The eighth annual Casino Entertainment Awards, the official awards exclusively honoring outstanding casino artists, executives and venues nationwide, will be live as a virtual award show on Thursday, 19 November 2020, at 8 p.m. Eastern online on the CEA Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Hosted by award-winning Las Vegas entertainer Zowie Bowie, the broadcast will feature guest appearances by Kelly Clinton, Celine Dion, Crystal Gayle, Hon. Carolyn Goodman, Lee Greenwood, Clint Holmes, Don McClean, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Wayne Newton, Oak Ridge Boys, Tony Orlando, Piff The Magic Dragon, Jennifer Romas, Murray Sawchuck and Pia Zadora.
Casino Entertainment Legend Awards, which recognize lifetime achievement in the casino entertainment industry, will be presented to concert promoter John Meglen and country music artist Lee Greenwood. An ACM, CMA and Grammy award winner, Lee Greenwood has released more than 20 major-label albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts. He is known for his patriotic signature song "God Bless the U.S.A." John Meglen is President & Co-CEO of Concerts West, a global touring division of AEG Presents. A music industry veteran, Meglen has promoted casino tours for Celine Dion, The Rolling Stones, Brad Paisley, Katy Perry, Chris Young and many other A-list artists.
Casino Entertainment Awards will be presented to artists, executives and venues in nine categories in casino entertainment. Selected from more than 1,500 online nominations, the nominees for 2020 CEAs include:
Casino Entertainer of the Year
Casino Comedian of the Year
Casino Musical Artist of the Year
Casino Production Show of the Year
Casino Entertainment Executive of the Year
Casino Showroom/Theater of the Year
Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year
Casino Booking Agent of the Year
Independent Casino Talent Buyer of the Year
Established in 2013, the CEA awards gala was traditionally held at the former Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during Global Gaming Expo week in Las Vegas, but shifted this year to a livestream broadcast due to pandemic restrictions.
“Although most casino arenas, showrooms and other entertainment venues are closed due to the pandemic, we are pleased to still be able to honor the outstanding casino artists, executives and venues nationwide that were active during the nomination period of April 2019 to March 2020,” said Traci Peel, CEA producer. “Awards presenters are pre-recorded with an emcee opening the awards envelopes in a Vegas recording studio to reveal this year’s CEA recipients. In show business tradition, the show always goes on.”