NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess) — Entertainer of the Year nominee Kenny Chesney is unable to attend the 2018 CMA Awards due to a death in his family, according to a tweet by the Country Music Assocation.
CMA Musical Event of the Year winner & Entertainer of the Year nominee @KennyChesney will be unable to appear on tonight’s telecast due to a death in the family.
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 14, 2018
Chesney, who, along with collaborator David Lee Murphy, was announced as the Musical Event of the Year winner by the CMA, was also in the running for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award.
Chesney was also due to perform his winning hit “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” with Murphy during the awards gala at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The CMA did not announce, who, if anyone, would fill in for Chesney.
Other performers who are scheduled for the awards show include Chris Stapleton, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and Miranda Lambert, who are slated to perform a duet, Garth Brooks, and Luke Combs among others.
Chesney did not offer any insight into why he had to pull out of his appearance at the event but congratulated David Lee Murphy on their shared win.
Sometimes you hear songs & they just feel good. Occasionally one that feels good says something that people need to hear. That’s how I felt about Everything’s Gonna Be Alright when I heard it. Proud to have been part of this with my friend @davidleemurphy. #musicaleventoftheyear pic.twitter.com/X7l6esqcXq
— Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) November 14, 2018
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