“2023 CMT Music Awards” to Air Live from Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Sunday, April 2, on CBS

Kelsea Ballerini Sets Return as Co-Host, Announces CMT’s Most-Winning Artist Carrie Underwood as First Performer with Surprise On-Stage Reveal During Underwood’s Sold-Out ATX Stop on “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour”

CMT and CBS together announce the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, country’s only entirely fan-voted awards, will air Sunday, April 2, 2023 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), LIVE from Austin, Texas’ Moody Center for the first time ever. Paramount Global’s signature country music tentpole returns for its worldwide premiere exclusively via the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.* Students get 25% OFF Paramount+. Redeem offer now to watch thousands of episodes, live sports, exclusive originals & live TV–all in one place.

Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini will return as CMT Music Awards co-host for the third consecutive year, she revealed tonight while onstage with global powerhouse Carrie Underwood during Undewrwood’s sold-out “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” stop at Moody Center. Underwood, who holds the title as the winningest artist in CMT history with a total of 25 trophies, was revealed as the first performer for the 2023 show.

“We couldn’t be more excited to announce the return of the CMT Music Awards on CBS than with co-host Kelsea Ballerini surprising Carrie Underwood in the middle of her incredible performance at Moody Center – the exact venue where the show will air exactly five months from today!” shared Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin, Leslie Fram and Jason Owen, executive producers of the CMT Music Awards, in a joint statement. “Our fans are in for an unforgettable night of music, as the Live Music Capital meets Music City for the first time ever. It will be a true country music extravaganza.”

“The programming team at Oak View Group and Moody Center has spent the past two years cultivating this relationship and working to endear CMT, CBS, and Paramount to Austin and our new, world-class arena. CMT’s commitment to Austin reflects those efforts and we couldn’t be more grateful and excited to host them next year,” says Michael Owens, vice president of programming at Moody Center.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome the CMT Music Awards to Moody Center in 2023! This event will have not only a huge financial impact on Austin and its tourism industry, but it will also showcase two of the top music brands globally, Austin as The Live Music Capital of the World and Country Music Television,” says Tom Noonan, president, and CEO of Austin CVB.

Underwood, whose newest single and music video, “Hate My Heart,” are out now, is currently on her 43-city U.S. arena tour, which kicked off October 15 and continues through spring 2023. Upcoming stops include New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.

Ballerini has had a busy year. The award-winning songwriter, producer, and performer recently released her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Subject to Change, and wrapped a sold out 10-city headlining run. She is next appearing as part of the historic concert event “The Judds: Love Is Alive – The Final Concert,” premiering March 2023 on CMT.

The 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS executive producers are Margaret Comeaux (CMT), John Hamlin (Switched On Entertainment), Leslie Fram (CMT) and Jason Owen (Sandbox Entertainment); Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) is co-executive producer; Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino are executives in charge of production; Shanna Strassberg and Taryn Hurd are talent producers.

Additional details for the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on CBS will be announced soon. For more information follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Tik Tok.