TOP WOMEN OF COUNTRY TO PERFORM AT COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(TM)

"The 49th Annual CMA Awards" Broadcasts Live Wednesday, November 4 from Nashville on the ABC Television Network

Some of the top females in Country Music will take to the stage for Country Music's Biggest Night(TM) with performances at "The 49th Annual CMA Awards," airing live WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.

All eyes will be focused on Country Music on November 4 to see the leading ladies of the format, including Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maddie & Tae, and Kacey Musgraves, performing during the three-hour gala. With a combined 16 nominations for "The 49th Annual CMA Awards," these entertainers are at the top of their games.

"From Miranda Lambert's explosive debut CMA performance in New York in 2005 to Reba's performance in that famous red dress that now resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the females in our format deliver some of the most dynamic and talked about Awards moments and this year should be no different," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern.

Ballerini received her first nominations in 2015: Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year.

Lambert received her third Entertainer of the Year nomination in 2015 along with nominations for Female Vocalist (she is a five-time, consecutive winner in the category); Musical Event, featuring Little Big Town, for "Smokin' and Drinkin'"; and Music Video of the Year for "Little Red Wagon," which was directed by Trey Fanjoy. Lambert is the most awarded female in CMA Awards history with 11 wins and 38 nominations.

Duo Maddie & Tae (Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye) received their first nominations for Vocal Duo of the Year; Music Video of the Year for "Girl in a Country Song," which was directed by TK McKamy; and New Artist of the Year.

Musgraves, who won New Artist of the Year in 2013 and Song of the Year in 2014, has three nominations this year including Album of the Year for Pageant Material, which she co-produced with Luke Laird and Shane McAnally (Musgraves only receives one nomination for the category, but can receive a second trophy as producer); Female Vocalist; and Music Video of the Year for "Biscuits," which was directed by Marc Klasfeld.

CMA previously announced the performance collaborations of Eric Church with iconic Country rocker Hank Williams, Jr. for a world premiere of Williams' new Nash Icon release "Are You Ready for the Country," Thomas Rhett collaborating live with Fall Out Boy, as well as performances by critically-acclaimed CMA Awards hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

Winners of "The 49th Annual CMA Awards" will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is tabulated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, October 27 (6:00 PM/CT).

"The 49th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer and Paul Miller is the Director. The CMA Awards will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Fans can get more information on "The 49th Annual CMA Awards" and sign up for CMA emails and exclusives, including a full nominee recap, by visiting CMAawards.com.