Taylor Swift Is Returning to the CMA Awards Stage After 13 Years, and Yes, That Number Feels Right
The two-time Entertainer of the Year will perform at the milestone 60th annual ceremony, bringing a major full-circle moment to Nashville.
Swifties, consider your Wednesday night plans officially handled.
Taylor Swift is returning to perform at “The 60th Annual CMA Awards” on Nov. 18, taking the stage for the first time in 13 years. For an artist whose connection to that particular number needs little introduction, the timing practically writes its own headline.
And for country fans who remember watching her career take flight, this announcement brings a whole lot of history with it.
The Country Music Association and ABC announced Swift’s performance ahead of the milestone ceremony, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with Lainey Wilson hosting for a third consecutive year. Swift’s return comes a decade after her most recent CMA Awards appearance—and gives an already significant anniversary show another reason to command everyone’s attention.
From the Horizon Award to Entertainer of the Year
Before the stadium tours and global superstardom, there was a young songwriter making her way through country music.
Swift first attended the CMA Awards in 2006 and took home the Horizon Award in 2007. Just two years later, she won Entertainer of the Year at the 2009 ceremony, becoming the youngest artist ever to receive the honor—a distinction she still holds.
She would go on to win the title a second time, cementing her place in the show’s history.
This year, Swift returns with another nomination, too. “I Knew It, I Knew You” is nominated for Single of the Year, bringing her career CMA nomination total to 26.
That makes this more than an anniversary appearance. Swift is coming back as both a performer and a nominee.
Her Last CMA Performance Set a High Bar
The last time Swift performed on the CMA Awards stage, she brought some serious company.
At the 2013 ceremony, she joined Vince Gill and Alison Krauss for a performance of “Red.” That same evening, she received the prestigious Pinnacle Award, with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts presenting the honor.
Those artists shared a meaningful connection: Swift had opened for them early in her career. Watching them celebrate how far she had come made the moment especially memorable.
Now, 13 years later, she is stepping back onto that stage for another chapter.
What Will Taylor Perform?
That is the question fans will be asking between now and showtime.
The announcement did not reveal Swift’s song selection, leaving plenty of room for anticipation. Will she revisit a song tied to her country roots? Spotlight her nominated single? Bring out a guest?
For now, those details remain under wraps. But a return this long in the making gives viewers a compelling reason to watch it unfold live.
With the CMA Awards celebrating 60 years, Swift’s appearance connects the milestone to an artist whose early breakthroughs happened in front of this very audience. Fans who watched her accept that first trophy in 2007 will now get to see her return nearly two decades later.
Go ahead and send this to the friend who still knows every word to “Our Song.”
“The 60th Annual CMA Awards” airs Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 8–11 p.m. ET / 7–10 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu. Additional presenters will be announced in the coming days. Visit CMAawards.com for more information.
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