The Country Music Association Awards celebrates its 50th awards ceremony tonight. Here are some

The Country Music Association Awards celebrates its 50th awards ceremony tonight. Here are some milestones of the awards:

v Longest running: In 1968, the CMA Awards’ second year, the show was taped and aired on NBC. By the third year, it aired live from the Ryman Auditorium. It’s now the longest-running, annual music awards show on national television, even ahead of the Grammys.

v Always a bridesmaid: Despite being widely considered the best steel guitar player in Nashville, musician Paul Franklin is the most nominated artist at the CMA who has never won. He has 25 nominations since 1989, mostly for musician of the year, but has yet to take home a trophy.

v Teenage dreams: Remember way back to 2009? Not yet a pop princess, but a rising country superstar, 19-year-old Taylor Swift became the youngest person to win the top prize, entertainer of the year.

v Host with the most: The longest consecutive host of the CMA Awards is Vince Gill, who spent a dozen years hosting the show between 1992 and 2003. Current hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are starting their ninth straight year as hosts of the show.

v King George: George Strait wears two crowns, as both the most nominated artist and the most awarded. With 83 nods since 1983, he has taken home 23 CMA Awards, including five album of the year awards. His last award was entertainer of the year in 2013.

“50th Annual CMA Awards” (8 p.m., ABC): Talk about being “country strong.” This trophy fest celebrates its golden anniversary by paying homage to the past, while also honoring the achievements of recent standouts. Performers include Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban and more. Returning to host the event for the ninth time are Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

“Salem” (9 p.m., WGN America): The supernatural drama “Salem” promises to deliver its most bewitching season yet. The guest list includes Marilyn Manson, who plays the bloody barber surgeon Thomas Dinley.

“Stan Against Evil” (10 p.m., IFC): John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”) returns to television in the comedy-horror series “Stan Against Evil.” He plays a disgruntled former sheriff of a small New England town that is suddenly experiencing a plague of unleashed demons. Yikes. Janet Varney also stars.

TV listings, C3

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

French guitarist in recital at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN

French guitarist Thibaut Garcia, winner of the 2015 Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Bliss Recital Hall, first floor of Bliss Hall, on the Youngstown State University campus. He will also conduct a master class at 9 a.m. Saturday in the same location. Both events are free to the public.

Garcia, 22, has won several international competition prizes, including the 2014 Jose Thomas international competition and the 2013 IV Sevilla International Guitar Competition, both in Spain.