ABC Goes Country for November

In November, many of Country Music's biggest talents are appearing on the ABC television network, home to "The 44th Annual CMA Awards," airing on Wednesday, November 10 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET).

In chronological order:

ONGOING, OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 10, "ROAD TO THE CMA AWARDS" (Check local listings for exacts airdates/times in your city) - "Road to the CMA Awards" is a half-hour special airing on local ABC affiliates. It provides a fascinating sneak peek at "Country Music's Biggest Night." Packed with artist interviews and highlights from past CMA Awards, it features Trace Adkins, Danny Gokey, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. "Road to the CMA Awards" offers fans an opportunity to hear and see these artists' favorite memories from past CMA Awards, as well as find out what it was like to be nominated and perform for the first time.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" (8:00-9:30 p.m., ET) - Multi-platinum music sensation Taylor Swift will perform on the results show 200th episode celebration. Swift is also the reigning CMA Female Vocalist, a category for which she is nominated again this year. She has won a total of six CMA Awards, including Album (in 2009 for Fearless, which also earned her a second trophy as co-producer), Music Video (in 2009 for "Love Story," directed by Trey Fanjoy), and Horizon Award (2007). In 2009 she was the recipient of the annual CMA International Artist Achievement Award. Her highly anticipated third album, Speak Now, will be released on Oct. 25.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, "IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH Robin Roberts: ALL ACCESS NASHVILLE" (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) -- Robin Roberts once again puts on her cowboy boots for an hour-long special which will give viewers an all-access pass into the homes and private lives of Country Music's biggest stars. Roberts will get up close and personal with such country superstars as Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. The special also takes viewers inside the amazing homes of some of Country Music's biggest stars, including an exclusive tour of Kellie Pickler's new Nashville home.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) - Country superstar and co-host of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" Brad Paisley performs live. Paisley has won 13 CMA Awards since receiving the Horizon Award (now the New Artist Award) in 2000, including Male Vocalist (2007, 2008, 2009) and Album (2006 for "Time Well Wasted"). He has released eight critically acclaimed studio albums, with sales of more than 11 million units. His most recent album, "American Saturday Night," was ranked as Time magazine's 2009 No. 1 album of the year in any genre of music. His most recent No. 1 single, "Water," was his 17th chart topper - the last 13 consecutive. Paisley's innovative and entertaining "H2O World Tour, which consistently sells out, has been extended into 2011 and been renamed the "H2O Frozen Over Tour." His newest album, "Hits Alive," will include original studio tracks as well as live tracks from his concerts and will be released Nov. 2.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) - Country megastar and actress Reba appears live from New York City.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, "THE 44TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) -- Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Previously announced performers include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Underwood and Keith Urban. In addition, special performances will feature Gwyneth Paltrow in her live Country Music singing debut, performing with Vince Gill; top nominee Lambert with Sheryl Crow in a tribute to Loretta Lynn's 50th anniversary as a recording artist; and Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, "Jimmy Kimmel LIVE" (12:05 a.m.-1:05 a.m., ET) - Blake Shelton, who was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, performs.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, "EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) - "Lighthouse School/Sweatt Family"-- The Extreme Team returned to Nashville, Tennessee, which was devastated by the 500-year flood on May 1st of this year. At that time, news stations across the country featured footage of a school building floating down the interstate. What people didn't know was that the Sweatt Family had been running the school since 2003 and, despite extensive damage to their own facility, Brian, and his wife, Barbara, have spearheaded recovery efforts helping over 200 families to date. Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and LeAnn Rimes descend on the Sweatts and the school that has touched the hearts of so many and team with the show's designers to deliver a new school to the deserving students.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, "CASTLE" (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) -- "Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind" -- Singer and actor Lyle Lovett ("The Player," "The Opposite of Sex") will guest star as Agent Darryl Shafer, a larger-than-life yet shadowy government figure who plays his cards close to the vest. In the story, after a prominent astrophysicist's body is found in her car -- the victim of explosive decompression - there can be only two possible causes: Either she was killed in a decompression chamber (and the killer moved the body), or she died in the vacuum of space. Given that the latter explanation points to something otherworldly, Castle and Beckett focus their investigation right here on Earth - only to be confronted with evidence that keeps pointing them back to the impossible -- alien abduction.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, "Jimmy Kimmel LIVE" (12:05-1:05 a.m., ET) - Jason Aldean performs.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, "BETTER WITH YOU" (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET) -- "Better with Flirting" -- Country Music superstar Reba reunites with her "Reba" TV daughter, JoAnna Garcia ("Mia"), when Reba guest stars as a high-end wedding planner who tries to upstage Mia's pending nuptials.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29 "CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS" (9:30-11:00 p.m., ET) - Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts Country's biggest stars as they join together to celebrate the holidays! In true Christmas spirit, these artists will celebrate the season with songs and stories that are sure to warm your heart. Joined by some of their family members, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Sheryl Crow and Sugarland will share with fans their holiday traditions and memories. "CMA Country Christmas" will tape in front of a live audience on Thursday, November 11 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

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