Hosted by Little Big Town, the 2018 CMT Music Awards will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. This annual country music celebration, driven by fan voting, brings together some of the genre’s biggest stars for a live telecast packed with performances, collaborations and award presentations.
The latest performer announcements add several high-profile names to the lineup. Confirmed to take the stage are pop and country crossover icons Backstreet Boys, Carrie Underwood (the winner of Season 4 of American Idol), the chart-topping duo Dan + Shay, country supergroup Florida Georgia Line, and multi-nominated star Jason Aldean, in addition to the event’s hosts, Little Big Town.
Organizers also revealed two exciting collaborative performances. Dierks Bentley will join forces with Brothers Osborne, who are nominees for “Video of the Year,” for a special performance. In another collaboration, Darius Rucker—a nominee for “CMT Performance of the Year”—will be joined by Jason Aldean (who is tied for the most nominations this year), Luke Bryan, and Charles Kelley. These pairings highlight the night’s emphasis on unique onstage collaborations and memorable live moments. Additional performers will be announced in the days leading up to the show.
Earlier performer announcements included a strong slate of country acts set to appear on the telecast: Blake Shelton (coach on The Voice), critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton, rising star Kelsea Ballerini, fan favorite Luke Bryan, and contemporary country artist Sam Hunt. In a special television moment, Kelly Clarkson—winner of American Idol and a coach on The Voice—will debut her cover of the rock classic “American Woman.” That performance is tied to the promotional campaign for the upcoming Paramount Network series of the same name, which is scheduled to premiere the night after the awards.
Fans play a central role in determining winners at the CMT Music Awards. Voting remains open on CMT.com through Monday, June 4, giving viewers the chance to support their favorite artists across multiple categories. Ballots cover a range of fan-centric awards including “Video of the Year,” “Male Video of the Year,” “Female Video of the Year,” “Duo Video of the Year,” “Group Video of the Year,” “Breakthrough Video of the Year,” “Collaborative Video of the Year,” and “CMT Performance of the Year.” With voting underway, fans can influence who takes home trophies during the live broadcast.
For attendees, tickets to the 2018 CMT Music Awards are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Concertgoers and country music enthusiasts can purchase admission to experience the show live at Bridgestone Arena, where the mix of established stars and emerging talent will perform on one of country music’s most visible stages.
This edition of the CMT Music Awards continues the tradition of honoring fan-favorite music videos, standout performances and memorable collaborations. With a host lineup led by Little Big Town and a roster of artists ranging from contemporary hitmakers to country veterans, the show promises a diverse evening of live music tailored to fans who vote and tune in each year.