WATCH JASON’S CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR PERFORMANCE OF “I WON’T BACK DOWN”

Healing Through Music: Instead of award presentations, the 2017 CMT Artists of the Year paid tribute to the victims of recent tragedies. “Given the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the mass shootings in Las Vegas, we feel a commitment to our fans to address all of the tragedies not in one somber and solemn moment or segment, but rather devote the entire evening to uplifting the fans through high-spirited music,” says CMT & TV Land GM Frank Tanki. “The special has always been a place where artists from different genres can stand side-by-side, and now more than ever, we want to showcase the power of unity and resilience through music.”