Everything We Know About the CMT Music Awards, Including Every Winner

Plus, get details on how to vote for your favorite artist.

While it may seem like there's an endless supply of annual awards shows for country music, the CMT Music Awards are different—in more ways than one. For starters, it's the only country music awards show voted on entirely by fans and the only one to focus exclusively on video performances and recordings in the realm of country music. In 2023, the

But more importantly, who's nominated this year and when are the 2023 CMTs taking place? Keep reading for everything we know about the 2023 CMT Music Awards!

When are the CMT Music Awards 2023?

The 2023 CMT Music Awards will air live on Sunday, April 2 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Where will the CMT Music Awards be held?

In a change from 2022's historic Ryman Auditorium, the 2023 CMT Music Awards will be broadcast live from Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Who are the CMT Music Awards 2023 hosts?

Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini have been named as hosts for the CMT Music Awards in 2023.

This is a return appearance for the duo, who co-hosted in 2021, and sort of co-hosted in 2022. Ballerini and Anthony Mackie were set to host the 2022 awards until Ballerini tested positive for COVID-19. Brown stepped in at the last minute and co-hosted with Mackie. Ballerini co-hosted remotely.

Who are the CMT Music Awards 2023 nominees?

Nominations for the 2023 CMTs were revealed on Wednesday, March 8. Leading the pack this year? Breakout superstar Lainey Wilson with a total of four nominations, including Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year. Cody Johnson, first-time nominee Jelly Roll and co-host Kane Brown collected three nominations each.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Top six nominees, from the first round of voting, will be announced on March 27. The final three 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.

Finalists:

• Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”

• HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”

• Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown – “Thank God” — WINNER

Other nominees:

• Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, Brandy Clark & Pillbox Patti - “Bonfire at Tina’s”

• Blake Shelton - “No Body”

• Cody Johnson - “Human”

• Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley - “Worth a Shot”

• Gabby Barrett - “Pick Me Up”

• Jimmie Allen - “Down Home”

• 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” — WINNER

• 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”—WINNER

• 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” — WINNER

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”—WINNER

• 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”—WINNER

• 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”—WINNER

• 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) — WINNER

• 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 and Music of Loretta Lynn”)

• LeAnn Rimes with Ashley McBryde & Carly Pearce - “One Way Ticket” (from “CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends”)

• Keith Urban - “Wild Hearts” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

• 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”)— WINNER

• Megan Moroney - “Tennessee Orange” (from “CMT Viral to Verified”)

• Scotty McCreery - “Damn Strait” (from “CMT Campfire Sessions”)

Who are the CMT Music Awards first-time nominees?

The CMT Music Awards will recognize 21 first-time nominees, including Wynonna Judd who receives her first solo nomination. She was previously nominated as part of the duo The Judds.

Avery Anna
Bailey Zimmerman
Charley Crockett
Corey Kent
Drake Milligan
Jackson Dean
Jelly Roll
Katelyn Brown
Kylie Morgan
Lukas Nelson
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wade
Nate Smith
Pillbox Patti
The War And Treaty
Tiera Kennedy
Wynonna Judd

Who are the CMT Music Awards 2023 performers?

The 2022 ceremony featured the last televised performance from legendary duo The Judds, and Carrie Underwood, who remains the most-awarded artist in CMT Awards history with 25 wins.

Performers for 2023 include a similarly star-studded lineup.

• Alanis Morissette + Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, Morgan Wade
  (celebrating 10th anniversary of CMT “Next Women of Country”)

• Blake Shelton

• Carly Pearce

• Carrie Underwood

• Cody Johnson

• Gary Clark, Jr. (Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan)

• Gwen Stefani + Carly Pearce

• Jelly Roll

• Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown

• Keith Urban

• Kelsea Ballerini

• Lainey Wilson

• Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute w/ Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash & Warren Haynes + LeAnn Rimes & Wynonna Judd as honorary “Honkettes”

• The Black Crowes + Darius Rucker

• Tyler Hubbard

• Wynonna Judd + Ashley McBryde

Who are the CMT Music Awards 2023 presenters?

The star-studded roster of presenters includes the hottest names in country music.

• Carly Pearce

• Carrie Underwood

• Charles Esten

• Darius Rucker

• Dixe D’Amelio

• Dustin Lynch

• HARDY

• Ian Bohen

• Jen Landon

• Jon Pardi

• LeAnn Rimes

• Madison Bailey

• Max Thieriot

• Megan Thee Stallion

• Noah Schnapp

• Parker McCollum

• Peter Frampton

• Shania Twain

• Steve Howey

• Travis Kelce

How to vote for the CMT Music Awards 2023

Each winner is selected by the fans. Voting is now open at vote.cmt.com.