The 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards is finally upon us, with the evening bringing in some of the biggest country stars to compete for some of the genre's most coveted awards while also performing live at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. We just can't wait.

Carrie Underwood at the ACM AwardsCarrie Underwood at the ACM Awards

Perhaps the most exciting addition to the line-up is this year's Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Alan Jackson; a veteran of the genre who has won 16 CMA Awards out of 81 nominations making him the most nominated artist ever after George Strait. It's his 24th performance at the event since his first in 1990 when he played 'Chasin' That Neon Rainbow'.

As well as being nominated for five awards this year, the CMA Awards' most awarded female Miranda Lambert will perform. She'll likely do a rendition of Song and Single Of The Year nominee 'Tin Man', or 'Vice' which is up for Music Video Of The Year.

Her 2016 release 'The Weight of These Wings' is nominated for Album Of The Year, while Miranda herself has her 11th nomination for Female Vocalist. She won the award a consecutive six times between 2010 and 2015 before Carrie Underwood took the crown last year. Needless to say, Carrie will also be performing, and vying for her fifth Female Vocalist Award - a category which she has been named in ten time previously.

Vocal Group Of The Year nominee Little Big Town will hopefully play their Single, Song and Music Video Of The Year contender 'Better Man', which was written by Taylor Swift. With seven CMA Awards under their belt, they are also hoping to land a prize for their eigth album 'The Breaker'. The question is, will they be overshadowed by newcomers Old Dominion? They'll be performing will competing a second time for Vocal Group Of The Year, as well as New Artist Of The Year which is also their second nomination in the category.

The most award Entertainer Of The Year Garth Brooks will be fighting for his sixth win in the category alongside two-time winner Luke Bryan. They will also be performing alongside fellow Entertainer nominees Chris Stapleton (last year's winner who is also up for Male Vocalist and Album Of The Year with 'From A Room: Volume 1') and Eric Church (Male Vocalist contender and looking at Musical Event Of The Year for his 'Kill A Word' duet with Rhiannon Giddens).

Thomas Rhett also features on the line-up as he celebrates his first ever nominations for Male Vocalist, Music Video and Musical Event ('Craving You' featuring Maren Morris), along with Brothers Osborne who have their third Vocal Duo nomination and their first Music Video nod for 'It Ain't My Fault', and Jon Pardi who is up for New Artist and Single Of The Year for 'Dirt On My Boots'.

More: Carrie Underwood also reigned at last year's CMT Awards

The CMA Awards will air live tonight (November 8th 2017), hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood for their tenth year.