Country darling Taylor Swift is up for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for "Safe and Sound," her collaboration with The Civil Wars for The Hunger Games soundtrack. On the red carpet, Swift chose a Jenny Packham nude lace gown with sparkly red flowers.
She took the stage to debut her latest single, "Begin Again."
Husband and wife duo Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are up for four nominations apiece.
American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery attended the CMA Awards with Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale.
Hayden Panettiere joins the country family on ABC's Nashville, in which she plays a young country superstar with a dark streak.
Lady Antebellum, up for Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year, pose for photos on the red carpet.
Jason Aldean will vie for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for "Dirt Road Anthem" at Thursday's awards ceremony. But Aldean had reason to celebrate days before the show, selling out his concert at Fenway Stadium in just seven minutes, adding an additional show at the venue, and scoring a No. 1 debut with his new album.
Idol alum Kellie Pickler showed off her drastic new hairdo on the red carpet.
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Sibling trio The Band Perry is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year. The group also hit the stage for a performance of "Better Dig Two."
Tim McGraw was an early winner, taking home the Musical Event of the Year prize for his duet with Kenny Chesney.
Reba McEntire plays a scorned wife who moves her family from Nashville to Malibu to restart a music career on ABC's Malibu Country.
Carrie Underwood played triple duty as host, performer and nominee at the ceremony.
Keith Urban showed off some serious chest ink with an open shirt on the red carpet. The country crooner arrived sans wife Nicole Kidman, who skipped out on the Nov. 1 event.