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Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and More to Perform at CMA Awards

The first list of performers has been announced for the 56th Annual CMA Awards. It’s a big one, with the show opening with a star-studded tribute to Country Music Hall…

Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert And More To Perform At CMA Awards
Jason Kempin x2/Getty Images

The first list of performers has been announced for the 56th Annual CMA Awards. It's a big one, with the show opening with a star-studded tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn.

So far, performances announced are:

  • CMA Co-host Luke Bryan with a performance of his latest single, "Country On."
  • Miranda Lambert will perform her song "Geraldene" from her CMA Album of the Year-nominated Palomino.
  • Reigning CMA Female Vocalist and five-time nominee this year, Carly Pearce, will perform a special song from her most recent album.
  • With three nominations this year, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, Carrie Underwood will perform her newest single, "Hate My Heart."
  • Receiving his first CMA Entertainer of the Year nod, a two-time nominee this year, Morgan Wallen will perform his latest single, "You Proof."
  • CMA Single of the Year nominee Kelsea Ballerini will perform her new song "You're Drink, Go Home" featuring Kelly Clarkson and Pearce.
  • The three-time CMA Awards nominee this year, HARDY, will be joined by Lainey Wilson, the top nominee with six nods, for their powerful duet "Wait In The Truck."
  • CMA Vocal Group nominee this year, Zac Brown Band, will perform their latest single, "Out In The Middle," featuring reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen and blues guitar phenom Marcus King.

Additional performers and presenters for The 56th Annual CMA Awards will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Hosted by Bryan and Peyton Manning, The 56th Annual CMA Awards broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

Clarkson posted to Instagram this morning (10/25), "I can't wait to celebrate country music's biggest night with @KelseaBallerini and @carlypearce! Tune in to the #CMAawards on Wednesday, Nov. 9, to see our live performance of 'YOU'RE DRUNK, GO HOME' on @ABCNetwork!"

Tonight at the 55th annual CMA Awards, the stars showed out on the red carpet for country music's biggest night. There was a fair share of disasters, as most red carpets have, but there were some great hits tonight! See below who dressed the best and who should've taken a second look in the mirror before stepping out the door.

31. Lainey Wilson

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Lainey Wilson went WILD on the red carpet, and we don't mean that in a good way. Those tiger-striped pants clash with her embroidered blazer and screams "too busy."


30. Little Big Town

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LBT's Kimberly Schlapman went bold and brash with her dress and wildly curly hair.


29. Amy Grant

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Amy Grant kept it simple with a black dress, but had some leopard-print booties peeking out from the bottom. Subtle, and a nice way to pop an otherwise mundane look.


28. Thomas Rhett

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Thomas Rhett looks great in his muted burgundy suit!


27. Kane Brown

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Kane Brown's mauve suit was a perfect choice in color, but his undershirt does not match the look at all.


26. Mickey Guyton

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Mickey Guyton wore a simple white gown, adorned with silver leaves on her shoulders.


25. Lisa Parigi and Lionel Richie

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Lionel Richie played it safe in all black, with a long coat, while girlfriend Lisa Parigi opted for a muted yellow and fun disco ball bag.


24. Saycon Sengbloh

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Saycon Sengbloh is one of the stars of the new 'Wonder Years' show. We love the feather trim on her black dress!


23. Dulé Hill

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Dulé Hill, also from 'The Wonder Years,' takes a risk with an all-plaid getup, but it totally works with the muted color palette.


22. Drew Parker

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We want to see some cowboy hats! And Drew Parker delivered with his bad-a-- black one.


21. Luke Combs

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Luke Combs wore a burgundy velvet blazer exactly like Scotty McCreery's. The battle of the blazers is a short one, and we think Scotty took this one. Sorry, Luke! We still love you!


20. Susan Sarandon

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Susan Sarandon seemed like a bit of a fish out of water here, but she kept it classy as always, wearing head-to-toe white, with a pop of red from her cute handbag!


19. Miranda Lambert

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Birthday girl Miranda Lambert kept it classy and simple in a black dress with a pop of color from her pink clutch. We preferred the blue outfit with red fringes that she performed in during the show.


18. Old Dominion

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The men of Old Dominion kept it dapper and dashing in different variations of black suits. Our favorite Matthew Ramsey's (center) marriage of textures. Well done, gentlemen!


17. Emma Slater

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Jimmie Allen's partner on Dancing With the Stars went for the drama tonight, with mesh gloves and sequined black gown.


16. Tenille Townes

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Tenille Townes' red ensemble matches the red carpet's hue perfectly!


15. Caroline Boyer and Luke Bryan

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Love is in the air with this power couple, and Caroline Boyer wore her heart on her sleeve(less) dress! Luke deserves his own gallery, given that he had about 20 wardrobe changes during the show.


14. Scotty McCreery

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Scotty McCreery opted for a velvet burgundy blazer, THE perfect color for autumn.


13. Deana Carter

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How risqué! Country legend Deana Carter's thigh slit is amazing on her silky dress! We love her fuzzy bag, too.


12. Russell Dickerson and Kailey Dickerson

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Kailey Dickerson's gown is SO elegant! The bejeweled neckline matches perfectly with her gleaming heels. Her husband looks pretty good too.


11. Elle King

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Elle King's top is the "wow" factor her outfit needed, topped off with a wide-brimmed black hat.


10. Jimmie Allen and Alexis Gale

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We love when couples match in a non-corny way. Pink is the color this handsome color chose and we can't keep our eyes off of them! Jimmie was one of the winers of the red carpet, and he also won Best New Artist.


9. Ashley McBryde

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Like an tattooed angel fallen from the sky, Ashley McBryde's white gown is oh-so ethereal.


8. Brittney Spencer

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Brittney Spencer looks like a goddess with gold details in her silk black gown!


7. Kelsea Ballerini

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Kelsea Ballerini's corset detailing in her crisp white gown is so on-trend!


6. Carly Pearce

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Carly Pearce wears the perfect hue of navy, with a subtle hint of sparkles. Her choice of color in gown sets her apart from the rest of the night's attendees.


5. Caitlyn Smith

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Looks like Christmas came early for Caitlyn Smith, who looks like a gift!


4. Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd

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Wow! Maren Morris took the plunge with her blazer-jacket! Ryan Hurd could not compete with his stunning wife, but we love his choice in color with his suit. Those loafers could go, though.


3. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

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Nicole Kidman always look ravishing -- I mean look at her! Keith Urban looks like the luckiest guy to be standing next to her.


2. Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson has ARRIVED! Her all-red lace ensemble with a satin train are so glamorous.


1. Carrie Underwood

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Carrie Underwood brought all the glitz and glam to the biggest night in country music!

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.