. >> i'm really excited that allen jackson and george strait will be on the stage together. >> reporter: country music's biggest night kicked off with a rocking morning. they were performing live on gma, telling us this is one of his favorite events of the year. >> being in nashville, music city and seeing all the heroes and tal will bed -- talented people. >> blake shelton, jasonal -- jason al dine. >> and i'm rehearsing my lines. it's a great night. >> reporter: tonight is all about the music. taylor swift, zac brown band and they will kick things off, plus a few surprise. reporting from nashville. >> george strait and everybody else. >> blake shelton. you can watch the awards show right here on abc2. it kicks off at 8 and stick around for us at 11. >> i predict george strait will be entertainer of the year. george strait. >> orioles star lad dam jones spepts time at the boys and girls club. >> we will tell you how he is returning to his roots on abc2 news at 6 which starts right now. >>> families in one anne arundel county neighborhood hit with a rain tam bill. >> it's an exciting th

. >> i'm excited allen jackson and george staiht are going to be on the stage together tonight. >> >> reporter: live performances on gma. telling us this is one of the favorite events of the year. >> just a magical night in there watching, being in nashville music city, and seeing heros and talented people in the room. >> he's nominated for three awards including the big one. up against blake shelton, taylor swift for entertainer of the year. presented by robin roberts. >> this is a great night, all the way around. >> reporter: sate great night. my new friend luke ryan will be kicking things off with "florida-georgia line" and we're told to expect surprises. >> thank you. you can watch the cma tonight on abc7 ask join us for abc7 news tonight at 11:00. >> still to come on abc7 news at 4:00 twitter just priced it's ipo. and is it worth getting in on this one? >> plus a good samaritan who rescued a couple walked in freezing temperatures in yellow stone. >> she's a mother, author and her brother runs facebook. you in a pwow!ct world every man would look like johwow!amos. and in a perfect

allen smith discusses the battle of new orleans in 1812. and he gives a detailed account of the battle. he argues that the navy's involvement was crucial to an american victory that was overshadowed by jackson's role in the battle this took place in anapolis, maryland. >> i'm the chair of the history department and it's my great pleasure to introduce tonight's

allen smith discusses the battle of new orleans in 1812. and he gives a detailed account of the battle. he argues that the navy's involvement was crucial to an american victory that was overshadowed by jackson's role in the battle this took place in anapolis, maryland. >> i'm the chair of the history department and it's my great pleasure to introduce tonight's speaker, dr. gene smith. the chair of naval heritage that will be giving the second mcmullen power lecture of the navy and battle of new orleans. the mcmullen c-power lecture by the class of 1957 chair of naval herita heritage was introduced in 2011, to serve as the address at the naval history symposium, made possible by estates of bill daniel and the late dr. mcmullen. this honors dr. mcmullen by impressing the power of c-power on history. inside joke. tonight's speaker, dr. gene allen smith is a seventh distinguished naval historian to hold the chair of naval heritage in the naval michigan's history department. gene comes from texas university in fort worth where he is serving as the director of texas studies. gene's research in teaching encompasses naval history and maritime history, and the war of 1812. gulf expansion as well. he i