Little Big Town has been announced as the host of the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, taking place on September 28 at the Grand Ole Opry. The group, made up of Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2014, which is why they are thrilled to helm the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards. The show will air live at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
“We are honored to host the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, especially on one of our most beloved stages in the entire world,” Little Big Town says in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming so many of our talented peers to take the Opry stage for this magical night of music.”
“Little Big Town is a force in country music and a beloved staple on Music Row,” continues Cassandra Tryon, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Live Events, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “As Opry members, they’ve delighted fans for years on the world-famous stage and we’re honored to have them host, perform and bring this inaugural ceremony to life for our NBC and Peacock audiences.”
Per a press release, the People’s Choice Country Awards will “lean into the rich connection between country music and the Opry through chart-topping musical performances, genre-bending collaborations, legendary tributes and surprise moments that regularly happen from the iconic venue.”
In addition to the fan-voted awards, several honorary awards will also be given during the live ceremony.
Little Big Town’s latest single, “Hell Yeah,” was released in 2022. The song is from their latest Mr. Sun album, out in September.
“Phillip [Sweet] and I wrote this with Tyler Hubbard and Corey Crowder,” Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook reveals. “I remember when Corey brought that hook in that day. He sang his idea and when he turned that phrase at the end of the chorus, we were all like ‘hell yeah!’ We always have a blast writing with those guys.”
“This song is a classic breakup song, flipped upside down,” adds Sweet. “It’s pure feel-good vibes. We are so excited to premiere it on the CMT Music Awards which has always been a home for us in releasing new music. Big thanks to iHeart for the radio World Premiere. Hell yeah!”
More information on the People’s Choice Awards, including categories, voting, performers and presenters, will be available in the coming weeks.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of NBC / Blair Getz Mezibov