Twenty-one artists receive first-time nods as CMT spotlights rising stars, country icons and out-of-genre superstars
CMT has unveiled the highly-anticipated nominations for the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Paramount Globalโs signature country music tentpole entirely fan-voted award show. Hosted by 2023 nominees Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the show airs live from Austin, Texasโ Moody Center on Sunday, April 2nd from 8-11 pm ET/PT on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Each winner is selected by the fans, with voting now open at vote.cmt.com.
Breakout superstar Lainey Wilson leads this yearโs star-studded list with a total of four nominations, including the highly coveted โVideo of the Year,โ โFemale Video of the Year,โ โCollaborative Video of the Yearโ and โCMT Performance of the Year.โ Artists with three nods this year include Cody Johnson, first-time nominee Jelly Roll and co-host Kane Brown.
The first round of nominations for the highly coveted โVideo of the Yearโ award includes 16 acts, including another nod for Carrie Underwood, who reigns as the most awarded artist in CMT history with a total of 25 wins and is also slated to perform. Also facing off for the nightโs biggest award: 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.
New this year, CMT continues its longstanding history of recognizing the next wave of rising stars by expanding its โBreakthrough Video of the Yearโ category into Male and Female for the first time, recognizing the tremendous increase in the genreโs breakout talent with a total of 12 nominees across the twin categories. This yearโs โBreakthrough Femaleโ 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 will compete in โBreakthrough Male.โ
Across all categories, CMT is recognizing 21 first-time nominees: 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 and Wynonna Judd, who receives two nominations, including one with her late mother, Naomi Judd, for their final performance together at the 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. The show continues to celebrate out-of-genre range of talent with first time nominees Black Pumas, Emmy Russell and Jake Scott; Katy Perry also receives her first nomination since 2015.
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 from 8-11:30 pm ET/PT, in addition to all new programming as part of CMT Music Awards Week. Additional details to be announced at a later date.
Performers, presenters and additional details about the 2023 CMT Music Awards on CBS will be announced soon.
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 – โBonfire At Tina’sโ
- Blake Shelton – โNo Bodyโ
- Carrie Underwood – โHate My Heartโ
- Cody Johnson – โHumanโ
- Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – โWorth A Shotโ
- Gabby Barrett – โPick Me Upโ
- Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson – โwait in the truckโ
- Jimmie Allen – โDown Homeโ
- Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – โThank Godโ
- Keith Urban – โWild Heartsโ
- Kelsea Ballerini – โHEARTFIRSTโ
- Little Big Town – โRich Manโ
- Luke Bryan – โCountry Onโ
- Luke Combs – โThe Kind Of Love We Makeโ
- Morgan Wallen – โYou Proofโ
- Walker Hayes – โAAโ
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist.
- Carly Pearce – โWhat He Didn’t Doโ
- Carrie Underwood – โGhost Storyโ
- Gabby Barrett – โPick Me Upโ
- Kelsea Ballerini – โHeartfirstโ
- Lainey Wilson – โHeart Like A Truckโ
- Maren Morris – โHumble Questโ
- Miranda Lambert – โActin’ Upโ
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist.
- Bailey Zimmerman – โRock and A Hard Placeโ
- Cody Johnson – โHumanโ
- Cole Swindell – โShe Had Me At Heads Carolinaโ
- Jelly Roll – โSon Of A Sinnerโ
- Kane Brown – โLike I Love Country Musicโ
- Luke Combs – โThe Kind Of Love We Makeโ
- Morgan Wallen – โWasted On Youโ
GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo or group; awarded to the artists.
- Dan + Shay – โYou (Performance Video)โ
- Lady A – โSummer State Of Mindโ
- Little Big Town – โHell Yeahโ
- Parmalee – โTake My Nameโ
- The War And Treaty – โThat’s How Love Is Madeโ
- Zac Brown Band – โOut In The Middleโ
BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a female artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
- Avery Anna – โNarcissistโ
- Kylie Morgan – โIf He Wanted To He Wouldโ
- MacKenzie Porter – โPickupโ
- Megan Moroney – โTennessee Orangeโ
- Morgan Wade – โWilder Daysโ
- Tiera Kennedy – โFound It In Youโ
BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a male artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
- Bailey Zimmerman – โFall In Loveโ
- Corey Kent – โWild as Herโ
- Drake Milligan – โSounds Like Something I’d Doโ
- Jackson Dean – โDon’t Come Lookin’โ
- Jelly Roll – โSon Of A Sinnerโ
- Nate Smith – โWhiskey On Youโ
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists.
- Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – โWorth A Shotโ
- Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson – โwait in the truckโ
- Ingrid Andress with Sam Hunt – โWishful Drinkingโ
- Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – โThank Godโ
- Midland feat. Jon Pardi – โLongneck Way To Goโ
- Russell Dickerson feat. Jake Scott – โShe Likes Itโ
- Thomas Rhett & Katy Perry – โWhere We Startedโ
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 – โColorsโ (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- Chris Stapleton – โWhenever You Come Aroundโ (from CMT Giants: Vince Gill)
- Cody Johnson – โโTil You Canโtโ (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson – โNever Say Neverโ (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- Darius Rucker – โLet Her Cryโ (from CMT Storytellers)
- Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson – โLay Me Downโ (from Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn)
- Keith Urban – โWild Heartsโ (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- LeAnn Rimes with Ashley McBryde & Carly Pearce – โOne Way Ticketโ (from CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends)
- The Judds – โLove Can Build A Bridgeโ (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- Wynonna Judd & Brandi Carlile – โThe Roseโ (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 – โTime of the Cottonwood Treesโ (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
- Chris Young – โGettinโ You Homeโ (from CMT Stages)
- Ingrid Andress – โWishful Drinkingโ (from CMT Studio Sessions)
- Jelly Roll – โSon of A Sinnerโ (from CMT All Access)
- Megan Moroney – โTennessee Orangeโ (from CMT Viral To Verified)
- Scotty McCreery – โDamn Straitโ (from CMT Campfire Sessions)