In honor of her indelible impact and achievements in country music, CMT has announced that country icon Shania Twain will be the first female to receive the prestigious “Artist of a Lifetime” award when CMT Artists of the Year, premieres Thursday, October 20th at 9 pm ET/PT. Previous recipients of the honor were legendary artists Kenny Rogers and Merle Haggard, who were awarded in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
Taped live at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the seventh -annual 90-minute special CMT Artists of the Year will feature once-in-a-lifetime performances, unexpected tributes and unforgettable toasts as the biggest stars of music, film and television gather to celebrate the five artists selected by CMT as the top artists of the year: Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett. These artists collectively dominated the last 12 months ruling CMT’s platforms and country radio, scoring chart-topping album and singles, and selling out arenas around the country. Additionally, CMT will honor rising star, Kelsea Ballerini, with the second annual Artists of the Year “Breakout” Award. Additional performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced at a later date.
They join an overgrowing prestigious list of past CMT Artists of the Year honorees that includes Jason Aldean (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Kenny Chesney (2011, 2012), Eric Church (2012), Hunter Hayes (2013), Toby Keith (2012), Lady Antebellum (2010, 2011), Little Big Town (2015),Miranda Lambert (2012, 2014), Tim McGraw (2013), Brad Paisley (2011), Blake Shelton (2015),Taylor Swift (2010, 2011), Carrie Underwood (2010, 2012), Keith Urban (2014), Sam Hunt (2015) and Zac Brown Band (2010).
Previous CMT Artist of the Year performances have included Adele and Darius Rucker performing Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis paying tribute to Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan’s mashup of “Oh No” and “All Night Long,” and Maroon 5 covering Taylor Swift’s “Mine.” The show has featured appearances by Ellen DeGeneres, Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Billy Bob Thornton, Roger Clemens, Morgan Freeman, the cast of Nashville and more.
