CMA Awards Open With Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker + More
The star-studded performance set the scene for a night to remember!
The 51st annual CMA Awards could not have begun with a bigger opening performance. Combining the musical talents of Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Darius Rucker, fans were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime opener unlike any other.
Church began the night alone center stage with his guitar to sing a stirring version of “Amazing Grace.” A spotlight was set directly on him and as he closed the song the camera panned to Urban and Rucker as they began to perform Hootie and the Blowfish’s signature 1994 hit “Hold My Hand.” Urban and Rucker traded lines on the track but they weren’t the only country stars to join in.
Moments later, Lady A were spotted and joined in on the fun for the second verse. The opener became a full on jam with a backing choir giving the song a gospel feel and a quick glance soon showed that there were many more country acts in the fold. Little Big Town, Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Reba, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini and Luke Bryan entered the stage to add their own vocals to the mix. With jaw-dropping shredding from Urban, the night was off to a memorable start.
Church, Lady A and Urban are all nominees during tonight’s show. Church and Urban are each vying for the top honor of the night, Entertainer of the Year, among others, while Lady Antebellum hopes to claim Vocal Group of the Year or Album of the Year for their record, Heart Break.
The 51st Annual CMA Awards are hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood for the 10th year in a row. See all of the awards and accolades handed out at tonight’s show by checking out posts HERE.
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