforts. Bryan is co-hosted by Peyton Manning.
The Awards Telecast will air Nov. 9 on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Hulu will stream the broadcast the day after.