Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan Among 2016 CMT Artists of the Year
The 2016 CMT Artists of the Year special premieres from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The seventh annual CMT Artists of the Year special will honor some of country music’s biggest names. This year, the AOTY honorees include Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan. In addition, Kelsea Ballerini will receive the 2nd annual Breakout Artist of the Year honor.
The five honorees collectively ruled CMT’s platforms and country radio, while also topping the charts with albums and singles and selling out concerts nationwide. Ballerini’s honor comes just after her third single “Peter Pan” hit No.1. She is the only female artist in country music history to reach the top of the charts with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album.
Stapleton and Rhett are both first-time nominees, while Underwood, FGL and Bryan have all been recognized previously. Bryan now ties Jason Aldean as the most recognized artist with five (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).
Former CMT Artists of the Year honorees include Jason Aldean (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Kenny Chesney (2011, 2012), Eric Church (2012), Lady Antebellum (2010, 2011), Little Big Town (2015), Miranda Lambert (2012, 2014), Tim McGraw (2013), Taylor Swift (2010, 2011), Keith Urban (2014), and Sam Hunt (2015), among others.
The 2016 CMT Artists of the Year special premieres from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
