Eric Church and Hank Williams, Jr. To Open The 49th Annual CMA Awards

The opening performance for The 49th Annual CMA Awards is going to ROCK!

Kicking off the three-hour event will be the night’s top nominee Eric Church with the legendary Hank Williams, Jr. for the world premiere of Williams’ new Nash Icon release.

The song “is the perfect narrative for the night,” said CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton. “It sets up musically everything that is going to happen for the rest of the show.”

Following the epic kick-off will be eight-time CMA Awards hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood with their fan-favorite opening monologue.

“If you don’t see the first 15 minutes of the CMA Awards live, you will be grasping for straws at the proverbial watercooler the next morning,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “It is that good and it is just the beginning of a great night of entertainment.”

“They have impeccable timing as hosts and then in the next segment you see them with their bands blowing the roof off the arena with an amazing performance,” said Deaton. “They are the whole package.”

The 49th Annual CMA Awards airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 4 on the ABC Television Network.