CMA Awards 2016: Live Stream, Nominees, Performances, Predictions For ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night’

Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood — Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are taking the stage at the CMA Awards once again on Wednesday. Photographed above: Paisley and Underwood at the 2014 CMA Awards on Nov. 6 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Reuters

Country music fans, brace yourselves — the genre’s biggest night is coming to television on Wednesday. ABC will be airing the 50th annual Country Music Association Awards live at 8 p.m. EDT.

This year’s show will, as it has in the last few years, be hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Joining them will be presenters Sharon Stone, Cole Swindell, Matthew McConaughey, The Final Five (Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles) and more. The 2016 CMA Awards stage will also be graced by a number of performers, including Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Underwood and pop group Pentatonix.

While it remains unclear, a number or sources speculate that Beyoncé will grace the CMA Awards stage on Wednesday as well. The rumor was first reported on by People, noting that she was in Nashville on the day of the show. “CMT All Access” host Cody Alan took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to confirm that Beyoncé has been added to the long list of performers, though it remains a mystery what she will sing. With luck, fans will hear her recently released hit single “Daddy Lessons” off “Lemonade.”

JUST IN... @Beyonce is performing tonight on #CMAawards50! Watch at 8/7c on ABC. pic.twitter.com/suid2zvaAM
— Cody Alan (@CodyAlan) November 2, 2016

Several awards will be handed out during the show in a number of categories. The most highly coveted of the awards slated to be given out include Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. While it’s anyone’s guess which of the many stars nominated will take home the awards, country fans just can’t help but speculate.

USA Today posted a few predictions about the 2016 CMAs, suggesting that Luke Bryan or Garth Brooks will take home entertainer of the year, Chris Stapleton will win male vocalist, Underwood will win female vocalist and Kelsea Ballerini will take home new artist of the year. The publication also predicted wins for Lori McKenna, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town and Florida Georgia Line.

The show will be streaming live on the Watch ABC app which will, as always, provide VIP access to behind-the-scenes footage and the red carpet pre-show, which begins at 7 p.m. EDT. Those hoping to catch the show online can go to ABC’s website, where it will be steamed live. The catch, however, is that viewers must be subscribed to one of several participating cable providers.

Before you tune in, take a moment to refresh your memory about which stars have been nominated for awards at the 2016 CMA Awards:

Entertainer Of The Year: