Emotional and Heartfelt Special Celebrates
Various Categories of Front Line Workers
NASHVILLE — Tonight, CMT premiered “CMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artists of the Year Special” with a three-network simulcast on Paramount Network, Pop TV and TV Land. The uplifting celebration and two-hour virtual tribute brought together the country music community to recognize the most vital and inspirational Americans on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The live-from-home performances included Brandi Carlile, Brothers Osborne, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw and Thomas Rhett. Additionally, Blake Shelton, Bobby Bones, Carrie Underwood, Cody Alan, Gary Sinise, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kristen Bell, Lauren Daigle, Lee Brice, Olivia Munn, Reba McEntire, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn and Zac Brown made appearances to pay tribute to COVID-19 heroes in the following categories: Healthcare, Education, Community & Neighbors, Food Industry, American Ingenuity, Infrastructure, First Responders and US Military.
For more information, visit CMTOneCountry.com to find out how to give back to those who need it most and see how artists themselves are making an impact.
Top highlights from “CMT Celebrates Our Heroes” includes:
- Little Big Town kicked off the evening with an emotional rendition of their song “Bluebird.”
- Blake Shelton introduced viewers to the tight-knit community of Kodiak, Alaska for the “Community & Neighbors’ package, which spotlighted neighborhoods banding together to turn schools into make-shift food pantries to feed those most in need.
- Darius Rucker appeared from his home in Tennessee to give a heartfelt thanks to frontline workers and perform a cover of the Randy Travis hit, “Forever And Ever, Amen.”
- Olivia Munn introduced the ‘American Ingenuity’ category, which spotlighted business that chose to forgo their business-as-usual routines to retrofit product lines to help make PPEs, protective face masks, hand sanitizers and more.
- Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire both appeared separately to give gratitude to educators, as both have multiple teachers in their families. As Carrie stated, “There was no playbook for this. There was no lesson plan,” before introducing seven educators who have pivoted to do their jobs in new, virtual ways.
- Thomas Rhett also gave a shout out to both of his daughter’s teachers before performing his positive, timely new anthem, “Be A Light.”
- Maryland natives Brothers Osborne surprised two frontline workers in their hometown community who were each surprised $25,000 and a performance of their song “Make it a Good One.”
- Dedicating her performance to all the children, adolescents and teens doing creative things for their communities, Kelsea Ballerini sang a cover of “You’ve Got a Friend.”
- Luke Combs treated viewers to his new song he wrote during quarantine, performing “Six Feet Apart.”
- Sam Hunt sang a deep cut of Bruce Springsteen’s “Jack of All Trades” and applauded the hardworking front line workers for their “American resolve.”
- Kristin Bell introduced the heroes in the ‘Infrastructure’ category, applauding the delivery drivers, sanitation workers and utility laborers who “didn’t back down.”
- Scarlett Johansson introduced friend Miranda Lambert, who shared an acoustic rendition of “Bluebird” from her ‘Magic Porch’ in Nashville before acknowledging first responders on the front lines, several of which are in her own family.
- Brandi Carlile, along with Phil and Tim Hanseroth, dedicated their song to their parents and all those not able to see their own with the song ““Most of All.”
- Giving gratitude to all workers in the Food Industry workers, Keith Urban acknowledged the farmers, grocers, delivery drivers and those stocking the shelves.
- Lady Antebellum gave a special shout out to delivery drivers before sharing their joyful, upbeat new song, “Champagne Nights.”
- Tim McGraw dedicated his song “I Called Mama” to his mother, who he calls his biggest hero.
- A long-time supporter of veterans, actor Gary Sinise gave a heartfelt thanks to members of the armed services and introduced the ‘Military’ segment, followed by Florida Georgia Line, who shared their newest patriotic tune, “U.S. Stronger”
- Jason Aldean and Sean Penn were also on hand to give shout-outs to healthcare workers and those doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ambulance drivers and EMT’s doing everything to keep Americans safe.
- Zac Brown introduced the ‘Food Industry’ package, paying tribute to the farmers, distributors, restaurants and grocery workers keeping food on our shelves and tables.
- To close the emotional and heartfelt evening, Kane Brown shared a special performance of “Stand By Me.”
“CMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artists of the Year Special” is executive produced by CMT’s Margaret Comeaux, Switched On Entertainment’s John Hamlin and Amy Lin Johnson; the Executives in Charge of Production are Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino.