&nbsp;After a handful of artists questioned if country legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-country-music-legend-charley-pride-dies-from-coronavirus-at-86-349401">Charley Pride</a>, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures. 
 
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA wrote in a statement posted to its website late Saturday afternoon, "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions." 
 
"Charley was tested prior to travelling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the country music community are heartbroken by Charley`s passing. 
 
Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further."Maren Morris, a triple winner at the awards, was one of the first to question how Pride had been infected.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-dolly-parton-maren-morris-and-other-celebrities-mourn-charley-prides-demise-349430" hreflang="en">Dolly Parton, Maren Morris and other celebrities mourn Charley Pride's demise</a>

She tweeted, "I don`t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley ... **** this ******* year.""We need answers as to how Charley Pride got covid," Mickey Guyton wrote, bringing the discussion to her Twitter page. 
 
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA Awards were held at Music City Center in Nashville, attended only by performers, nominees and selected guests sitting at socially distanced tables. 
 
In an interview with Billboard after this year`s CMA Awards - an event that had a number of artists, including Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, Rascal Flatts and Lady A, not attending because they or a member of their family tested positive for COVID-19 -- CMA CEO Sarah Trahern addressed the rigorous testing protocols their team had in place. 
 
"We began testing weeks before the show, in October. It`s not just the artists and their guests we tested -- we tested literally everyone: stagehands, production crew, our staff, in addition to talent. We have our final load out happening now at Music City Center, so testing doesn`t just stop because talent is no longer on site. We also consulted with an epidemiologist throughout the process," Trahern said of preparing for the first awards show during the pandemic to include a live, if socially distanced and limited, audience."None of the artists who tested positive had ever entered the venue," added Trahern. 
 
"The protocols we followed were required not only by the CDC but the local health department, as well as the unions and guilds."&nbsp;

After a handful of artists questioned if country legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures.

After a handful of artists questioned if country legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday(local time) of COVID-19, could have been exposed at November 11`s CMA Awards, where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride`s testing procedures. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA wrote in a statement posted to its website late Saturday afternoon, "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions." "Charley was tested prior to travelling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the country music community are heartbroken by Charley`s passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further."Maren Morris, a triple winner at the awards, was one of the first to question how Pride had been infected. Also read: Dolly Parton, Maren Morris and other celebrities mourn Charley Pride's demise She tweeted, "I don`t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley ... **** this ******* year.""We need answers as to how Charley Pride got covid," Mickey Guyton wrote, bringing the discussion to her Twitter page. As per The Hollywood Reporter, the CMA Awards were held at Music City Center in Nashville, attended only by performers, nominees and selected guests sitting at socially distanced tables. In an interview with Billboard after this year`s CMA Awards - an event that had a number of artists, including Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, Rascal Flatts and Lady A, not attending because they or a member of their family tested positive for COVID-19 -- CMA CEO Sarah Trahern addressed the rigorous testing protocols their team had in place. "We began testing weeks before the show, in October. It`s not just the artists and their guests we tested -- we tested literally everyone: stagehands, production crew, our staff, in addition to talent. We have our final load out happening now at Music City Center, so testing doesn`t just stop because talent is no longer on site. We also consulted with an epidemiologist throughout the process," Trahern said of preparing for the first awards show during the pandemic to include a live, if socially distanced and limited, audience."None of the artists who tested positive had ever entered the venue," added Trahern. "The protocols we followed were required not only by the CDC but the local health department, as well as the unions and guilds."

CMA explains COVID-19 protocol following Charley Pride's death month after attending CMA Awards

The 2020 Country Music Awards took place on&nbsp;Wednesday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 54th annual award took place at the Music City Center in Nashville and it was the first awards show to have an audience since the COVID-19 pandemic. &nbsp;Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker hosted the musical night.&nbsp; 
 
Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Luke Combs were the big winners of the night. Maren was the most awarded artist of the night and won female vocalist of the year, a single of the year and song of the year. Luke Combs won male vocalist of the year and album of the year and Church won his first Entertainer of the Year title.&nbsp; 
 
Here’s the complete list of winners: 
 
Single of the Year 
'The Bones' 
Maren Morris 
Greg Kurstin, producer 
 
Song of the Year 
'The Bones' 
Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz. writers 
 
New Artist 
Morgan Wallen 
 
Vocal Duo of the Year 
Dan + Shay 
 
Vocal Group of the Year 
Old Dominion 
 
Album of the Year 
Luke Combs 
'What You See is What You Get' 
 
Female Vocalist of the Year 
Maren Morris 
 
Male Vocalist of the Year 
Luke Combs

Entertainer of the Year 
Eric Church 
 
Musical Event of the Year 
'I Hope You’re Happy Now' 
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice 
Producer: Busbee 
 
Musician of the Year 
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle 
 
Music Video of the Year 
'Bluebird' 
Miranda Lambert 
Director: Trey Fanjoy

The 2020 Country Music Awards took place on Wednesday night. The 54th annual award took place at the Music City Center in Nashville and it was the first awards show to have an audience since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Country Music Awards took place on Wednesday night. The 54th annual award took place at the Music City Center in Nashville and it was the first awards show to have an audience since the COVID-19 pandemic. Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker hosted the musical night. Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Luke Combs were the big winners of the night. Maren was the most awarded artist of the night and won female vocalist of the year, a single of the year and song of the year. Luke Combs won male vocalist of the year and album of the year and Church won his first Entertainer of the Year title. Here’s the complete list of winners: Single of the Year 'The Bones' Maren Morris Greg Kurstin, producer Song of the Year 'The Bones' Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz. writers New Artist Morgan Wallen Vocal Duo of the Year Dan + Shay Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion Album of the Year Luke Combs 'What You See is What You Get' Female Vocalist of the Year Maren Morris Male Vocalist of the Year Luke Combs Entertainer of the Year Eric Church Musical Event of the Year 'I Hope You’re Happy Now' Carly Pearce and Lee Brice Producer: Busbee Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle Music Video of the Year 'Bluebird' Miranda Lambert Director: Trey Fanjoy

Eric Church, Maren Morris win big: Check out complete CMA Awards 2020 winners list

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CMA explains COVID-19 protocol following Charley Pride's death month after attending CMA Awards

Eric Church, Maren Morris win big: Check out complete CMA Awards 2020 winners list