Taylor Swift has officially confirmed that she will perform at the 60th annual CMA Awards. The singer-songwriter previously signaled her attendance when the nominations were released, but her decision to take the stage represents a significant milestone for the event, which is often referred to as Country Music’s Biggest Night.
This appearance will be a major return for Swift, who last performed at the ceremony thirteen years ago. While she has attended the show in the past, her previous visit was a decade ago. Her return highlights a reconnection with the genre that helped launch her career, following a series of pop-focused albums in recent years.
Swift holds a distinguished history with the Country Music Association. She is a two-time winner of the Entertainer of the Year award, a title she first secured in 2009, making her the youngest recipient of that honor at the time. In 2013, she was further recognized with the CMA Pinnacle Award, the industry's highest lifetime achievement distinction.
Her current nomination for Single of the Year is for the track 'I Knew It, I Knew You,' which was released as part of the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. This song is widely considered a strong contender for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, adding another layer of significance to her presence at the CMA ceremony.
The timing of her performance is particularly notable as it will occur just two days after the announcement of the 2026 Grammy nominations. Swift is expected to be a top competitor in those categories as well, both for the Toy Story 5 track and for her album The Life of a Showgirl. That album was released after the eligibility period for the previous year's Grammys had concluded.
In addition to her music industry accolades, Swift was recently named the recipient of The Hollywood Reporter’s Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. She is scheduled to accept this prestigious honor at the publication's 2026 Women in Entertainment gala, further cementing her status as a leader in the entertainment world.
Swift’s history with the CMA Awards dates back to 2006, when she first attended the event. Her live performance record includes a 2013 appearance where she sang 'Red' alongside country legends Vince Gill and Alison Krauss. Her final appearance prior to this year was in 2016, when she presented the Entertainer of the Year award to Garth Brooks.
When the nominations for this year’s show were first revealed, Swift shared an enthusiastic message on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, 'LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T YEE’D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!! See you there Nov. 18,' accompanied by a cowboy hat emoji, expressing her excitement for the upcoming event.
The 60th annual CMA Awards will be hosted by Lainey Wilson, who is presiding over the ceremony for the third consecutive year. The live broadcast will take place on Wednesday, November 18, at 8 p.m. ET from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Viewers can watch the show on ABC and Disney+, with streaming availability on Hulu the following day.
