The CMA Awards Portrait Studio Honors the Industry’s Return to the Road

Country Music is a community. Behind the headliners of every album and tour are the bands, the guitar techs, the session players, the repair shops, and other vital talents whose work you hear but don’t necessarily see — until you take a closer look. 

For “The 55th Annual CMA Awards,” I wanted to spotlight the inner workings of the Country Music industry and also celebrate a return to touring. This year’s specially designed portrait studio was constructed entirely from upcycled guitar strings — more than 3,000 sets — that have been plucked and strummed by the industry’s finest musicians.

Over the past six months, I’ve collected approximately 16,500 individual strings from the bands of Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, and Carrie Underwood, as well as Grand Ole Opry players. Nashville guitar shops such as Artisan Guitars, Carter Vintage Guitars, Corner Music, and Gruhn Guitars also graciously contributed used strings. 

These individual strings were soldered into 10-foot-long strands and arranged into a visually compelling and truly unique backdrop for artists and other CMA attendees on the red carpet. The resulting portraits echo the experience of listening to your favorite Country songs. You’ll notice the star right away — but take a closer look and you’ll find their hardworking community shining brightly right behind them. 

For more behind-the-scenes photos click HERE.

—Katie Kauss, photographer