Legendary country star Charley Pride will reportedly be honored with a lifetime achievement award next month.
Pride, 86, will accept the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2020 CMA Awards in Nashville next month, the Associated Press reports via FOX 17 News. The award show is scheduled to air live on ABC Wednesday, November 11 from Bridgestone Arena.
Pride is credited as a trailblazing pioneer in country music, becoming the genre's first Black superstar with No. 1 hits spanning three decades, including 'Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'' and 'Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone.'
The Mississippi native won CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1971 and Male Artist of the Year in 1971 and 1972, while also becoming the first Black country artist to co-host the ceremony in 1975 alongside Glen Campbell. Pride has also received three GRAMMY Awards and was enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
“Few other artists have grown country music’s rich heritage and led to the advancement of country music around the world like Charley," said Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, in a statement released to the Associated Press. "His distinctive voice has created a timeless legacy that continues to echo through the country community today. We could not be more excited to honor Charley with one of CMA’s highest accolades.”
Past recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award including the award's namesake, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson.
Photo: Getty Images