2022 CMT Music Awards adds additional performers

Country’s only entirely fan-voted show airs Apr 11th on CBS

CMT has revealed the six fresh faces set to take on the Ram Trucks Side Stage as part of the 2022 CMT Music Awards, airing live from Nashville on Monday, April 11th from 8-11 pm ET/delayed PT. This marks the inaugural broadcast of Paramount’s signature country music tentpole on the CBS Television Network and live and on demand on Paramount+. The show will be hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie.

Known for spotlighting country music’s best and brightest rising stars, this year’s Ram Trucks Side Stage will feature Priscilla Block, Breland, Jessie James Decker, Parker McCollum, Elvie Shane and Caitlyn Smith.

In addition to their performances, Block, Breland, McCollum, Shane and Smith are all set to compete for “Breakthrough Video of the Year,” alongside fellow first-time nominee Tenille Arts, who performed on last year’s Side Stage and is also nominated for “Female Video of the Year.” Known for spotlighting country’s future superstars, the Ram Trucks Side Stage has featured many notable names who went on to become CMT Music Awards winners and main stage performers, including Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce and Thomas Rhett, among many others.

This year’s six artists join the growing list of previously announced powerhouse performances and world collaborations, including Ballerini, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris + Ryan Hurd, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell + Lainey Wilson and Keith Urban.

Nominations were previously revealed, with superstar Kane Brown leading the star-studded nominations with four nods; co-host Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton and first-time nominees Breland and Cody Johnson follow close behind with three each. Tenille Arts, Priscilla Block, H.E.R., Paul Klein of LANY, Parker McCollum, MacKenzie Porter, Elvie Shane, Caitlyn Smith and Brittney Spencer also received their first CMT recognition, with 11 total first-time nominees across all categories. Carrie Underwood remains the most decorated artist in CMT history with 23 wins, as she readies to compete for two additional trophies: her 10th “Video of the Year” win and “Collaborative Video of the Year,” both for her collaboration with Jason Aldean.

Fan voting is now open at vote.cmt.com and general voting continues until Monday, April 4th at 10 am ET.

As previously announced, CMT will air CMT Music Awards Extended Cut with an added 30 minutes of new performances and extra bonus content on Friday, April 15th from 8-11:30 pm ET/PT exclusively on CMT. Additional details on the extended cut and CMT Music Awards Week programming will be announced soon.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com