The CMT Music Awards is an annual event that began in 1967 to recognize the accomplishments of country music artists, and has since become a star-studded show for fans to celebrate the best of the genre. The 2023 ceremony will take place on April 2 in Austin, Texas, and will be hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini. Fans can vote for their favorite artists and videos in several categories, making it the only fan-voted awards show in country music.
Lainey Wilson leads this year’s nominations with four nods, including Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, and CMT Performance of the Year. Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, and Jelly Roll follow with three nominations each. The Video of the Year category has 17 nominees, including Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
Newcomers are celebrated with the expanded Breakthrough Video of the Year category, which now includes subcategories for male and female artists. This year’s show features 21 first-time nominees, including Black Pumas, Emmy Russell with Jake Scott, and Katy Perry.
The CMT Music Awards not only honor established artists but also provide a platform for new talent to shine. With the expansion of the Breakthrough Video of the Year category and the inclusion of first-time nominees, the show continues to showcase the diversity and creativity of the genre. Fans can vote for their favorites at vote.cmt.com and be part of the excitement of the CMT Music Awards.
Nominations
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”
FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH 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”
MALE BREAKTHROUGH 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 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
- 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”)
