The 2026 premiere of ABC’s annual CMA special is less than two weeks away, and the Country Music Association just revealed which artists made the cut.
The three-hour show airs Thursday, June 25, at 8 p.m. ET and takes up the entirety of primetime.
Riley Green and Good Morning America‘s Lara Spencer are this year’s hosts.
Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Fetty Wap, Florida Georgia Line, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Michael McDonald, Molly Tuttle, The Red Clay Strays, Ricky Skaggs, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Shay Morgan, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top have all secured their spot.
So far, there’s only one song we know for sure we’ll hear: the first live performance of Shaboozey’s “Cowgirl.”
If you miss the show on June 25, you’ll be able to check it out on Hulu June 26.
Meanwhile, let the 2027 planning begin. The 54th CMA Fest kicks off June 10, 2027, and runs through June 13, 2027.
Disney is the parent company of ABC, ABC News and Hulu.
Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov in ‘Heated Rivalry.’ (Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max)
Heated Rivalry, Widow’s Bay and Industry lead the nominations for the 42nd annual TCA Awards with five apiece.
All three are nominated in the program of the year category alongside last year’s winner, The Pitt, as well as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Hacks, The Comeback, Shrinking and Pluribus.
The Pitt’s Noah Wyle is nominated in the individual achievement in drama category after winning in the category last year. He’ll face off against Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, as well as Industry stars Myha’la and Marisa Abela, and more.
Two new categories were also added this year: outstanding achievement in animation and outstanding achievement in international series.
The TCA Awards, voted on by members of the Television Critics Association, will announce the winners later this summer across TCA’s social media.
Toosii looks back in the new song “Yesterday,” reflecting “on distance, longing, and the desire to reconnect with someone who continues to occupy his thoughts,” according to a press release. The song, produced by Ant Chamberlain and Bino Beats, is now streaming on digital platforms.
Erick the Architect has released his debut single for Mass Appeal, “No Doubt (I’m In Love),” as well as a visualizer. “This song is about being unapologetically in love with someone. It’s about the honesty and vulnerability it takes to let a woman know exactly how you feel, all while having a good time. It’s the small details that make her who she is, and the lengths I’m willing to go to keep her in my life,” he says in a statement.
Salt-N-Pepa’s Salt teams with Erica Campbell for “Overcomers,” described in a press release as “equal parts celebration and conviction.” In it, she discusses setting standards, protecting your peace and more. It’s the fourth release in her solo rollout, following “Diamond in the Light,” “Kings & Queens” and “Chosen.”
The-Dream has released “Tampa,” a preview of his upcoming album, Love/Hate II, set to arrive on July 10. The song is now available on digital platforms, and the album is available for preorder.
Kodak Black released his Kodak the Blessingmixtape a day after his 29th birthday. It features Rylo Rodriguez, Fridayy and others, along with a music video for “Nunchucks.” The video, which he directed, shows him in a club with a lot going on, including karate fights and twerking.
After previously teaming up with Illenium in 2022 for the single “Shivering,” the “Perfect Soul” metallers have now united with the DJ acts SLANDER and Vastive for a track called “Under My Skin.”
You can watch the “Under My Skin” video streaming now on YouTube.
In addition to their electronic collaborations, Spiritbox has crossed over into the rap world thanks to their songs with Megan Thee Stallion.
Spiritbox’s most recent album is 2025’s Tsunami Sea. They’re currently on tour with Evanescence.
Warren Zeiders’ “Days of My Life” (Warner Records)
Warren Zeiders is focused on manifesting his vision for the future in his new song, “Days of My Life.”
“I’ve written a lot of songs from a place of heartache and sadness, but when it came to this one, I wanted to write something into existence,” he revealed on his socials. “I’ve always known for a long time that I’ve wanted to be a husband and a father and I pray a lot for that day when God brings me my best friend. Cause I know in my heart that when that chapter of my life starts, those really will be the best days of my life.”
Warren co-wrote the new track, which follows “Drinking Game” and “Born to Be Yours,” which have also come out this year.
The “Pretty Little Poison” hitmaker continues on the road this summer, after wrapping the U.S. and Australian legs of his first world tour. He takes it to Europe in October.
Turns out *NSYNC isn’t the only iconic boy band that can do a song for an animated movie.
Backstreet Boys have released their new song, “Bottle Up,” from the soundtrack of the upcoming movie PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. There’s also a video for the song, which was co-written by Ed Sheeran; he seems to like doing songs for animated movies, having also penned the song “Zoo” for Zootopia 2.
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie follows what happens after the pack’s ship gets caught in a storm and crash lands on an uncharted island filled with dinosaurs. In the video, the group members appear on Dino Island, and sing and dance with the PAW Patrol characters, as well as the dinosaurs.
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie is due in theaters Aug. 14.
