Co-hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton kicked off the CMA Awards on Nov. 13 with a rendition of “Those Memories of You,” a Top 5 tune made popular by Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on their 1987 album, Trio.
Jennifer Nettles and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman joined the ceremony to sing “You’re Looking at Country,” a Top 5 hit Loretta Lynn penned and recorded in 1971.
The Highwomen—Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby—performed “You’re Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” a song Tammy Wynette took to No. 3 in 1967.
Tanya Tucker entered the stage to sing her 1972 Top 10 hit, “Delta Dawn,” followed by Gretchen Wilson, who performed her 2004 No. 1 hit, “Redneck Woman.” Crystal Gayle slowed it down with a rendition of her 1977 No. 1 hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” before Terri Clark treated fans to her 1993 Top 5 hit, “Better Things to Do.”
Sara Evans joined the mix to sing her 2000 No. 1 hit, “Born to Fly,” before Martina McBride closed the performance with her anthemic 1994 single, “Independence Day.”
Watch the opening medley below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPacGAykVQg
