Celebrate Tonight’s CMA 50 Awards With the Forever Country Cover Series

The 50th annual Country Music Association Awards take place tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the 2016 CMA Awards, which begin at 7 pm tonight and will air live on ABC.

As part of the celebration, the Country Music Association has put together the Forever Country Cover Series, which features various artists covering some of the biggest country hits over the years.

Here are some of our favorites.

The cover series is named for the video that kicked off the celebration this year. “Forever Country” features 30 CMA Award-winning acts singing a special mashup. The mashup features John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads” Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” Among the artists featured are Paisley, Underwood, Little Big Town, Charley Pride, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban as well as many others.

“Forever Country”

“Forever Country”

 

“Sunday Morning Coming Down”

Collin Raye saw sucess with his own career throught the 1990s into the 2000s. He had Billboard number one hits with “Love, Me”, “In This Life”, “My Kind of Girl” and “I Can Still Feel You.”

Here, he covers “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” written by Kris Krisofferson. The song was a hit for Ray Stevens in 1969 and then became a number one hit for Johnny Cash. Cash’s version was also awarded Song of the Year in 1970.

Collin Raye covers “Sunday Morning Coming Down”

 

“This Kiss”

The youngest artist in the series is definitely Tegan Marie, who covers “This Kiss”, the Faith Hill hit from the late 1990s.

Tegan Marie, 13, most recently saw success across the internet with her cover of “H.O.L.Y.”

Tegan Marie covers “This Kiss” by Faith Hill

“Three Wooden Crosses”

Josh Turner was tabbed to cover “Three Wooden Crosses.” The song was written by Kim Williams and Dog Johnson and recorded by Randy Travis.  It was named Song of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2003.

Josh Turner covers “Three Wooden Crosses”

 

“Strawberry Wine”

Lindsay Ell covered “Strawberry Wine” for the Forever Country cover series. The song was made famous by Deana Carter and written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison. The single was named Song of the Year at the 1997 CMA Awards.

Deana Carter had three songs hit number one on the Billboard country charts, including this song. “We Danced Anyways” and “How Do I Get There” were the other two songs.

Lindsay Ell is a relative newcomer to the country music scene. The Canadian singer is probably best known for her frequent apperances on The Bobby Bones Show. Ell has opened for The Band Perry and appeared in concert with Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Big & Rich and others. It was revelaed last month that Ell and Bobby Bones are dating.

Lindsay Ell covers “Strawberry Wine”

 

“In Color”

Scotty McCreery was tabbed to cover “In Color”, the 2009 CMA Song of the Year for Jamey Johnson.

“In Color” was written by Johnson and became his first big hit.

McCreery rose to fame as the winner of the 10th season of American Idol.

Scotty McCreery covers “In Color” by James Johnson

 

“Believe”

Another alumnus of season 10 of American Idol, Lauren Alaina, covered “Believe” for the series. Written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman, Brooks & Dunn made it the 2006 CMA Single of the Year.

Lauren Alaina was the runner-up to McCreery on Idol and was named New Artist of the Year by the American Country Awards in 2012. She’s seen moderate success with hits like “Like My Mother Does”, and “Georgia Peaches.” She released her latest single, “Road Less Traveled” in July.

Lauren Alaina covers “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn

 

This will be the ninth consecutive year that Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host the CMA Awards. The biggest and brightest stars are nominated at the 2016 CMA Awards, including Garth Brooks, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini and more.

Be sure to tune in tonight, November 2, at 7 pm CST on ABC.

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