CMT Awards Hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown
CMT Awards have tapped Country singers Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown to host the 2023’s broadcast on April 2nd. This will be their Ballerini and Brown’s second time co-hosting the CMT Awards. Kane is nominated for three awards this year, as Kelsea trails him with two. After recording “Thank God” with each other last year, the duo will perform the song for the first time ever to be televised.
Kane Brown has a special connection with the CMT’s. In an interview with CT, he explained, “My first CMT was my first award.” Because of this, Kane was eager to accept as host. This will be his third year hosting the CMTs, but he hasn’t taken this stage since 2021. Kelsea Ballerini, on the other hand, returns as CMT host for the third year in a row. With an irresistible likeability, fans may be seeing her yet again in 2024.
Performers
Recently, the first round of CMT Awards performers was announced to include: Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, co-host Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson. The first reveal came in November 2022 when Kelsea Ballerini flew to Texas to ask Carrie Underwood mid-concert to perform at the 2023 CMT’s. As previously announced, Kane’s wife, Katelyn Brown, will have her television debut alongside her partner. As lead nominee with 4 nominations, Lainey Wilson will be performing. Blake Shelton will return to the CMT’s for the first time in half a decade with this performance. Lead winner for Male Video of the Year, Keith Urban, will have his moment on stage, as well.
CMT Voting and Watching
The CMT Awards take Austin, Texas from 8pm-11pm ET. After airing on CBS, it will be available to watch on Paramount+. Fans can allot ten votes across each of the ten categories, giving each voter 90 votes total to spread across the nominations.
CMT Nominees
Jelly Roll’s first CMT nomination (and possibly first win?) began this year with a whopping three nominations. Also, country artist up-and-comer Jackson Dean, the youngest male to reach #1 on the charts with a debut, will be up for his first ever award with his #1 song, “Don’t Come Lookin’.” This year, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs are big names to watch out for. Find the full list below!
Video Of The Year
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
Are you excited to see Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown host the 2023 CMT Awards? Be sure to watch the CMT Awards on Sunday, April 2nd at 8pm EST on CBS and afterward on Paramount+!
