We now know at least some of the performers for this year’s CMT Music Awards. Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman and Sam Hunt have been announced as the first round of performers for the upcoming live ceremony, taking place next month.
Jelly Roll and Wilson are both nominated for three awards each, along with Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney and Kelsea Ballerini, who will also host the ceremony.
Urban may not be nominated for a CMT Music Award this year, but he’s going to make country music history at the ceremony. The “Messed Up As Me” singer will perform during the live show for the 20th time, more than any other artist.
For a record-breaking 20th time, @KeithUrban will be rocking the #CMTAwards stage! 🎸
Catch his performance and SO MUCH MORE – Sunday, April 7 on @CBS! pic.twitter.com/OPQAPQVJcr
— CMT (@CMT) March 19, 2024
Jelly Roll and Wilson are both nominated for Video of the Year, for “Need a Favor,” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” respectively. Jelly Roll is also nominated for Male Video of the Year and Performance of the Year, also for “Need a Favor,” with the Performance of the Year from last year’s CMT Music Awards.
Wilson’s other nominations include Female Video of the Year, also for “Watermelon Moonshine,” and Collaborative Video of the Year, for Lukas Nelson + Promise of The Real feat. Lainey Wilson – “More Than Friends.”
Ballerini is nominated for Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year, both for “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too),” and Female Video of the Year, for “Penthouse.” This marks her fourth consecutive year hosting the CMT Music Awards, this time taking the helm solo, without Kane Brown, who has shared the duties with her for the last three years.
“It’s definitely new grounds for me,” Ballerini told People. “But it’s my fourth year hosting, so I feel like I’ve learned a lot. And the good thing about CMTs is there’s such a light energy, so there’s not a pressure that I feel to be perfect. I just want to be fun, honor the night and help people have a good time.”
Zimmerman is nominated for Male Video of the Year, for “Religiously.” Hunt, although not nominated, will perform a brand-new song during the broadcast.
At the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Jelly Roll won in all three categories he was nominated in, including Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year and the CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year, all for “Son Of A Sinner..”
The CMT Music Awards are fan-voted. Voting is open now at vote.cmt.com. The CMT Music Awards will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, April 7, at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.