Yesterday, November 19, the Country Music Association (CMA) announced that a special guest will join musical star Jelly Roll for a performance at the awards ceremony, scheduled to take place this evening (November 20). The news has social media users buzzing with excitement, as some even noted that they finally have a reason to tune into the show.
Fan comment about the famous artist performing with Jelly Roll at the CMA Awards, posted on November 19, 2024 | Source: Instagram/cma
The legendary country artist who will collaborate with the “Son of a Sinner” singer is none other than Keith Urban.
“That’s right y’all! @KeithUrban is joining @JellyRoll615 on the #CMAawards stage to perform ‘Liar’ LIVE! Watch Country Music’s Biggest Night TOMORROW at 8/7c on ABC! Don’t miss it. 🤩🤩,” revealed the organization in a caption they penned alongside a photo of the duo.
Fans were quick to express their elation concerning the announcement. “KU raises the show to a new level!!! 😍🔥,” exclaimed an admirer, while another gushed, “I can’t wait to watch the performance tomorrow night ❤️.”
Keith Urban performing on “Today” in New York City on October 30, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“Anything with @keithurban has to be great!!” praised a fellow fan. Someone else remarked, “Finally a reason to watch the CMA Awards.”
“I agree finally a reason to watch, both are amazing together and their colab [sic] for ‘Don’t Want To’ is amazing,” echoed an Instagrammer. Jumping on the praise bandwagon, another admirer added, “Yes! I will watch it after all!”
In addition to Urban and Jelly Roll’s upcoming collaboration, CMA Awards viewers can also look forward to other performances by an array of talented artists. Opening up the awards show will be Post Malone and Chris Stapleton.
A side-by-side photo of Post Malone and Chris Stapleton, posted on November 7, 2024 | Source: Instagram/cma
Like Jelly Roll and Urban, Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, will also be performing live as a group.
Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. | Source: Instagram/cma
The glitzy ceremony will also showcase performances by Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Thomas Rhett, Teddy Swims, and Lainey Wilson.
In another Instagram post that the CMA shared earlier today, which further highlighted the electrifying evening viewers are in store for, it was revealed that other stars will be performing.
Luke Combs, Kacy Musgraves, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, and the musical duo Brooks & Dunn are a part of the performance roster.
Adding another special element to the exciting affair is the star-studded tribute honoring iconic country artist George Strait. The musician will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
George Strait performing during Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn in Nashville, Tennessee on October 30, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Wilson, Bryan, and Peyton Manning will host the event which also features celebrity presenters like gymnast superstar Simone Biles, and famous actors Jeff Bridges, Don Johnson, Daniel Sunjata, and Billy Bob Thornton, to name a few.
Aside from performing, several stars are nominated for an array of awards. Nominees for Entertainer of the Year include Combs, Jelly Roll, Stapleton, Wilson, and famous musician Morgan Wallen.
Meanwhile, Musgraves, Combs, Stapleton, Johnson, and Jelly Roll make up the nominees for Album of the Year for “Deeper Well,” “Father & Sons,” “Higher,” “Leather,” and “Whitsitt Chapel,” respectively.
Stars who stand a chance at nabbing Female Vocalist of the Year include Ballerini, McBryde, Musgraves, Wilson, and famous artist Megan Moroney.
Their male counterparts consist of Combs, Jelly Roll, Johnson, Stapleton, and Wallen. Other standout nominees include the singers up for the New Artist of the Year Award, Moroney, Shaboozey, and fellow stars Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Zach Top, and Bailey Zimmerman.
Other award categories include Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Musician of the Year. Although Urban isn’t nominated for any categories this year, the “Somebody Like You” singer has won awards at the event before.
Years ago, in 2018, he won the Entertainer of the Year Award, which sparked an emotional moment for both Keith Urban and his famous wife Nicole Kidman.
Earlier that night, Urban performed a few of his hits for the audience. First, he shared the stage with Ricky Skaggs, a Hall of Fame inductee.
The pair sang “Highway 40 Blues” with Urban’s band Kentucky Thunder. Following this, Urban stole the show with a performance of “Never Coming Down.”
During his performance, where he encouraged the crowd to get on their feet, Kidman danced and sang along to her beloved’s 2018 hit single.
When it came time for the big announcement, the couple became teary-eyed. Urban began his acceptance speech by acknowledging Kidman and their daughters, “Baby girl, I love you so much. I’m beyond shocked. Everyone at home, Faith, and Munchkin, I love you. Thank you for supporting Daddy and loving me through all of what I do, same with you, baby girl, for making it worthwhile.”
As Kidman looked on proudly, Urban continued, “I have so many people to thank, I wish I had more time to do it right now. The fans, who are phenomenal, country radio, everybody who voted for this, thank you so much… Above all, just God, I thank you for the blessings of this.”
Keith Urban during his acceptance speech. | Source: YouTube/ABC
“I wish my dad was alive to see this, but he’s watching over me tonight. And I just feel very, very blessed and very grateful that I get to do what I do. Thank you, all of you, for coming out, and God bless country music. God bless you all,” concluded the artist.
Before his win, Urban spoke to ET about the significance of the award, “Entertainer is obviously an incredible category and playing live, I’ve been doing that more than anything in my life. I mean, I was playing live before I wrote songs. I wasn’t making records [yet], that was all ahead of me. So playing live is the foundation of so much who I am and what I do [sic].”
He added, “[I’ve been] trying to put on better and better tours and concerts every year, [so to] end up with the Entertainer nod is incredible.”
The win came three weeks after Urban celebrated his birthday in October 2018, which Kidman commemorated with a heartwarming post on Instagram. “You’re so loved,” expressed the loving wife in the caption. The post featured a photo of her kissing Urban’s cheek in front of a half-eaten chocolate cake.
At the time, Kidman was unable to be physically present with her husband, as he was in Hersey, Pennsylvania for a concert. Nonetheless, she had found a way to make sure he felt special.
