Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley-Led ‘CMT Giants: Alabama’ Tribute Gets an Air Date
Last winter, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and Luke Bryan paid tribute to country group Alabama during a taping of CMT Giants. An air date and full lineup for the broadcast has just been announced.
Nearly a dozen performers are slated for a two-hour TV special airing Aug. 15 at 8PM ET.
- CMT Giants has been celebrating the best in country music since 2006.
- Vince Gill, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers and Alan Jackson are a few artists who've been featured.
- CMT Giants: Alabama was filmed at Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
Related: 15 Country Legends Who Deserve to Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
A full list of performers with songs will be available at a later date, but the announcement of the 2024 special mentioned appearances from Old Dominion, Sam Hunt, Jamey Johnson and more. Taste of Country was on hand to witness the filming in January. Alabama watched from a box before taking the stage themselves.
Bryan, Lionel Richie, Martina McBride, Gill and boxer Evander Holyfield appeared in person and virtually with stories about singer Randy Owen, guitarist Jeff Cook and bass player Teddy Gentry.
Cook died at age 73 in November 2022 after a battle with Parkinson's disease.
The band hit the road again in 2024, even after announcing a farewell tour several years ago. There are currently 13 shows listed at the official Alabama website, with dates lasting into November.
Owen's health has prevented the group from playing shows in the past, but he checked in with Taste of Country and shared that the news is good.
"I'm 73 years old. I just had my tests and everything, and everything came back really good," Owen told Taste of Country and other outlets in October. "I had my flu shot. So, I'm ready to go."
Pictures From 'CMT Giants: Alabama,' An All Star Tribute
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
'CMT Giants: Alabama' Red Carpet Pictures
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Remembering the Country Stars Who Died in 2023
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes