IT’S TIME Y’ALL — THE CMT MUSIC AWARDS ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND!
The 2024 CMT Music Awards are taking over the Lone Star State of Texas this evening, bringing all of our favorite country music industry icons and up-and-comers together for a can’t-miss show at the Moody Center in Austin.
While the CMTMAs are always iconic, this year’s will really have everyone talking beyond Sunday night. From nominees and performances to its host and special guests, this year’s show is about to turn heads for all the right reasons. Plus, artists like Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney are up for a ton of hardware this evening, and Sugarland will make history by reuniting for the first time in fifteen years for a special collaboration performance with none other than Little Big Town.
To make sure you are fully prepared for this weekend, Celeb Secrets put together a cheat sheet on all things CMTMAs. From a complete list of celebs making appearances to where to watch and more, this list has got ya covered.
Give us a follow on IG at @celebsecrets and @celebsecretscountry — as well as on TikTok at @celebsecrets — as we’ll be posting the best moments from both the pre-show and the main event LIVE on the grounds.
When are the 2024 CMT Music Awards?
The 2024 CMT Music Awards are this SUNDAY, April 7, 2024.
Where can you watch the show?
You can watch the 2024 CMT Music Awards LIVE on CMT beginning at 8PM ET on CBS and Paramount+. CMT will encore the show on Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 PM ET/PT.
Will there be a red carpet?
Red carpets are back and better than ever, and we’re pretty sure that our favorite celebs will bring their A-game when they pose for photos before going into the 2024 CMTMAs.
Cody Alan, Carissa Culiner and Marley Sherwood will kick off the evening by welcoming a steady stream of music’s biggest names as they hit the Red Carpet LIVE on CMT ahead of the big show. Rising hitmaker Warren Zeiders will also perform his #1 hit song “Pretty Little Poison” during the pre-show, which earned him his first-ever CMT nomination in “Breakthrough Male Video of the Year” category.
Who is nominated?
There are 9 categories at the CMTMAs, and to no surprise, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney lead the pack with three chances each to win a belt buckle award this year! In addition, CMT is recognizing 14 first-time nominees spanning breakthrough artists to out-of-genre superstars with Amber Riley, Ashley Cooke, Bret Michaels, Chayce Beckham, Hozier, Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tyler Childers, Warren Zeiders, Zach Bryan and four 2024 CMT Next Women of Country members Anne Wilson, Ella Langley, The Castellows and Tigirlily Gold (2x), who are all up for their first ever awards.
Voting closed on Monday (April 1) for all categories, except for the “Video of the Year” Award, presented by Hilton. After 16 of the year’s top videos were considered for a new “belt buckle,” six artists still have a chance to snag the night’s biggest and most coveted award.
The final six “Video of the Year” nominees are:
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- Ashley McBryde – “Light On In the Kitchen”
- Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
- HARDY – “Truck Bed”
- Jelly Roll – “Need A Favor”
- Kelsea Ballerini – “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)
- Lainey Wilson “Watermelon Moonshine”
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You can view a full list of nominees here and continue to vote for your “Video of the Year” fav now and into the show at vote.cmt.com.
What about the performers?
The CMTMAs are known for putting on some of the biggest and buzzworthy performances in award show history, and this year will be no different. On Sunday, viewers will see Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Dasha, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town + Sugarland, Megan Moroney, NEEDTOBREATHE + Jordan Davis, Old Dominion ft. Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum ft. Brittney Spencer,Sam Hunt and Trisha Yearwood all take the stage throughout the three-hour telecast.
In addition, Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, and Sammy Hagar are set to join forces with Toby’s longtime band to honor the late country music icon with a musical tribute during the show. Lukas Nelson and Roger Clemens will also be on hand honor to honor Toby.
Throughout his career, Toby has been nominated for 30 CMTMAs — won seven of those — and performed on the show 13 times.
And presenters?
Big celebs are headed to Austin to present hardware to this year’s nominees, including Amber Riley, Billy Bob Thornton, Carly Pearce, Cody Alan, Cody Johnson, Emily Osment, Emma Roberts, Gayle King, James Van Der Beek, Jane Seymour, Jelly Roll, Lukas Nelson, Max Thieriot, Megan Moroney, Melissa Etheridge, Mickey Guyton, Minnie Driver, Montana Jordan, Parmalee, Paul Walter Hauser, Riley Green and Roger Clemens.
Is there a host?
Kelsea Ballerini will return to the Moody Center to host country music’s first fan-voted award show for the fourth year in a row. The 30-year-old co-hosted alongside Kane Brown in 2021 and 2023, and remotely for the 2022 show due to catching COVID-19.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be back for my 4th year with my CMT family to host this year’s CMT Music awards in Austin, TX,” Ballerini shared in a statement. “Hosting an awards show that celebrates the music that the fans love most has been an honor and I know this year will be another unforgettable night.”
What else do I need to know?
Trisha Yearwood will be receiving the inaugural June Carter Cash Award at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, as well as perform her new song “Put It In A Song,” which is the first release off her upcoming album.
Inspired by country pioneer June Carter Cash, the award recognizes an artist, duo/group or industry veteran who demonstrates an exceptional dedication to community and their fellow artists, embodying June’s spirit as a fierce advocate and initiator in paying it forward, helping others find their voice and using their platform to inspire and uplift others.
To get you hyped for the big show, CMT is running CMT Music Awards Weekend on their channel, which will feature a trio of can’t-miss music specials. Kicking things off TODAY, April 5th @ 8/7c, the programming schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY, APRIL 5th
- CMT STORYTELLERS: LITTLE BIG TOWN” – 8PM ET/7PM CT: GRAMMY-winning group Little Big Town headlines the newest installment of renowned music series “CMT Storytellers.” Featuring intimate performances and storytelling that spans the multi-platinum group’s 25 years together, members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook take fans on a musical journey spanning their robust career featuring some of their biggest, critically-acclaimed hits including ““Better Man,” “Boondocks,” “Rich Man,” “Girl Crush” and more.
SATURDAY, APRIL 6th
- “CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN: 2024 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PREVIEW” – 9AM ET/8AM CT
Hosts Cody Alan, Carissa Culiner, and Marley Sherwood host a special episode of CMT’s signature weekend countdown featuring a look at this year’s star-packed list of CMT MUSIC AWARDS nominees. Hot20 is on the CMTMA scene, broadcasting from Austin’s Moody Center, featuring last minute rehearsals and interviews with all the big nominees including Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Jason Aldean and CMTMA host Kelsea Ballerini. - “CMT CROSSROADS: NICKELBACK & HARDY” – 8PM ET/7PM CT
Acclaimed rockers Nickelback and award-winning country-rocker HARDY team up for the latest installment of CMT’s critically-acclaimed franchise “CMT Crossroads,” swapping stories and collaborating on each other’s biggest songs, including can’t-miss performances of Nickelback’s “Savin’ Me” and “Animals,” HARDY’s “Truck Bed” and “Give Heaven Some Hell” – plus a first-time mashup of both “Rockstar” singles. - “CMT MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET” – LIVE at 7PM ET/6PM CT
Hosts Cody Alan, Carissa Culiner and Marley Sherwood welcome a steady stream of music’s biggest names as they hit the Red Carpet LIVE on CMT ahead of the 2024 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on CBS. Rising hitmaker Warren Zeiders will kick off the show with a performance of his #1 hit song “Pretty Little Poison,” which earned him his first-ever CMT nomination in “Breakthrough Male Video of the Year” category.
Where can I listen to all of this year’s nominees’ biggest hits?
You can check out every nominated song by adding our CMTMA playlist below to your Spotify favorites.
