Kris Kristofferson to be Honored at The 53rd Annual CMAs

Kris Kristofferson will be honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMA Awards Show on Wednesday Nov. 13th.

A special tribute to the legend is planned featuring a performance of Kristofferson’s classic “Me and Bobby McGee” by Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne.

“Kris is a living legend whose impact on our genre has been monumental,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “He is the definition of an icon and someone our community holds with such high regard. I’m thrilled our Board selected Kris this year for one of CMA’s highest accolades. Though he won’t be joining us at the CMA Awards, I hope our tribute performance brings a big smile to his face.”

The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in country music. The Award was established to recognize an artist who has achieved both national and international prominence through performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and public representation at the highest level.

Previous recipients of the award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), and Dolly Parton (2016).

Kristofferson is a three-time Grammy winner with 30 recorded albums to his credit and three decades worth of international touring. He received country music’s highest honor in 2004 with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other accolades include the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriter Hall of Fame, the American Veteran’s Association’s Veteran of the Year Award,” CMT’s Johnny Cash Visionary Award, BMI’s Icon Award, the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Frances Preston Music Industry Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.

The 53rd Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 13th on ABC.