Maren Morris is walking to the 2019 Country Music Association Awards with a lot of feelings.
As the most-nominated act at an event for a music genre dominated by its male performers, Morris has become one of the key female faces of country music. She will pay tribute to her producer busbee, who died in September at age 43 and shares nominations with Morris for his work on her acclaimed project, “GIRL.” And Wednesday night’s show will mark the pregnant singer’s “kid’s first awards show” — as she put it.
Morris says, “Dolly Parton touched my stomach earlier when we were rehearsing, so he's been touched by an angel.”
FILE - This April 1, 2019 file photo shows, from left, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, and Natalie Hemby of The Highwomen performing at Loretta Lynn's 87th Birthday Tribute in Nashville, Tenn. Morris will kick off the CMA Awards on Wednesday with her supergroup The Highwomen. (Photo by Al WagnerInvisionAP, File)
The CMAs will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
FILE - In this June 22, 2018, file photo, Carrie Underwood attends the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards in Los Angeles. Underwood, who is hosting the 2019 Country Music Association Awards with Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, could be the first female to win entertainer of the year since 2011, when Taylor Swift took home the honor. Underwood is the sole women competing for the top prize along with Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church and last year’s winner, Keith Urban. (Photo by Richard ShotwellInvisionAP, File)