2023 CMT Music Awards: Everything You Need To Know, Including How To Watch And Who’s Performing
The CMT Music Awards are Country music’s only entirely fan-voted awards show.
Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by John Shearer, Getty for CMT
The 2023 CMT Music Awards are upon us!
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.
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.
When Are The 2023 CMT Music Awards?
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.
How Can I Watch?
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.”
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”
Gwen Stefani And Carly Pearce – “TBD”
The Black Crowes And Darius Rucker – “She Talks to Angels”
Tyler Hubbard – “Dancin’ In The Country”
Wynonna Judd And Ashley McBryde – “TBD”
Jelly Roll – “NEED A FAVOR”
Keith Urban – “TBD”
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash and Warren Hayes, LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd – Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
Gary Clark Jr. – Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute
Ram Trucks Side Stage Performers
Avery Anna – “Narcissist”
Chapel Hart – “You Can Have Him Jolene”
Jackson Dean – “Don’t Come Lookin’”
Lily Rose – “Whatcha Know About That”
Nate Smith – “Whiskey On You”
Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”
Presenters
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.
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”).
Click HERE to view a full list of nominees.
Equal Play Award Recipient
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.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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