A tribute to Loretta Lynn will open tonight’s CMA Awards with performances by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire.

Tonight’s ceremony will begin with a tribute to Loretta Lynn that will be attended by a slew of famous musicians.

The evening will begin with a musical tribute to honour Loretta Lynn’s groundbreaking career spanning six decades, with performances by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire.

Lynn, who passed away just a few weeks ago at the age of 90, was honoured with induction into more music Halls of Fame than any other female recording artist in the annals of music history. Additionally, the Country Music Association honoured her as its Entertainer of the Year in 1972, making her the first woman ever to receive this honour. It is safe to assume that Lynn paved the way for other ladies to follow in the field of country music.

“The CEO of the Country Music Association, Sarah Trahern, said in a statement that Loretta was a lady whose efforts and effect inspired numerous musicians and elevated the country genre into a universal art form. “She was the first woman to ever win the CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year, in addition to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was a pioneering songwriter, and she had the courage to write about socially and culturally significant issues in her songs, which ultimately came to define an entire generation. Her personality, talent, and genius were on par with that of her contemporaries, such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney. I will personally remember Loretta for these qualities.”

The 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards will be opened by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire, who have won a combined total of 30 CMAs between them. Tonight, Wednesday, November 9, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, ABC will air a live broadcast of the show that will be hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.