NASHVILLE – The Chicago Cubs won the World Series, but “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” was a homerun with more performances with more artists than any other CMA Awards in history. And fans can still relive the greatest moments on demand.
ABC is making several full performances from Wednesday’s milestone anniversary broadcast available now on ABC.com and the ABC app. The full show, which captures Country Music’s Biggest Night™, is also available for verified viewers.
Highlights include:
- The star-packed show opener featuring 12 format legends that culminated with the introduction of 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis singing the last line of “Forever and Ever, Amen,” which moved many people to tears.
- Brad Paisley’s and Carrie Underwood’s topical and hilarious opening monologue.
- Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood trading vocals and stealing hearts with a medley of Country classics. Brooks was later named CMA Entertainer of the Year by a surprise presenter, former Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift. Brooks is now the most awarded Entertainer in CMA Awards history with five wins!
- Maren Morris’ tearful acceptance speech after being named New Artist of the Year and recalling that last year, she watched the CMA Awards from a bar down the street.
- A surprise performance from Beyoncé with former CMA Entertainer of the Year Dixie Chicks in a Texas throwdown of Beyoncé’s “Daddy Lessons,” which the Dixie Chicks perform on the road, as well as their song “Long Time Gone.”
- Popular former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning presenting the CMA Pinnacle Award to Kenny Chesney. The Pinnacle Award has only been presented three times in CMA history.
- A collaboration between two of the most awarded men in CMA Awards history, Alan Jackson and George Strait, trading riffs and hits.
- A tribute to Dolly Parton featuring five of the strongest female voices in the format with Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves, Jennifer Nettles, Reba, and Underwood that was introduced by Parton’s “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin. Pentatonix kicked it off with a cover of “Jolene” with Nettles.
“Wow, what a tribute,” Parton said. “That was so touching. I would have cried, but I didn’t want to mess up my eyelashes.”
And there is so much more. See for yourself at ABC.com or the ABC App!
For more information, visit CMAawards50.com.
