Luke Combs and Keith Urban Earn 2021 CMA International Artist Achievement Awards

Luke Combs and Keith Urban received International Artist Achievement Awards during this year’s 55th Annual CMA Awards.

CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern presented Luke Combs with his 2021 award on Tuesday, November 9. Trahern surprised Urban with his 2020 honor during rehearsals for his CMA Awards performance of “Wild Hearts” last week.

The International Achievement Award recognizes artists who demonstrate significant development within the country music industry outside of the US. This distinguished award was first presented in 1996.

Popular country music girl band Dixie Chicks were the first to receive the award twice. 2008 was the only year with multiple winners.

“The 55th Annual CMA Awards” International Broadcast

Watch Luke Combs and Keith Urban perform at “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” on any of the international broadcast stations listed below.

INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS 

  1. Australia: Airing on Nine at 2:00pm AEDT, 4 December, 2021
  2. UK: Airing on BBC 4 at 10:00pm GMT, 19 November 2021 
  3. Mexico: Airing on Multimedios at 4:00pm CST on 21 November, 2021 
  4. LatinAmerica: Airing on DirecTV at 21:00 ARG on 17 December, 2021 
  5. Germany, Switzerland, Austria: COMING SOON 
  6. Norway: COMING SOON  
  7. Brazil: COMING SOON 

“Both Keith and Luke have been trailblazers for our genre, consistently growing and enhancing Country Music globally,” said Trahern. “They each place such a distinct priority on Country Music’s international fanbase and continue to further CMA’s mission to bring Country Music to audiences all over the world. We could not be prouder to present them both with this award.”  

“This award means a lot to me,” Combs said. “I am humbled to have so many supporters outside of my home country who love my music, and I am really looking forward to playing for them soon. Thank you to the CMA for honoring me with this award!” 

Luke Combs was ecstatic to receive the award. He posted to social media immediately upon acceptance saying, “CMA, thank you so much for this incredible honor, International Artist Achievement Award, thank you, thank you, thank you. This goes out to all the fans as well, thank you guys. Can’t wait to hit the road very soon.” 

Combs continues to make strides internationally. His What You See Is What You Get album debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on the Country charts in the U.K. and Australia. Combs is the second highest-streamed Country artist in the U.K. for 2021, only behind Dolly Parton.

Awards Honor Industry Executive and Artists

CMA International Awards honor professionals in the music industry who are passionate about promoting Country Music within the international space. The awards have six categories. Each acknowledges the nominees’ different endeavors in their local territories.

U.K. concert promoter  Chris York received the 2021 CMA Jo Walker Meador International Award in September. 

The 2021 CMA International Awards still has four more winners that will be unveiled in the coming months.