Kenny Chesney Unable to Attend CMA Awards Due to Death in Family

Entertainer of the Year nominee Kenny Chesney is unable to attend the 2018 CMA Awards due to a death in his family, a tweet on the CMA's official channel reads:

No further details were available at press time.

The news comes just hours after Chesney and David Lee Murphy were announced as early winners in the 2018 CMA Awards, which are slated to air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 14). The old friends took home Musical Event of the Year for their collaboration on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," the first single from Murphy's No Zip Code album. That award was announced during Good Morning America on Wednesday morning.

The two men were slated to perform the song on the broadcast Wednesday night. There has been no word on what will fill that empty spot in the show.

Other performers who've been announced for the 2018 CMA Awards include Lauren Alaina, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris Brad Paisley and more. Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert will team up for a joint performance. Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Midland and Brett Young will also play during the show, as will Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Pistol Annies and Thomas Rhett.

Luke Bryan is set to open the show, performing "What Makes You Country" with several guests appearances from some of country music's most rising stars. Eric Church has also been confirmed to perform.

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