ABC Celebrates Country Music’s Biggest Night with Special Programming Leading Into “The 55th Annual CMA Awards,” Airing Live Wednesday, November 10, on ABC

ABC is celebrating Country Music’s Biggest Night™ with a special programming lineup in the days leading into “The 55th Annual CMA Awards,” airing live Wednesday, November 10 @ 8PM EST, on ABC. Offering country music fans a backstage pass to up-close-and-personal interviews with their favorite stars, as well as never-before-seen access into the lives of this year’s host and nominees, ABC has it all.

“ON THE RED CARPET: COUNTDOWN TO THE CMA AWARDS” – Saturday, November 6, AND Sunday, November 7 (check local listings)

On Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles’s entertainment reporter George Pennacchio hosts “On The Red Carpet: Countdown to the CMA Awards,” a 30-minute special from Nashville featuring interviews with CMA Awards host Luke Bryan and conversations with many of this year’s nominees. In addition, country music stars Ryan Hurd, Michael Ray and Lainey Wilson bring cameras along as they visit some of their favorite local hot spots in Nashville, Tennessee.

“BACKSTAGE PASS: COUNTDOWN TO THE CMA AWARDS” – Monday, November 8 (10:00-11:00PM EST)

On Monday, November 8, ABC News’ annual awards special shares unprecedented access to some of today’s hottest country music stars where for seven days and 168 hours, across 24 cities, cameras rolled capturing one week in the life of country music while documenting artists’ lives. Featured in the special are CMA Awards host Luke Bryan, Jimmie Allen, Lauren Alaina, Lady A, Carly Pearce, and Keith Urban as they return to the road, reconnecting with fans while navigating through the constant changes 2021 continues to bring.

“Backstage Pass: Countdown to the CMA Awards” is produced by ABC News. Janice Johnston is the executive producer; Emily Whipp is senior producer, and Monica Escobedo is senior entertainment producer.

ABC NEWS LIVE AND “ON THE RED CARPET” – Wednesday, November 10 @ 6:30PM EST streaming/check local listings.

On Wednesday, November 10, ABC News Live and “On The Red Carpet” come together for a first-ever simulcast event featuring live pre-show coverage of this year’s CMA Awards from inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Streaming on ABC News Live, beginning @ 6:30PM, “Good Morning America“‘s Lara Spencer, CMA Award nominee Jimmie Allen, and ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles’ George Pennacchio report from the red carpet giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s awards – just moments before showtime – as well as interviews with many of this year’s CMA Awards nominees and hottest stars. The first hour of coverage will stream on ABC News Live and ABC Owned Television Stations’ connected TV apps, followed by a simulcast from 7:30-8:00PM of “On The Red Carpet,” streaming on ABC News Live and airing across linear on ABC Owned Television Stations in New York (WABC), Los Angeles (KABC), Chicago (WLS), Philadelphia (WPVI), San Francisco (KGO), Houston (KTRK), Fresno (KFSN), Raleigh-Durham (WTVD), and ABC affiliates (check local listings).

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