Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, Lainey Wilson to Co-Host 2024 CMA Awards
Two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan, NFL luminary Peyton Manning and reigning CMA Awards entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson are set to co-host the 58th annual CMA Awards.
Bryan is a four-time CMA Awards host this year, while NFL legend Manning is a three-time CMA Awards host and they will be joined by first-time host Wilson on the live broadcast from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 20 on ABC; the show will be available the next day on Hulu.
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Bryan, a two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner who just released his new album Mind of a Country Boy, previously told Billboard that, “just a lover of the genre and the people, the artists and the night” are what keeps him coming back as a CMA Awards host. “To be asked to host the CMAs for the first time was a dream come true, and something I never thought I’d be able to achieve. Going from a kid watching the CMAs at home with my family to being a host is pretty surreal. I walk out on that stage right before we deliver the monologue and it’s always a pinch myself moment and I’m always just honored to represent country music the best way I can.”
“I could not be more excited to host the CMA Awards this year with Luke and Peyton,” Wilson said in a press release. “It’s such an incredible honor and something I’ve always dreamed of doing. We’re planning a really great show for y’all, so make sure to watch on November 20!”
“I am honored to be back hosting the CMA Awards again this year,” Manning added. “The past two years have been a lot of fun, and I know Lainey is going to bring a special flare. Hopefully she can help me keep Luke in line! Either way, I’m excited for an incredible night of celebration and country music.”
Bryan told Billboard of Wilson joining as a co-host, “Peyton and I have had a great run, and obviously Lainey is as hot as a firecracker in the world of country music, and we’ll be excited to watch her hosting abilities unfold in front of our eyes, and really love her as a person and am just excited to work with her on stuff and be there. So I know she’s running around busy as can be, so we’re glad to have her for a few days. And I know Peyton’s excited about it, too.”
Wilson is the reigning CMA Awards entertainer of the year, and is in the running to win the same category this year.
When she co-hosts the awards show, Wilson will become the first person to host or co-host the CMA Awards in the same year that he or she was nominated for entertainer of the year since Carrie Underwood, who co-hosted and was nominated for the top award in both 2016 and 2019.
Sonny James, who co-hosted the first CMA Awards in 1967, was an entertainer of the year nominee that year. In the intervening years, 10 other stars have also doubled up in this way: Kenny Rogers (1979), Barbara Mandrell (1980-82), Willie Nelson (1983 and 1986), Randy Travis (1990), Reba McEntire (1991-92), Vince Gill (1992-98), Brooks & Dunn (2004 and 2006), Brad Paisley (2008-12), Underwood and Wilson.
Leading this year’s CMA Awards nominees are Morgan Wallen (with seven nominations), followed by Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton with five nominations each. Wilson and Post Malone have four nomination apiece, while Louis Bell, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves have three nominations each.
Performers and presenters for the CMA Awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
Watch Bryan, Manning and Wilson in a promotional clip for the CMA Awards below:
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