For 50 years, the CMA Awards have been considered "Country’s Biggest Night" — one of the most anticipated dates on the calendar for many country fans. It's a gathering place for some of the best performances and biggest stars in the ‘biz, and we are ready to start counting down the days. So, when are the 2016 CMA Awards?

The Country Music Association recently announced that the 2016 ceremony will take place live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 2. This year is particularly special because it’s the 50th anniversary of the ceremony, so there are sure to be some memorable moments woven throughout the event.

The first CMA Awards took place in Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium in 1967. It was an un-televised ceremony, awarding the now-coveted Entertainer of the Year Award to Eddy Arnold, known for tunes like “That’s How Much I Love You” and “What’s He Doing in My World.” The next year, the awards were taped by NBC and aired two weeks later, and beginning in 1968, the show was live, and has been ever since.

Many country legends have followed in Arnold’s footsteps, including Dolly Parton, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, just to name a few. After being held in Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium (at the time, where the Grand Ole Opry show was held), then at the current Opry house and a one-time appearance at Madison Square Garden in 2005, the awards now take place at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Music City.

The 2015 event brought into the spotlight the impressive talent of one Chris Stapleton, who’d primarily worked behind the scenes in the industry for years. His show-stopping performance with Justin Timberlake was a hot topic for weeks afterward, propelling Stapleton into the stratosphere with his record Traveller, which continues to rack up awards.

Last year's CMA Awards ceremony also unexpectedly granted Stapleton the title of Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Luke Bryan with Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert as Female Vocalist of the Year and “Girl Crush” as Song of the Year.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 2 — the night of the 50th annual CMA Awards — it’s sure to live up to its moniker of Country’s Biggest Night!

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