Country Music's Rich History Shines Bright in 'Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20'
Ahead of the 59th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, a new special is set to transport viewers back to Nashville's most iconic stages. Hosted by Luke Bryan, "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through the city's legendary venues, featuring stories from some of country music's biggest stars.
In a trailer for the special, Kenny Chesney reminisces about his early days playing on Lower Broadway, where he spent hours performing and pouring tips into jars. "I sat on a stool a lot like this one and I sat and played four hours a night with a tip jar in front of me. God, it was so much fun," he says, reflecting on the city that helped launch his career.
Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Russell Dickerson, Keith Urban, and others share their own experiences at Music City's most historic stage, the Grand Ole Opry. Urban notes, "I got to Nashville and thought I'd made it because I'm in Nashville, you know. And then the Opry is this whole other level."
The special also explores the CMA Awards stage, featuring collaborations that are up for Musical Event of the Year, including Blake Shelton with Post Malone, Carrie Underwood with Cody Johnson, and Ella Langley with Riley Green.
Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Ashley McBryde, and Dolly Parton round out the special's lineup, offering a glimpse into the city's vibrant music scene. "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" airs on Tuesday, November 18th at 10:07-11:00 p.m. EST on ABC and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
As the country music world gears up for the 59th Annual CMA Awards, this special is sure to be a must-watch for fans. Don't miss the live streaming preshow, "On The Red Carpet at the CMA Awards," which will feature exclusive interviews with nominees, performers, and presenters, as well as red carpet fashion analysis and more. Stream it all live at OnTheRedCarpet.com, CMAAwards.com, YouTube.com/OnTheRedCarpet, and Hulu.
Ahead of the 59th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, a new special is set to transport viewers back to Nashville's most iconic stages. Hosted by Luke Bryan, "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through the city's legendary venues, featuring stories from some of country music's biggest stars.
In a trailer for the special, Kenny Chesney reminisces about his early days playing on Lower Broadway, where he spent hours performing and pouring tips into jars. "I sat on a stool a lot like this one and I sat and played four hours a night with a tip jar in front of me. God, it was so much fun," he says, reflecting on the city that helped launch his career.
Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Russell Dickerson, Keith Urban, and others share their own experiences at Music City's most historic stage, the Grand Ole Opry. Urban notes, "I got to Nashville and thought I'd made it because I'm in Nashville, you know. And then the Opry is this whole other level."
The special also explores the CMA Awards stage, featuring collaborations that are up for Musical Event of the Year, including Blake Shelton with Post Malone, Carrie Underwood with Cody Johnson, and Ella Langley with Riley Green.
Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Ashley McBryde, and Dolly Parton round out the special's lineup, offering a glimpse into the city's vibrant music scene. "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" airs on Tuesday, November 18th at 10:07-11:00 p.m. EST on ABC and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
As the country music world gears up for the 59th Annual CMA Awards, this special is sure to be a must-watch for fans. Don't miss the live streaming preshow, "On The Red Carpet at the CMA Awards," which will feature exclusive interviews with nominees, performers, and presenters, as well as red carpet fashion analysis and more. Stream it all live at OnTheRedCarpet.com, CMAAwards.com, YouTube.com/OnTheRedCarpet, and Hulu.
! I remember watchin' these country music specials back in the day on 20/20, and now they're all about nostalgia and whatnot. It's like lookin' at old photos – you gotta cherish 'em, ya know? I love seein' Kenny Chesney talkin' about his early days on Lower Broadway, though. That's where it all started for some of these legends, and it's rad they're sharin' their stories with us now. And can we talk about the Grand Ole Opry? That place is country music royalty, and to see all these big names talkin' about it... it just gives me chills 
! I was listening to Kenny Chesney's stuff back in the day, like "Summertime" and "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem", and it brought back some crazy memories for me... like when I first moved to Nashville and played gigs at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. The special sounds like a total trip down memory lane, with all these legends sharing their stories about the Grand Ole Opry. And can you believe Blake Shelton is teaming up with Post Malone on that Musical Event of the Year collaboration? That's some serious country-pop fusion going on!
. And the lineups for the CMA Awards? insane 
I'm really hyped to see what everyone's gonna perform, especially with Blake Shelton and Post Malone teaming up 
. Can't wait to tune in on Nov 18th 
. I was driving with my friends and we saw this old roadside diner that had a sign that said "Best Fried Chicken in the State" 
. We all looked at each other like, "Why not?" So we pulled in and OMG it was SO GOOD 
. The chef even let us try making our own fried chicken from scratch! I'm pretty sure that's what inspired me to write a song about road trips and good food... maybe one day I'll make it big 
. Anyway, back to country music - have you guys listened to the new Taylor Swift album?
. Can't they just let the artists talk for themselves without having to awkwardly host a countdown? And what's with Luke Bryan being the host? He's not exactly known for his conversational skills. The only thing that gets me excited is the fact that Dolly Parton is in it, but even she can't make up for the cringeworthy moments when Kenny Chesney starts reminiscing about pouring tips into jars 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that the special airs at 10:07-11:00 p.m. EST... who even watches TV that late? It's just so... predictable 
. Can we please just stick to the artists performing and sharing their music instead of feeling like we're stuck in a nostalgic time warp?
. And can we talk about how Gabby Barrett and Dan + Shay are part of this special? They're next gen country music talent! I'm gonna tune in to watch this special on November 18th... but you know what's even better? Watching old videos of Carrie Underwood performing at the Grand Ole Opry from like, 2005 
I just love seeing the nostalgia shine through in this special! It's so cool to see legends like Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban reminiscing about their early days on the Nashville scene 
. Plus, it's awesome to see new artists like Lauren Alaina and Gabby Barrett sharing their own experiences on the legendary stages 
!
The way these country music legends reminisce about their early days on Lower Broadway is kinda like how we look back at our own formative years – the struggles, the passions, and the people that shaped us into who we are today. It's amazing how a simple stool in a small venue can hold so much significance and nostalgia... it's almost like that stool has become a symbol of their journeys to stardom 
. And Keith Urban's comment about thinking he'd "made it" when he arrived in Nashville is really insightful – it's a reminder that success often comes with a level of privilege and exposure that we may not always appreciate until we've been there ourselves 
.
I'm also stoked to see some of the biggest names in country music come together for the CMA Awards. It's gonna be a night to remember! 