The coveted awards show will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 2 at 8/7c on CBS. Additionally, it will stream live and on-demand via Paramount+.
Co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the 2023 CMT Music Awards will deliver three hours of performances and one-of-a-kind collaborations.
Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT
The fan-voted awards show will feature dozens of performances from some of the hottest acts in country music, including Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd, Ashley McBryde and more.
Additionally, rising stars Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Megan Moroney, and Nate Smith will perform on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.
Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the 2023 CMT Music Awards, including how to watch, who’s hosting, which artists are performing, what songs they’ll sing and who’s presenting.
The show will air LIVE from Moody Center in Austin, Texas, marking the first time in history that the CMT Music Awards will broadcast from the Lonestar State. CMT Music Awards will take place on Sunday, April 2 at 8/7c.
Tickets to attend the show in person at the Moody Center are available to purchase HERE.
CMT Music Awards will air live on CBS Television Network at 8/7c.
The three-hour broadcast will also be available to stream live and on demand via Paramount+.
CMT will also air an extended cut of the awards show with an added 30 minutes of new performances and extra bonus content on Thursday, April 6th (8:00-11:30 PM, ET/PT), in addition to all new programming as part of CMT Music Awards Week.
Who Is Hosting?
Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini will return as co-hosts.
This marks Brown’s fourth time co-hosting the CMT Music Awards, and Ballerini’s third.
“The CMT Awards are really a true snapshot of the sound of country music right now, and honoring newer artists and collaborations, and things that are pushing boundaries,” Ballerini told People ahead of the show. “I think I can probably speak for both of us to say that that’s always where our music’s really lain, and something that’s important to us.”
She added, “To be able to be on stage and host the show with someone that I feel like I’m really similar to in that way is very cool.”
Brown also told the outlet, “Our goal is to highlight and complement all of the nominees and amazing performances of the artists there, and just tee them up to do their thing. I really just try and be me when it comes to hosting.”
Ashley McBryde and Wynonna Judd; Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT
Who’s Performing?
Blake Shelton – “No Body” & “Austin”
Cody Johnson – “Human”
Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like A Truck”
Kane Brown And Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”
Kelsea Ballerini – “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)”
Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”
Alanis Morissette, Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards And Morgan Wade – “You Oughta Know”
A star-studded group of presenters will take the stage at the CMT Music Awards, including Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Charles Esten, Dixie D’Amelio, Dustin Lynch, HARDY, Ian Bohen + Jen Landon (Yellowstone), Jon Pardi, LeAnn Rimes, Madison Bailey (Outer Banks), Max Thieriot (Fire Country), Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things), Parker McCollum, Peter Frampton, Shania Twain, Steve Howey (True Lies) and Travis Kelce.
Lainey Wilson; Photo by Getty Images for CMT, Cody Johnson; Photo by Getty Images for CMT, Jelly Roll; Photo by John Shearer, Kane Brown; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Nominees
Lainey Wilson leads the pack with four nominations, including the top honor of Video of the Year.
Previous CMT Music Awards winner Cody Johnson, first-time nominee Jelly Roll, and co-host Kane Brown follow with three nods each.
The six finalists vying for the night’s most-coveted Video Of The Year award include Blake Shelton (“No Body”), Carrie Underwood (“Hate My Heart”), Cody Johnson (“Human”), HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson (“wait in the truck”), Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown (“Thank God”) and Morgan Wallen (“You Proof”).
Shania Twain, who is the best-selling female artist of all time, will be presented with the third-ever CMT Equal Play Award. This award “recognizes an artist who is a visible and vocal advocate for elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in country music.” Previous recipients of the “CMT Equal Play Award” include Jennifer Nettles and Linda Martell.
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