CMA Awards Reveal First Performers for 60th Ceremony
Kacey Musgraves, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw are among the artists set to perform at the 60th annual CMA Awards.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Country
The Country Music Association announced the first round of performers for the 60th annual CMA Awards, which will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on ABC and Disney+. The show will also pay tribute to Dolly Parton, who died in August.
Why it matters
The lineup signals which artists are central to country music's current moment as the industry marks the ceremony's landmark anniversary. The tribute to Parton reflects the loss of one of the genre's most prominent figures.
Ella Langley leads this year's nominees with nine nods, while Miranda Lambert's seven nominations bring her to 70 career nominations. The full lineup beyond this first round has not yet been released.
The players
Country Music Association
The Nashville-based trade organization that produces the CMA Awards and has presented country music's top honors since 1967.
Tim McGraw
A multi-platinum country singer-songwriter who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last month and is performing at this year's ceremony.
Miranda Lambert
A Grammy-winning country artist with 70 career CMA Awards nominations who is performing at the 60th annual ceremony.
Lainey Wilson
A Grammy-winning country singer who is hosting the CMA Awards for a third consecutive year.
Dolly Parton
A legendary singer-songwriter and one of country music's most celebrated figures, who died in August and is being honored at the ceremony.
The details
The first round of performers includes Kacey Musgraves, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Ella Langley and Tim McGraw. The ceremony, hosted by Lainey Wilson for a third consecutive year, airs live Wednesday, Nov. 18, with the following day's availability on Hulu.
Timeline
Dolly Parton died in August.
Tim McGraw was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last month.
The CMA Awards air live Wednesday, Nov. 18 from Bridgestone Arena on ABC and Disney+.
The CMA Awards become available on Hulu the following day.
Season Trajectory
Wilson's third straight year hosting positions her as a recurring face of the awards' modern era. This 60th ceremony marks a milestone that places current nominees alongside the legacy of artists like Parton.
Viewers can watch the 60th CMA Awards live on ABC or stream it on Disney+ on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Those who miss the broadcast can catch it on Hulu the following day.
The takeaway
The first performer lineup sets the tone for a milestone broadcast, and viewers planning to watch can tune in live on ABC or Disney+ next Wednesday.
What happens next
The CMA Awards air live Wednesday, Nov. 18 from Bridgestone Arena on ABC and Disney+, with availability on Hulu the following day.
Further reading
Explore more Country music coverage in the United States.
