2023 CMT Music Awards Nominations: Lainey Wilson Leads, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll & Kane Brown Follow
Fan voting is open now.
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
CMT announced the nominees for the 2023 CMT Music Awards, and 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 just-announced first round of nominations for Video of the Year includes a whopping 16 acts, including Carrie Underwood who is the most-awarded artist in CMT history.
Other artists included in the night’s top category include Ashley McBryde with Caylee Hammack, Brandy Clark + Pillbox Patti, Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Elle King + Dierks Bentley, Gabby Barrett, HARDY + Lainey Wilson, Jimmie Allen, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Walker Hayes, plus co-hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown with wife Katelyn.
The Breakthrough Video of the Year category has been expanded for 2023 and is now broken into Male and Female categories for the first time ever. The 2023 Breakthrough Female nominees include Avery Anna, Kylie Morgan, MacKenzie Porter, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wade and Tiera Kennedy. Bailey Zimmerman, Corey Kent, Drake Milligan, Jackson Dean, Jelly Roll and Nate Smith are nominated in the Breakthrough Male category.
Each winner is selected by the fans, with voting now open at vote.cmt.com.
Performers, presenters, and additional details about the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on CBS will be announced soon.
Hosted by 2023 nominees Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the show airs LIVE from Austin, Texas’ Moody Center on Sunday, April 2, 2023 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.*
CMT will additionally air CMT MUSIC AWARDS EXTENDED CUT 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. Additional details are to be announced at a later date.
The nominees for the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Top 6 nominees, from the first round of voting, will be announced on March 27. The final 3 nominees, from the second round of voting, will be announced on show day, April 2. Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.
· Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, Brandy Clark & Pillbox Patti – “Bonfire At Tina’s”
· Blake Shelton – “No Body”
· Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”
· Cody Johnson – “Human”
· Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – “Worth A Shot”
· Gabby Barrett – “Pick Me Up”
· HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”
· Jimmie Allen – “Down Home”
· Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”
· Keith Urban – “Wild Hearts”
· Kelsea Ballerini – “HEARTFIRST”
· Little Big Town – “Rich Man”
· Luke Bryan – “Country On”
· Luke Combs – “The Kind Of Love We Make”
· Morgan Wallen – “You Proof”
· Walker Hayes – “AA”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist.
· Carly Pearce – “What He Didn’t Do”
· Carrie Underwood – “Ghost Story”
· Gabby Barrett – “Pick Me Up”
· Kelsea Ballerini – “HEARTFIRST”
· Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like A Truck”
· Maren Morris – “Humble Quest”
· Miranda Lambert – “Actin’ Up”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist.
· Bailey Zimmerman – “Rock and A Hard Place”
· Cody Johnson – “Human”
· Cole Swindell – “She Had Me At Heads Carolina”
· Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”
· Kane Brown – “Like I Love Country Music”
· Luke Combs – “The Kind Of Love We Make”
· Morgan Wallen – “Wasted On You”
GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo or group; awarded to the artists.
· Dan + Shay – “You (Performance Video)”
· Lady A – “Summer State Of Mind”
· Little Big Town – “Hell Yeah”
· Parmalee – “Take My Name”
· The War And Treaty – “That’s How Love Is Made”
· Zac Brown Band – “Out In The Middle”
BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a female artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
· Avery Anna – “Narcissist”
· Kylie Morgan – “If He Wanted To He Would”
· MacKenzie Porter – “Pickup”
· Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”
· Morgan Wade – “Wilder Days”
· Tiera Kennedy – “Found It In You”
BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a male artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
· Bailey Zimmerman – “Fall In Love”
· Corey Kent – “Wild as Her”
· Drake Milligan – “Sounds Like Something I’d Do”
· Jackson Dean – “Don’t Come Lookin’”
· Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”
· Nate Smith – “Whiskey On You”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists.
· Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – “Worth A Shot”
· HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”
· Ingrid Andress with Sam Hunt – “Wishful Drinking”
· Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”
· Midland feat. Jon Pardi – “Longneck Way To Go”
· Russell Dickerson feat. Jake Scott – “She Likes It”
· Thomas Rhett & Katy Perry – “Where We Started”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo).
· Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton – “Colors” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
· Chris Stapleton – “Whenever You Come Around” (from CMT Giants: Vince Gill)
· Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
· Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson – “Never Say Never” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
· Darius Rucker – “Let Her Cry” (from CMT Storytellers)
· Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson – “Lay Me Down” (from Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn)
· Keith Urban – “Wild Hearts” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
· LeAnn Rimes with Ashley McBryde & Carly Pearce – “One Way Ticket” (from CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends)
· The Judds – “Love Can Build A Bridge” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
· Wynonna Judd & Brandi Carlile – “The Rose” (from Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration)
CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance from a production, series or livestream created for CMT digital / social channels; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo).
· Charley Crockett – “Time of the Cottonwood Trees“ (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
· Chris Young – “Gettin’ You Home” (from CMT Stages)
· Ingrid Andress – “Wishful Drinking” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
· Jelly Roll – “Son of A Sinner” (from CMT All Access)
· Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange” (from CMT Viral To Verified)
· Scotty McCreery – “Damn Strait” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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