<p><strong><em>Follow along on Twitter and Instagram as CountryMusicNewsBlog.com celebrates the 2016 CMT Artists of the Year under hashtag #CMTAOTY</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a></strong>, <strong><a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a></strong>, <strong><a title="Florida Georgia Line" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">Florida Georgia Line</a></strong>, <strong><a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a></strong> and <strong>Thomas Rhett</strong> have been selected by CMT as the premiere country artists of 2016 and will be celebrated at the seventh annual CMT Artists of the Year special, it was announced Tuesday (Sept. 13).</p>
<p>Additionally, <strong><a title="Kelsea Ballerini" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKBallerini/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkelsea-ballerini-tickets%2F">Kelsea Ballerini</a></strong> is set to receive the second-annual Breakout Artist of the Year honor.<br />
<iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V6Tn667yygU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The 2016 <em>CMT Artists of the Year</em> special premieres from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Each artist will be honored with never-before-seen performances alongside lighthearted and emotional moments fueled by plenty of champagne during the 90-minute special on CMT.</p>
<p>Following last year’s nod as breakthrough artist, <a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a> joins first-time recipient Thomas Rhett and veteran <em>CMT Artists of the Year</em> <a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a> (2010, 2012, 2016), <a title="Florida Georgia Line" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">Florida Georgia Line</a> (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and <a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a>, who now ties with <a title="Jason Aldean" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSAldean/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjason-aldean-tickets%2F">Jason Aldean</a> as the artists with most wins with five consecutive years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).</p>
<p>This year’s five honorees collectively dominated the last 12 months in country music, ruling CMT’s platforms and country radio, scoring chart-topping album and singles and selling out concerts across the nation.</p>
<div class="photo"><img class=" js-srcset-img shortcode-image " title="aoty composite" src="http://cmt.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/aoty-composite-1473731628.jpg?quality=0.8&;width=980" alt="aoty composite" width="400" height="228" /></div>
<p>On the heels of her mega-hit debut album, <em>The First Time</em>, and before her first-ever headlining tour, CMT’s Next Women of Country member <a title="Kelsea Ballerini" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKBallerini/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkelsea-ballerini-tickets%2F">Kelsea Ballerini</a> has taken the country world by storm. With her third No. 1 hit “Peter Pan,” she is the only female artist in country music history, including female duos and groups, to reach No. 1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album.</p>
<div class="photo"><img class=" js-srcset-img shortcode-image " title="Kelsea Ballerini" src="http://cmt.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/kelsea-next-women-1432674627.jpg?quality=0.8&;width=980" alt="Kelsea Ballerini" width="400" height="269" /> <span class="photocredit">Rick Diamond/Getty Images </span></div>
<p>Additional awards, performers and special guests will be announced at a later date.</p>
<p>Former <em>CMT Artists of the Year</em> honorees include <a title="Jason Aldean" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSAldean/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjason-aldean-tickets%2F">Jason Aldean</a> (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), <a title="Kenny Chesney" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSChesney/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkenny-chesney-tickets%2F">Kenny Chesney</a> (2011, 2012), <a title="Eric Church" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/eric-church-tour-dates/">Eric Church</a> (2012), <a title="Hunter Hayes" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/hunter-hayes-concert-tour-tickets/">Hunter Hayes</a> (2013), Toby Keith (2012), <a title="Lady Antebellum" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lady-antebellum-concert-tour-tickets/">Lady Antebellum</a> (2010, 2011), <a title="Little Big Town" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">Little Big Town</a> (2015), <a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a> (2012, 2014), <a title="Tim McGraw" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSTMcGraw/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Ftim-mcgraw-tickets%2F">Tim McGraw</a> (2013), <a title="Brad Paisley" href="https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/1224809/264167/4272?subId1=WPScmnbBPaisley&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fbrad-paisley-tickets%2Fartist%2F714837&partnerpropertyid=5213910&MediaPartnerPropertyId=5213910">Brad Paisley</a> (2011), <a title="Blake Shelton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSBlakeS/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fblake-shelton-tickets%2F">Blake Shelton</a> (2015), <a title="Taylor Swift" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSTSwift/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Ftaylor-swift-tickets%2F">Taylor Swift</a> (2010, 2011), <a title="Keith Urban" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKUrban/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkeith-urban-tickets%2F">Keith Urban</a> (2014), <a title="Sam Hunt" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSSamHunt/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fsam-hunt-tickets%2F">Sam Hunt</a> (2015) and the <a title="Zac Brown Band" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSZBB/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fzac-brown-band-tickets%2F">Zac Brown Band</a> (2010).</p>
<p>Previous <em>CMT Artists of the Year</em> performances have included Adele and <a title="Darius Rucker" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSDarius/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fdarius-rucker-tickets%2F">Darius Rucker</a> performing <a title="Lady Antebellum" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lady-antebellum-concert-tour-tickets/">Lady Antebellum</a>’s “Need You Now,” Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis paying tribute to <a title="Little Big Town" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">Little Big Town</a>’s “Girl Crush” and Maroon 5 covering <a title="Taylor Swift" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSTSwift/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Ftaylor-swift-tickets%2F">Taylor Swift</a>’s “Mine.”</p>
<p><em>Tweet about it: [bctt tweet=&#8221;@carrieunderwood @ChrisStapleton @FLAGALine @LukeBryanOnline and @ThomasRhett are @CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR! Watch Oct. 20 at 9pm ET. #CMTAOTY&#8221;]<br />
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CMT Artist of the Year 2016 Details
