The Country Music Association (CMA) announced today that Eric Church and Hank Williams Jr. will join forces to open the 49th Annual CMA Awards Show.

The CMA revealed that Eric Church (one of the night’s top nominees” will take the stage with the legendary country-southern rocker Hank Williams Jr. to open the live awards show with the world premier of Hank Jr.’s new Nash Icon Records release “Are You Ready For The Country.”

The song was written and originally recorded by Neil Young and later recorded by Waylon Jennings. Waylon had a top ten hit with the song that also served as a title track for one of his albums. You can see Waylon perform his version of the song at the bottom of the page. CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton says the song is, “the perfect narrative for the night. It sets up musically everything that is going to happen for the rest of the show.”

Following the huge performance from Eric and Hank Jr. another superstar duo will take the stage, the show’s co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. The two have become known for their opening monologues for the show and everybody will be waiting in anticipation to see and hear what they do this year.

“If you don’t see the first 15 minutes of the CMA Awards live, you will be grasping for straws at the proverbial water cooler the next morning,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “It is that good and it is just the beginning of a great night of entertainment.”

Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will air live Wednesday, November 4th starting at 7:00 pm central time on ABC TV when the 49th Annual CMA Awards Show takes place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

By: Buck Stevens