CMT To Honor Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan

CMT has named Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett as their 2016 artists of the year.

Photo: Jett Loe / The Las Cruces Sun-News via AP
Pan American Center, Las Cruces, N.M.

The television network also announced on Tuesday that Kelsea Ballerini will receive an award for breakout artist of the year.

Stapleton and Rhett are first-time recipients for the artist of the year honor, although the Grammy-winning Stapleton took home the breakout artist of the year award last year.

Photo: Wade Payne / Invision / AP
CMT Music Awards, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

All these artists will be honored at a television special premiering from the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 20. Each artist will be honored with special performances, which will be announced at a later date.