Photo Coverage: CMA Music Festival in Nashville

The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967. (The Entertainer of the Year award that night went to Eddy Arnold.) The second annual CMA awards were presented in October 1968; NBC taped the ceremony and broadcast it a few weeks later). Beginning in 1969, the awards were televised live, usually during October or November of each year. They continued to be broadcast on NBC until switching to CBS in 1972, where they remained until 2005. Starting in November 2006, the Annual CMA Awards are televised on ABC. The CMA Awards, for many years, were held at the home of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry; initially at the Ryman Auditorium, and from 1974 to 2004 at the Grand Ole Opry House. The 2005 ceremonies took place in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The awards show has been held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena since 2006.

Tim McGraw 

Tim McGraw 

Tim McGraw 

Tim McGraw 

Tim McGraw 

Tim McGraw 

Miranda Lambert 

Miranda Lambert

Gary Allan

Carrie Underwood

Singer Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood

LeAnn Rimes

Gretchen Wilson 

Gretchen Wilson 

Gretchen Wilson 

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Fly over during the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 11, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Stadium crowd during the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 11, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Marines during the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 12, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

 Atmosphere during the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field on June 12, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 12: Atmosphere during the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field 

CMA's CEO Tammy Genovese 

CMA Shirt seen during the 2009 CMA Music Festival 

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean welcomes crowds during the 2009 CMA Music Festival 

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 13: Jamey Johnson performs in the 2009 CMA Music Festival at LP Field 

Josh Turner 

Jamey Johnson 

Leann Womack 

Wynonna Judd 

Wynonna Judd 

Leann Womack 

 Leann Womack 

Wynonna Judd 

Leann Womack 

Jason Michael Carroll 

Keith Urban  

l-r Keith Urban, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn

Keith Urban 

Ean Evans of the group Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sara Evans sings to her new fiance, Jay Barker 

Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter, Brandi Cyrus 

Sara Evans 

Bucky Covington 

Bucky Covington 

Jason Michael Carroll 

Jessica Harp 

Jennifer Nettles, left, and Krisitan Bush 

Sara Evans

Bucky Covington 

Bucky Covington 

Bucky Covington 

Bucky Covington 

Carrie Underwood

Two-Foot Fred is welcomed onstage by Big Kenny 

Carrie Underwood 

Reba McEntire L performs with former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson 

Reba McEntire L performs with former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson

Alan Jackson 

Alan Jackson 

Carrie Underwood 

Carrie Underwood 

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn

Fans photograph the stars 

Kix Brooks L and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn

Kix Brooks L and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn

Kix Brooks L and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn 

Kix Brooks L and Ronnie Dunn Brooks & Dunn

Reba McEntire

Chuck Wicks 

Little Big Town

Jason Aldean

 Kid Rock 

Jason Aldean 

 Luke Bryant 

 Luke Bryant

Luke Bryant 

Kid Rock 

Luke Bryant 

Kid Rock 

Zac Brown Band Zac Brown 

 Little Big Town 

Zac Brown Band Zac Brown 

Little Big Town 

Jake Owen 

Jake Owen 

 Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift 

 Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift 

Singer/Songwriter Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift