Why Isn’t Kris Kristofferson Attending the 2019 CMA Awards?
Kris Kristofferson will not be attending the 53rd annual CMA Awards this year, although he will be honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony.
Kristofferson was already scheduled to play a previously announced concert at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 13, according to his website. He has decided to keep that concert date, but that's not too uncommon, since canceling or rescheduling concerts can be tricky in terms of promoters, and entertainers generally don't want to disappoint fans who've already paid for tickets and made plans in advance. Kelly Clarkson, for instance, missed the Grammy Awards in February despite being nominated so that she could honor a previously scheduled date.
The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is a significant honor, and Kristofferson will be subject to a musical tribute performance featuring Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and the Brothers Osborne's John Osborne. The foursome are set to perform Kristofferson's classic hit, "Me and Bobby McGee."
Nelson became the first recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Other winners include Kenny Rogers in 2013, Johnny Cash in 2015 and Dolly Parton, who received the award in 2016.
Kristofferson won his first CMA Award in 1970 for Song of the Year for "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down." Most recently, he was nominated at the 2012 CMA Awards for Musical Event of the Year for "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die," which he performed during the ceremony alongside Snoop Dogg, Jamey Johnson and Nelson.
The 2019 CMA Awards are set to take place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn,. and air live on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8PM ET. Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire are joining Carrie Underwood to co-host the show, which will have a heavy focus on honoring women in country music.
Remember: The best way to watch the CMAs is on TV, with ToC on your phone!
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