CMT Artists of the Year Recap & Red Carpet Photo Gallery

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | October 17, 2019

CMT’s Artists of the Year celebration invaded Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 16.

The star-studded evening featured performances from some of country’s biggest names as CMT honored its five Artists of the Year—Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett—as well as Reba McEntire (Artist of a Lifetime award) and Ashley McBryde (Breakout Artist of the Year award).

Performances included:

Dan + Shay – “Tequila”
Chrissy Metz – “Even Though I’m Leaving” in honor of Luke Combs
Chris Young – “Drowning” in honor of Kane Brown’s drummer, Kenny Dixon, who passed away on Oct. 12
Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
Carrie Underwood – “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Blown Away” from her tour stop in Cleveland
Thomas Rhett – “Dream You Never Had” and leading the audience in a prayer for Kenny Dixon
Lady Antebellum – “Is There Life Out There” in honor of Reba
Sam Hunt – “Fancy” in honor of Reba

CMT Artists of the Year will re-air Oct. 18 at 7:30 a.m. ET; Oct. 19 at 1 a.m. ET; and Oct. 20 at noon ET; the full show is available for viewing now via CMT.com.

Check out some of our photos from the red carpet, courtesy of Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com.

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Blogs

On Wednesday (April 30), Eric Church announced the dates and details of his 2025 Free The Machine Tour of North America. The 22-date arena tour starts in Pittsburgh on September 12 and finishes in Los Angeles on November 15, hitting cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, and Seattle along the way. Church will be joined by…

Eric Church Announces 2025 Free The Machine North American Tour

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers' rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Jessi Alexander Shares Her Journey From Fledgling Artist To Hit Country Songwriter

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers’ rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Nashville-based label Big Loud, home to Morgan Wallen, has reportedly sold a minority stake in the country superstar’s master recordings to Chord Music Partners for over $200 million. The deal is for a minority holding in Wallen’s first three studio albums, which includes his blockbuster 2023 double album, One Thing at a Time. The deal…

Minority Stake In Morgan Wallen’s Catalog Sold By Big Loud For $200 Million

The 2025 ACM Awards will begin with a 12-minute music showcase honoring ACM Award-winning Songs of the Year over six decades. The segment will feature Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland, and will likely include hit songs like “Tequila,” “Why Not Me,” “Blue,” and “Stay” in the medley.…

2025 ACM Awards Will Open With 12-Minute “Songs Of The Decades’ Medley, With Special Collaborations Planned During Ceremony

Chase McDaniel believes that listening to music in real-time can have a significant impact on listeners, rather than letting an algorithm choose what they hear. The new country artist recalls three life-changing moments he’s had while hearing songs on country radio, and McDaniel hopes his first radio single, "Burned Down Heaven," has a similar effect…