The prodigal daughter returns! A billionaire pop queen is set to return to her country music roots, announcing that she's performing at the 2026 CMA Awards.
Videos by Wide Open Country
It's true, after 13 years away from performing at the ceremony, building a media empire, Taylor Swift will be gracing the CMA Awards stage once again, PEOPLE reports. The outlet pointed out that the 36-year-old "So High School" singer previously won the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award twice. This year, her track "I Knew It, I Knew You," for Toy Story 5, has been nominated for Single of the Year at the CMAs.
"I Knew It, I Knew You" climbed to No. 1 on U.S. country radio this week. It's the pop superstar's first song to do so in 13 years. Meanwhile, this year's nod marks her 26th CMA nomination. Swift last graced the CMA stage to perform "Red" in 2013, with country stars Vince Gill and Alison Krauss. That year, Swift was gifted the Pinnacle Award at the CMAs.
Long before Swift became America's sweetheart and relentlessly became a part of every citizen of the world's lives, she took her first step toward glory, winning the 2007 Horizon Award at the CMAs. She went on to snag 12 CMA Awards.
Taylor Swift Hasn't Attended the CMA Awards in a Decade
Meanwhile, Swift's last time appearing at the CMA Awards ceremony was a decade ago. She awarded Garth Brooks the Entertainer of the Year Award in 2016. The "Bad Blood" singer previously picked up that trophy in 2009 and 2011. Take that, Chris Gaines.
Swift first teased her legion of fans that she'd be attending this year's CMA Awards back in September.
The singer, who married podcaster, football player, and game show host Travis Kelce in NYC over the summer, posted her grand CMA return on Instagram Stories on Sept. 10.
"LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN'T YEE'D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!! See you there Nov. 18," the wordsmith wrote at the time.
This year marks Swift's first CMA nod since 2022, when she earned a nomination in the Video of the Year for her collab with Chris Stapleton, "I Bet You Think About Me."
The 60th annual CMAs (...featuring Taylor Swift) air Nov. 18 on ABC.
