Carrie Underwood might have been largely snubbed from the list of nominees for the 2021 ACM Awards, but she is still slated to perform. The Oklahoma native joins an all-star list of performers taking the stage during the annual show, including Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, Miranda Lambert and more. Co-hosts Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton will also perform.
More than 30 songs will be performed during the ceremony, which is taking place at the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe, moving for the second year in a row from Las Vegas to Nashville, due to the pandemic.
Presenting the ✨incredible✨ lineup of performers for the 56th #ACMawards!
🎵 This year's show features 25+ artists performing 30+ songs at multiple venues across #Nashville for an unforgettable evening.💥Catch it Sunday, April 18th at 8/7c on @CBS / @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/212gt7pjUn
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) April 5, 2021
“We’re thrilled to return to Music City’s most iconic venues as we come together on April 18th to celebrate the best in Country Music, back in our normal awards cycle,” Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, said in a statement. “A huge thank you to the city of Nashville, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and Bluebird Cafe for welcoming us back to Nashville, where we can look out for the safety of our artists while shining a spotlight on this vibrant city after a tough 2020.”
While specific songs have yet to be announced, it is likely that Underwood will perform “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” since CeCe Winans is also listed as a performer.
“I met her years ago when she first won on American Idol,” Winans previously told MusicRow of collaborating with Underwood.”I knew she was talented, but right after that, we sang at the White House together so I got a chance to meet her up close and personal. I got a chance to hear her sing and I was like, ‘Oh, she can really sing!’ I’ve loved seeing her career blossom the way it has since then.”
Other performers include Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Ryan Hurd, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Jon Randall, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, The War and Treaty and Chris Young.
The 2021 ACM Awards will air live on Sunday, April 18, at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.