Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney can call themselves CMA Award-winning artists a little earlier than everyone else this year.
Before the 55th Annual CMA Awards air later this evening on ABC, the Country Music Association revealed its winners in two categories — “CMA Musical Event of the Year” and “CMA Music Video of the Year — on Good Morning America, both of which were awarded to Ballerini and Chesney for their collaboration on “half of my hometown.”
#CMAawards Music Video of the Year goes to …
“half of my hometown” by @KelseaBallerini and @kennychesney!@CountryMusichttps://t.co/w3VqtO5H4z pic.twitter.com/0eJy1cCALW
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 10, 2021
The big win marks is Chesney’s eleventh and twelfth time CMA Award, while the two wins are Ballerini’s first and second.
“Growing up in East TN, it’s a deeper kind of home. That’s what makes being apart of #halfofmyhometown so special,” Chesney tweeted after the news broke on GMA. “I’m thrilled for Kelsea to have won Musical Event & Music Video of the Year! She couldn’t deserve it more & I’m honored to be a part of it. #cmaawards.”
Growing up in East TN, it’s a deeper kind of home. That’s what makes being part of #halfofmyhometown so special. I’m thrilled for Kelsea to have won Musical Event & Music Video of the Year! She couldn’t deserve it more & I’m honored to be a part of it. #cmaawards pic.twitter.com/itUiOwlezU
— Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) November 10, 2021
The night is only the beginning for Kelsea, as she’s expected to present during the show, which kicks off at 8/7c on ABC. Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton feat. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Jennifer Hudson, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Kane Brown, and Zac Brown Band are all confirmed to take the stage during the three hour ceremony; while Trace Adkins, Ingrid Andress, Deana Carter, Lauren Daigle, Russell Dickerson, Faith Fennidy, Florida Georgia Line, Freddie Freeman, Amy Grant, Dulé Hill, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Lady A, Zachary Levi, Scotty McCreery, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker, Susan Sarandon, Saycon Sengbloh, Kurt Warner, Lainey Wilson and Trisha Yearwood will present awards to tonight’s big winners.
Are you excited for country music’s biggest night? Let us know by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by tweeting us at @CS_Country.
You can watch the full CMA Awards preview from GMA below:
