Does anyone know if this is being broadcast live? I recall a couple of years back when George Jones refused to sing an abreviated version of his new song on a CMA show. He was removed from the line-up and Alan Jackson (a self-proclaimed George Jones fan) went onstage during the live broadcast and rather than singing his own song as had ben done in rehersals, he sang the George Jones song. It was truly great.
Hank Williams Jr. has been slated to replace Toby Keith as the opener in the ABC show. I am tempted to watch the opening in order to see if history repeats itself.