Luke Bryan is hosting the 2021 CMA Awards! The two-time Entertainer of the Year winner has just been announced as the host of the live broadcast, which will take place on Wednesday, November 10, at 8:00 PM ET from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show will air on ABC.
Bryan will make his CMA Awards debut as the show’s host, although he hosted the ACM Awards from 2013 to 2017. The Georgia native admits he took some time before agreeing to take on the massive role.
“The CMA Awards is one of the biggest nights of the year for country music,” Bryan says. “Being asked to host the CMA Awards was definitely something I put a lot of thought into before answering. The pressure that comes along with that can be overwhelming, but knowing I get to help honor and celebrate so many of my friends, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down. I mean, growing up in Georgia, I remember watching Vince Gill, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell, to name a few. They were so good.
“And then becoming a part of this amazing country music family and sitting on the front row while Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker took the reins, all of these artists are heroes and friends, and I am honored to have my name included in this group,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to making it fun and memorable and using this platform to continue to make country music shine.”
Bryan also shared a video promoting the big event on social media.
It’s an honor to announce I’ll be hosting the 55th annual #CMAawards for the first time! Tune in to the live show Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 8/7c on ABC. Don’t miss Country Music’s biggest night! @CountryMusic pic.twitter.com/g0bFnK5vp8
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 18, 2021
Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, says Bryan is the perfect fit as the CMA Awards host.
“We are so thrilled to have Luke join us as this year’s CMA Awards host,” Trahern says. “His fun and playful energy is something television viewers have welcomed into their homes week after week as a judge on ‘American Idol,’ and I know he has something exciting up his sleeve for the CMA Awards. We cannot wait to bring music fans a magical night of performances and truly some of the most special moments our show has ever delivered, in just a few weeks.”
Bryan is nominated for one CMA Award, for Musical Event of the Year, for his “Buy Dirt” collaboration with Jordan Davis.
Underwood and Paisley hosted the CMA Awards from 2008 to 2018. Underwood continued serving as the host in 2019, joined by McEntire and Dolly Parton. In 2020, McEntire hosted the virtual show with Rucker.