Pick up that cowboy hat and dust off those boots — the 45th Annual Country Music Association Awards are back!

Airing tonight at 8pm on ABC, the awards will be live from country music’s capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. 6,000 members of the Country Music Association voted, and it’s time to, as they say, face the music. But to many music lovers, the country music genre is the forgotten child. While country music often gets a bad rap, the awards are a perfect time to hear some of the greatest songs this year from the genre, and you might just be surprised how many you’ve heard before. Country music has been mainstreamed much more the past few years, allowing many artists in these categories to be heard beyond the loyal country music fan base. Country music captures what music is all about — the story within the song, the melodies, the camaraderie, and just a good ol’ time. 

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the two beloved country music entertainers will be leading the audience and the viewers through the night. This is Paisley’s second time co-hosting with the “American Idol” winner, while Underwood will be hosting the awards for the fourth time in a row! In addition to her hosting duties, Underwood is nominated in the Female Vocalist category; Paisley is one of four entertainers nominated for five different awards.

You may have heard the name Blake Shelton while watching “The Voice”; he was one of the judges/mentors this year. What you may not know is that this country music star was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year in 2010 and he’s been making the charts this year too. He’s now up for five awards, including Entertainer of the Year. If you haven’t heard him sing, just tune in to your local country station and you’ll be sure to hear his “God Gave Me You” sweet melody or “Honey Bee,” a song nominated for Single of the Year tonight. Also competing for Entertainer of the Year are Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and, of course, Taylor Swift, the lone and fairly mainstreamed lady in the category. 

While wins are one reason to always tune into awards shows, the performances are always top-notch at events like this. Lionel Richie (performing for the first time since 1986), Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Sugarland are just a few of the many performers who will grace the Nashville stage. And speaking of grace, if there’s just one major reason to tune it, it’s the harmonious duet of Grace Potter and Kenny Chesney with their fabulous performance of “You and Tequila,” a Single of the Year nominee. 

Airing on ABC, the CMA Awards have the power to change the stigma associated with country music and help viewers realize the genre is more than just tractors and that “honky tonk” stereotype!

- Jillian Angeline, YH Staff