The CMA Awards will look different this year.  There will be people in the seats,   artists, their guests and staff.  The CMA will use banquet style seating. Tables will be spaced 8 feet apart on the floor with one artist and their guest at each table. There will be no red carpet this year but lots of COVID testing. Everyone is being tested before entering rehearsals and other pre-show activities and many are being tested repeatedly.

So far, two artists have tested positive.  Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line‘s Tyler Hubbard.  Lee and Carly Pearce were scheduled to perform their hit single, I Hope Your Happy Now but Lady A‘s Charles Kelly will take his place.