CMA Awards Add Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and More
By Wade Carter
The CMA Awards are stacking the deck a little higher this year.
On Nov. 10, the Country Music Association announced more performers for “The 60th Annual CMA Awards,” adding several major names to a show that already had plenty for country fans to circle on the calendar.
According to the Country Music Association, the newly added performers include Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Megan Moroney, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.
That is a pretty wide slice of the country world, from longtime respected voices to current radio favorites and artists who like to stretch the edges of the format. In other words, the kind of lineup that can keep the remote on the coffee table for a few hours.
Brooks & Dunn Tribute Also Set
The CMA also announced a special performance tied to Brooks & Dunn, who are this year’s CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
That tribute will feature:
- Brothers Osborne
- Luke Bryan
- Halestorm
- HARDY
- Marcus King
For fans who grew up with Brooks & Dunn songs on the radio, that part of the show may hit a little harder. Their music has lived a long life in country, and this lineup brings in artists from different corners of today’s scene to honor that legacy.
Lainey Wilson Pulls Double Duty Again
Lainey Wilson is not just performing. She is also returning as host for her third consecutive year, according to the CMA.
She is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year. That makes for a busy night: host the show, perform on the show, and maybe take home some hardware. No pressure there.
Wilson’s name also remains strong on the radio side. On the Billboard Canada Country Airplay chart dated Nov. 7, 2026, Lainey Wilson and John Mayer were at No. 2 with “Phone, Keys, Wallet.”
That same chart also had Luke Combs at No. 5 with “Rethink Some Things,” Megan Moroney at No. 26 with “Medicine,” and Cody Johnson at No. 29 with “Horseback.” It is a reminder that several names connected to CMA night are also right in the middle of what country fans are hearing now.
When To Watch
“The 60th Annual CMA Awards” airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, from 8:00-11:00 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu, according to the CMA.
Taste of Country reported that the 2026 CMA Awards lineup now features 15 performances from 21 artists. That is a full plate, even by awards show standards.
For country fans in northern Nevada, it means a night with a lot of familiar voices, a few interesting pairings, and a well-earned salute to Brooks & Dunn. Sounds like a good one to have on while Big Country 103.9 keeps the music rolling.
Sources: Country Music Association, Taste of Country, Billboard Canada