The fan-voted CMT Music Awards, slated for April 7 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, are getting even hotter.
Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson and Sam Hunt are the first round of performers who will join previously announced performer (and CMT Music Awards host) Kelsea Ballerini on the CMT Music Awards stage, in the heart of the live music capital of the world.
Jelly Roll, Ballerini and Wilson are among the evening’s top nominees, alongside Cody Johnson and Megan Moroney, who each have three nominations apiece leading up to the show. The CMT Music Awards will air on CBS and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
Last year, Jelly Roll dominated the CMT Music Awards, taking home the most trophies that evening, with three career-surging wins. This year, he is again nominated for three accolades, including the coveted video of the year.
Zimmerman, who is currently on a sold-out solo touring run, will offer a first-time performance of his current single, the top 20 Country Airplay hit “Where It Ends.” A three-time Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper, Zimmerman is also looking to earn his first CMT Music Awards win this year, in the male video of the year category.
Urban will make history when he takes the CMT Music Awards stage, for his 20th performance — marking the most in CMT Music Awards history. He’ll offer a rendition of “Straight Line,” the first single from his forthcoming 12th studio project.
Fresh off her inaugural Grammy win earlier this year, singer-songwriter-actress Wilson will perform her new song “Country’s Cool Again,” which is also the namesake for her upcoming headlining tour, launching in Nashville in May.
Hunt, who is currently on his arena-headlining Outskirts Tour, has earned nine CMT Music Awards nominations during his career, and previously won the breakthrough video of the year accolade. His current single “Outskirts” is in the top 20 on the Country Airplay chart, but Hunt will offer new music during his performance, debuting a new song during the CMT Music Awards broadcast.
The CMT Music Awards relocated to Texas last year, moving from its longtime home in Nashville. The awards show, originally known as the Music City News Awards, held its inaugural event in 1967; the awards celebration has been known as the CMT Music Awards since 2005.
Voting is currently open at vote.cmt.com, through April 1, while voting for the video of the year honor, presented by Hilton, will remain active into the show.
Additional performers and presenters for this year’s CMT Music Awards will be revealed at a later date.
