[11/14/25 - 09:03 AM] "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" Goes Behind the Scenes of Iconic Music City Venues, Tuesday, Nov. 18, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu The one-hour special features Kenny Chesney, who brings cameras back to Nashville's famed Lower Broadway to revisit the venues where he first performed as a young man with dreams of making it big in Music City.
[via press release from ABC]
'CENTER STAGE: COUNTDOWN TO THE CMA AWARDS - SPECIAL EDITION OF 20/20' GOES BEHIND THE SCENES OF ICONIC MUSIC CITY VENUES, TUESDAY, NOV. 18, ON ABC, STREAMING NEXT DAY ON DISNEY+ AND HULU
Country Music Superstar Luke Bryan Hosts Primetime Special Featuring 12-Time CMA Award Winner Kenny Chesney, Who Returns to His Broadway Roots and Discusses His New Book, 'Heart Life Music'
On the eve of the CMA Awards, Country Music's Biggest Night(TM), the stars come together to take viewers on a journey through Nashville's legendary stages - from the neon-lit bars of Broadway to the hallowed circle of the Grand Ole Opry - in a primetime special hosted by country music chart-topper Luke Bryan. "Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" airs TUESDAY, NOV. 18 (10:07-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
The one-hour special features Billboard's No. 1 Country Artist of the 21st Century, Kenny Chesney, who brings cameras back to Nashville's famed Lower Broadway to revisit the venues where he first performed as a young man with dreams of making it big in Music City. Chesney also discusses his new book, "Heart Life Music," in a heartfelt interview about his life and musical journey.
Country music stars Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay and Russell Dickerson gather to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the most historic stage in Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry, sharing personal memories and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories of performing in the iconic circle that launched the careers of country music's greatest legends.
"Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" also explores this year's CMA Award-nominated Musical Event of the Year collaborations, featuring this year's most buzzed about pairings, including Blake Shelton with Post Malone, Carrie Underwood with Cody Johnson and Ella Langley with Riley Green. Additional appearances include Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Ashley McBryde and Keith Urban.
"The 59th Annual CMA Awards" broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and is available next day on Hulu.
"Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" is produced by "20/20" and ABC News Studios. Janice Johnston is the senior executive producer. Emily Whipp is the executive producer, and Monica Escobedo is the senior entertainment producer.
About "20/20"
ABC News' "20/20" is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, "20/20" features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour "20/20" events air Fridays from 9-11 p.m. ET on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms, Disney+ and Hulu.
About ABC News Studios
ABC News Studios is inspired by ABC News' trusted reporting and is an award-winning premium news and documentary original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories driving the cultural zeitgeist, spanning true crime, investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios' original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," "BRATS," "The Lady Bird Diaries," Emmy-winning "Patrice: The Movie," "Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything" and most recently "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery - The Untold Story." Other popular docuseries, documentaries and specials include "Scamanda," "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer," "Betrayal: Under His Eye," "Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?," "Mr. and Mrs. Murder" and "Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari" and "Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey - A Diane Sawyer Special."
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