Variety Launches CMA Awards Interview Lounge in Nashville
nashville, TN – Variety will host its first-ever Interview Lounge in Nashville on November 17 and 18, leading up to the 59th Annual CMA Awards. The lounge, presented by Duke Cannon, will feature exclusive interviews with this year’s nominees and prominent country artists.
This inaugural event underscores Variety’s expanded commitment to country music coverage during one of the genre’s most notable events. The Interview Lounge provides a platform for artists to connect with a broad audience ahead of the live broadcast,offering fans deeper insights into the nominees and performers. The CMA Awards,a cornerstone of country music,recognize outstanding achievements in the industry and significantly impact artists’ careers and visibility.
Confirmed participants include Megan Moroney, nominated for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year; Dan + Shay and The War & Treaty, both nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year; new Artist of the Year nominee Tucker Wetmore; and Vocal Group of the Year nominees Red Clay Strays and Old Dominion. Jordan Davis and Lauren Alaina, a presenter and co-host of CMA Awards Backstage Live respectively, will also be featured.
“We thank Duke Cannon for partnering with us on our inaugural CMA Awards interview lounge, which will feature leading country music artists,” said Dea Lawrence, co-president and publisher of Variety. “Variety’s music coverage is unmatched, and we are honored to be in Nashville this year to celebrate one of country music’s biggest nights.”
Duke Cannon CEO Hank Mercier added, “Duke Cannon is proud to partner with Variety in their coverage of the CMA Awards. Partnering with Variety, the most trusted voice in entertainment news, is a natural fit for our brand.”
The interviews will be conducted at Anzie Blue, Nashville’s only woman-owned music and event venue. The 59th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 19, on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT, with streaming available the following day on Hulu.