<p><strong>CMT will honor victims of the recent devastating hurricanes, and the SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st mass shooting in LAS VEGAS, by transforming its &#8220;CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR&#8221; special into a night of hope and healing.</strong></p>
<p><img class=" wp-image-3899 alignright" src="http://www.countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/cmt-logo1-200x150.jpg" alt="From our friends at CMT" width="120" height="92" />The eighth-annual special will air live from NASHVILLE&#8217;s SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18th at p (ET). <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>, <a title="FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE</a>, <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>, <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>, 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> will be honored during the show, and will be joined by ANDRA DAY, LEE ANN WOMACK and <a title="LITTLE BIG TOWN" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">LITTLE BIG TOWN</a>, who will open the show with a performance of &#8220;Rise Up.&#8221; Additionally, DAY, <a title="LITTLE BIG TOWN" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">LITTLE BIG TOWN</a> and COMMON will perform &#8220;Stand For Something.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;<em>Given the devastation of Hurricanes HARVEY, IRMA, and MARIA, and the mass shootings in LAS VEGAS, we feel a commitment to our fans to address all of the tragedies not in one somber and solemn moment or segment, but rather devote the entire evening to uplifting the fans through high-spirited music</em>,” said CMT/TV LAND GM FRANK TANKI. &#8220;<em>Both &#8216;Rise Up&#8217; and &#8216;Stand Up for Something&#8217; are inspirational anthems that perfectly sum the message for the evening. The special has always been a place where artists from different genres can stand side-by-side, and now more than ever, we want to showcase the power of unity and resilience through music.</em>&#8221;</p>
<p>CMT says this year’s ceremony will forgo the formal presentations of awards and speeches in favor of heartfelt messages from the honorees directly to their fans. In addition, CMT has assembled the entertainment community to share messages of hope and healing. Additional performers will be announced at a later date.</p>