Kelsea Ballerini Will Host the 2023 CMT Music Awards in Texas
CMT and CBS announced that the 2023 CMT Music Awards will air on Sunday, April 2, 2023 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) live from Austin, Texas’ Moody Center for the first time…
CMT and CBS announced that the 2023 CMT Music Awards will air on Sunday, April 2, 2023 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) live from Austin, Texas' Moody Center for the first time ever.
Kelsea Ballerini will return as CMT Music Awards co-host for the third consecutive year, as she revealed last night (11/2) at Underwood's show in Austin, Texas. Underwood, who holds the title of the winningest artist in CMT history, with a total of 25 trophies, was revealed as the first performer for the 2023 show.
Kelsea gave Carrie a huge wrestling-style belt buckle commemorating her status as the biggest CMT Music Award winner ever and then told the excited crowd about the show now taking place in their town of Austin, Texas. Underwood responded, "That's quite the belt buckle."
Ballerini posted the Surprise on her Instagram, writing, "Surprise! @CMT Music Awards is coming to Austin, TX, hosted by Kelsea and with a performance by Carrie! April 2, 2023, • Moody Center • Austin, TX on @cbstv."
Fans were thrilled with the news, with one commenting, "That's so cool. usually, it's in Nashville; that's so cool it's in Austin." CMT responded to the post, "ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT." One more fan gushed, "So excited that Carrie will be performing!!"
Ballerini returns to the CMT stage for the third time as co-host on the heels of her busiest year ever. She recently released her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Subject To Change, and wrapped a sold-out 10-city headlining run. Kelsea is next appearing as part of the historic concert event "The Judds: Love Is Alive - The Final Concert," which tapes live tonight (11/3).
Carrie also posted about her show in Austin on Instagram and captioned a photo dump from the night, "Austin was on last night at the @moodycenteratx !!! Seriously, such a loud, crazy, beautiful crowd!!! Thanks for the love!"
Ballerini commented on that post, "Literally the best show I've ever seen."
The CMT Music Awards may be fan-voted, but we vote for the winners and losers of style on the red carpet. Check out how the stars of country looked tonight in Nashville, Tennessee.
42. Restless Road
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: (L-R) Garrett Nichols, Colton Pack, and Zach Beeken of Restless Road attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
41. Gabby Barrett
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Gabby Barrett attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
40. Meghan Linsey
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Meghan Linsey attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
39. Elvie Shane and Mandi Payton
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Elvie Shane and Mandi Payton attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
38. Nelly
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Nelly attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
37. Rachel Smith
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Rachel Smith attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
36. Mickey Guyton
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Mickey Guyton attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
35. Jason Aldean, Leslie Fram and Brittany Aldean
Jason Kempin/Getty Images For CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jason Aldean, Leslie Fram and Brittany Aldean attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images For CMT)
34. Riley Green and Thomas Rhett
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Riley Green and Thomas Rhett attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
33. Dustin Lynch
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Dustin Lynch attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
32. Anthony Mackie
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Anthony Mackie attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
31. Lainey Wilson
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Lainey Wilson attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
30. Carly Pearce
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Carly Pearce attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
29. Jillian Cardarelli
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Jillian Cardarelli attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
28. Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
27. Danielle Bradbery
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Danielle Bradbery attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
26. Jessie James Decker
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Jessie James Decker attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
25. Tenille Arts
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Tenille Arts attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
24. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Gilligan Stillwater
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Gilligan Stillwater attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
23. Kane Brown
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Kane Brown attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
22. Miranda Lambert
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Miranda Lambert attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
21. Cody Alan
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Cody Alan attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
20. Julia Cole
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Julia Cole attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
19. Sophia Scott
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Sophia Scott attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
18. Maddie Font
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Maddie Font of Maddie & Tae attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
17. Little Big Town
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: (L-R) Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
16. Parmalee
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: (L-R) Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Matt Thomas, and Scott Thomas of Parmalee attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
15. Priscilla Block
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Priscilla Block attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
14. Carrie Underwood
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Carrie Underwood attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
13. Lily Aldridge
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Lily Aldridge attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
12. Black Pumas
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton of Black Pumas attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
11. Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: (L-R) Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
10. Alecia Davis
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Alecia Davis attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
9. Reyna Roberts
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Reyna Roberts attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
8. The Judds
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Wynonna Judd and Naomi Judd of The Judds attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
7. Brittney Spencer
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Brittney Spencer attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
6. Callista Clark
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Callista Clark attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
5. LeAnn Rimes
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: LeAnn Rimes attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
4. Monica
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Monica attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
3. Gayle King
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Gayle King attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
2. MacKenzie Porter
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMTNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: MacKenzie Porter attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
1. Jenna Paulette
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Jenna Paulette attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
