CMT Announces the 2023 CMT Music Awards Nominations
CMT has revealed the nominees for the 2023 CMT Music Awards, the fan-voted country music awards show produced by Paramount Global. The ceremony will be hosted by nominees Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini and will air live on Sunday, April 2 (8:00–11:00 PM ET, live/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network from Austin, Texas’ Moody Center. The show will also stream live and be available on demand on Paramount+. Each winner is chosen by fans; voting is open now at vote.cmt.com.
Leading the nominations this year is Lainey Wilson with four nods, including Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year. Artists with three nominations include Cody Johnson, first-time nominee Jelly Roll, and co-host Kane Brown. Carrie Underwood—CMT’s most-awarded artist with 25 wins—is nominated again and is scheduled to perform at the ceremony.
The Video of the Year category proceeds in two voting rounds. Six top nominees from the first round will be revealed on March 27, with the final three nominees announced on the night of the show, April 2. The ultimate winner will be decided by fan voting across social media and unveiled live during the program.
New for 2023, CMT has expanded the Breakthrough Video of the Year into separate male and female categories, doubling the recognition for emerging artists. Breakthrough Male includes performers such as America’s Got Talent finalist Drake Milligan and The Voice alum Corey Kent. Another notable mention: Katy Perry receives her first CMT nomination since 2015 for her collaboration with Thomas Rhett.
2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Top six nominees from the first round of voting will be announced March 27; the final three nominees will be revealed on show day, April 2. Final voting will be determined via social media and announced during the live show.
- 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
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist.
- 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
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist.
- 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
Best video by a duo or group; awarded to the artists.
- 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”
BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a female artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
- 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”
BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a male artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
- 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
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists.
- 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
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo).
- 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
Musical performance from a production, series or livestream created for CMT digital/social channels; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo).
- 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”)
CMT will also present a “CMT Music Awards Extended Cut” airing Thursday, April 6 (8:00–11:30 PM ET/PT), which will include an additional 30 minutes of performances and bonus content. New programming connected to CMT Music Awards Week will be announced closer to the event.