Backstreet Boys resume their Into the Millennium residency at Sphere Las Vegas on July 16. It will run through Aug. 29.
(L-R) Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush perform during the opening night of their first American tour in 11 years at The Kia Forum on June 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Rush had yet another surprise in store for fans at their third KIA Forum show in Los Angeles Thursday night.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have been changing things up from night to night since kicking off their Fifty Something tour on June 7. According to setlist.fm, during Thursday’s show they used the second set to perform their 1981 studio album, Moving Pictures, in its entirety.
Not only did they perform every track, they played them in order, starting with their iconic hit “Tom Sawyer” and wrapping with “Vital Signs.”
This marked the first time they’ve played Moving Pictures, Rush’s eighth studio album, in its entirety since July 2011.
Also new to the set, Rush added “New World Man,” from the 1982 album Signals, making it their first performance of the song since 2002.
Rush is set to wrap their four-night stand at the KIA Forum on Saturday. A complete list of show dates can be found at Rush.com.
(L-R) Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush perform during the opening night of their first American tour in 11 years at The Kia Forum on June 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Rush had yet another surprise in store for fans at their third KIA Forum show in Los Angeles Thursday night.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have been changing things up from night to night since kicking off their Fifty Something tour on June 7. According to setlist.fm, during Thursday’s show they used the second set to perform their 1981 studio album, Moving Pictures, in its entirety.
Not only did they perform every track, they played them in order, starting with their iconic hit “Tom Sawyer” and wrapping with “Vital Signs.”
This marked the first time they’ve played Moving Pictures, Rush’s eighth studio album, in its entirety since July 2011.
Also new to the set, Rush added “New World Man,” from the 1982 album Signals, making it their first performance of the song since 2002.
Rush is set to wrap their four-night stand at the KIA Forum on Saturday. A complete list of show dates can be found at Rush.com.
Police said this suspect is being sought in connection with a group assault on a 17-year-old boy near Madison Square Garden in New York on June 10, 2026. (NYPD)
(NEW YORK) — A 17-year-old boy was beaten into a coma near Madison Square Garden following Game 4 of the NBA Finals, New York City police said Friday while releasing a photo of a suspect sought in connection with the assault.
The incident occurred Wednesday night around 11:45 p.m., according to the New York City Police Department, amid rowdy celebrations following the New York Knicks’ win.
A group of unknown individuals approached the teen in front of 237 W. 35th St. in Midtown Manhattan, where a “verbal dispute ensued about the New York Knicks,” police said.
Detectives reviewed video that shows someone apparently telling the crowd celebrating by saying, “Spurs in 7,” ABC New York station WABC reported.
“The dispute escalated, and the individuals proceeded to punch and kick the victim about the head and body, causing the victim to suffer a seizure and subsequently go into a coma,” police said in a statement.
Emergency medical service personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital in critical but stable condition, police said.
The individuals fled on foot, and their whereabouts are unknown, police said. The NYPD released an image of one suspect sought in connection with the incident on social media on Friday while asking anyone with information to contact them.
Separately, dozens of people were arrested following the Knicks’ historic comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday’s Game 4.
Rowdy fans got into fistfights, climbed scaffolding and poles, blocked Midtown Manhattan traffic, set off fireworks, ripped down street signs, jumped atop taxis and other moving vehicles and damaged police vehicles, according to authorities and videos posted on social media.
At multiple locations blocks from the Garden, crowds refused numerous verbal commands to disperse, police said. Ten police officers were injured in the post-game revelry, including one who was struck in the face with a glass bottle, the NYPD said.
In total, 56 people were taken into custody, including 15 who were arrested and 41 who were released with criminal court summonses, according to the NYPD.
Fans were arrested on charges such as suspicion of assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon (a knife), reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, and trademark counterfeiting, the NYPD said.
Following Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Garden on Monday, at least 21 people were arrested, according to the NYPD.
A 39-year-old San Antonio fan was jumped on a Midtown Manhattan street following the Knicks loss, according to the NYPD, which released surveillance photos of five individuals wanted on charges of robbery stemming from the incident.
ABC News’ Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.
(MIDLAND, Texas) — At least 11 victims were reported in an active shooter situation in Midland, Texas, on Friday morning, with at least one victim dead, according to Midland Mayor Lori Blong.
The suspected shooter is also dead following a standoff with police, Midland city officials said.
“The scene remains active and has not been cleared,” city officials said in a statement.
Nine victims have been taken to Midland Memorial Hospital, where four are undergoing surgery and five are listed in stable condition, hospital officials said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
![Warren Zeiders has a vision for the ‘Days of [His] Life’](https://s3.amazonaws.com/syndication.abcaudio.com/files/2026-06-12/M_WarrenZeidersDaysOMyLife.jpg "Warren Zeiders has a vision for the ‘Days of [His] Life’")
