Jason Isbell Won’t Be at the 2017 CMA Awards

He might have earned a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards, but Jason Isbell says he won't be at the ceremony on Nov. 8. The artist tells Rolling Stone that it's nothing personal, though -- he's just already booked up that night.

Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, are scheduled to play a concert in Berlin, Germany, the night of the 2017 CMA Awards. They're overseas for shows in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark until mid-November, and they're performing at the Columbia Theater that night specifically.

"For me to come back for the awards show, I'd have to cancel three shows in Europe on people who'd already paid for a ticket, so I won't be able to go," Isbell says. "But if I didn't have a show that night, I'd go just for the spectacle of it."

Isbell's wife, Amanda Shires, will be at the 2017 CMA Awards, however: In a tweet, the singer-songwriter and fiddle player revealed that she and friend Kelly Amber Garcia, a photographer and graphic designer, will be attending the show, "to represent for the 400 Unit and [Isbell]." Shires is a member of the 400 Unit, but she is not touring in Europe with the band, Isbell explains in a tweet, "because we’re trying to balance doing good work with being good parents." Together, the couple has one daughter, 2-year-old Mercy.

Isbell and the 400 Unit released a new studio album, The Nashville Sound, back in June. They recently completed a multi-night residency at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and have a tour planned for the start of 2018.

The 2017 CMA Awards are scheduled to air on ABC on Nov. 8, at 8PM ET; the ceremony will take place live at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the ceremony for the 10th year in a row.

The Boot will be staying up late covering the most buzzed-about winners, fashion and moments at the 2017 CMA Awards. Readers can watch along with us by checking back to TheBoot.com for the latest CMAs headlines, liking The Boot on Facebook and following The Boot on Twitter.

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