Country Music's biggest night of the year is going down today. The 2014 CMA Awards will begin at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, and red-carpet coverage will begin two hours prior to the ceremony start-time. Fans can watch online the 48th Country Music Award via live stream - free for subscribers - below, or on Watch ABC App.
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will be co-hosting the celebrated event for the seventh consecutive year. Underwood disclosed in an uncensored interview with Paisley that she is expecting a child, and has been adjusting her singing accordingly.
Christian NFL football player Tim Tebow is among the presenters of the night, including Lily Aldridge, Darius Rucker, Lee Brice, Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Martina McBride, Kip Moore, Connie Britton, Garth Brooks, Lucy Hale, Steven Tyler and Trisha Yearwood.
"It is my first time coming to the CMA. It should be a lot of fun. I spent a lot of time here in Nashville and East Tennessee. I trained here coming out of college, and so I love this area. It's an awesome city and the people are wonderful," said Tebow, according to ABC's affiliate wate.com.
Obama also send his greetings to those gathered at the 48th Annual CMA Awards:
"Across America and around the world, country music means so much to so many people. This music captures the full range of emotions we feel from day to day and are struck by in extraordinary moments. It can be about sorrow. And it is always about uniting the power of song with stories of everyday life, revealing common truths about experiences as they are lived.
"Country music has left a broad, indelible mark on our Nation, and the CMA Awards celebrate those who are fortifying this cherished musical tradition today. As you gather for the biggest night in country music, Michelle and I wish you the very best for a memorable evening."
From Hollywood, Jimmy Kimmel will also appear on stage via Hologram broadcast at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Meanwhile, the unannounced CMA Award winner will be interviewed as a hologram by Kimmel on stage in Hollywood. Those watching Jimmy Kimmel Live can also get a glimpse of the music award performance from CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line from Nashville via Hologram. Most recently, David Letterman also featured a performance by a Japanese anime hologram.
Besides the special effects, Christian NFL football player Tim Tebow is among the presenters of the night, including Lily Aldridge, Darius Rucker, Lee Brice, Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Martina McBride, Kip Moore, Connie Britton, Garth Brooks, Lucy Hale, Steven Tyler and Trisha Yearwood.
"It is my first time coming to the CMA. It should be a lot of fun. I spent a lot of time here in Nashville and East Tennessee. I trained here coming out of college, and so I love this area. It's an awesome city and the people are wonderful," said Tebow, according to ABC's affiliate wate.com.
The performance lineups for the three-hour-long CMA Awards include Dobbie Brothers, Hunter Hayes, Jennifer Nettles, Michael McDonald, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Paisley, Ashley Monroe, The Band Perry and Underwood, Ariana Grande and Megan Trainor.
The nominees for the Entertainer of the Year award are Luke Bryan, George Strait, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, all of whom will be performing tonight as well. Lambert, whose song "Automatic" has won "Single of the Year," "Music Video of the Year," and "Song of the Year," is poised to win the Entertainer of the Year award, but the actual result will be disclosed tonight. The full list of awards nominees can be accessed here.
The CMA Awards live stream can be watched by downloading the Watch ABC app through Apple itunes store or Android's Google Play. The app features exclusive access to backstage footage, and red-carpet pre-show, which begins at 6 p.m. EST or 3 p.m. PT. ABC will also be live streaming the 2014 CMA Awards on their website via live stream by clicking here.