The CMT Music Awards will have a new location in 2023. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Kelsea Ballerini for the third year in a row, will take place next year in Austin, Texas. Carrie Underwood is the first performer announced for the star-studded show.
Ballerini shared the news when she surprised the crowd at the Moody Center in Austin, as part of Underwood’s The Denim & Rhinestones Tour.
“Do you guys know that out of the history of CMT Awards, this sweetie has the reigning highest number of CMT Awards ever?” Ballerini shared, holding up a sign that celebrates Underwood’s 25 wins.
The “Heartfirst” singer went on to share the news of the new location for the CMT Music Awards.
“How much do we love Austin?” Ballerini asked, as the crowd cheered. “Well then, I guess it’s a really good time to tell you that April 2nd, on CBS, for the first time ever, the CMT Awards are going to be at the Moody Center … And it only feels fitting that the first performer announced is Miss Carrie Underwood.”
The CMT Music Awards are Austin bound! 🤠
Hosted by @KelseaBallerini with 25x #CMTAwards winner @carrieunderwood taking the stage. We’re coming for you @MoodyCenterATX.
See you Sunday, April 2nd on CBS! pic.twitter.com/oaMiTicBJI
— CBS (@CBS) November 3, 2022
“Both Austin and Nashville are two of the world’s greatest music cities and we couldn’t be more excited to announce the return of the CMT Music Awards on CBS than with co-host Kelsea Ballerini surprising Carrie Underwood, our most awarded artist, in the middle of her incredible live performance at Moody Center – the exact venue where we’ll all be back exactly five months from today!” Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin, Leslie Fram and Jason Owen, Executive Producers of the CMT Music Awards shared in a joint statement.
“Our fans are in for an unforgettable night of music with plenty of surprises, as the Live Music Capital meets Music City for the first time ever on a national stage in what will be a true country music extravaganza,” they continued.
The 2023 CMT Awards will air live from the Moody Center in Austin on Sunday, April 2, at 8:00 PM ET on CBS. The show will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of CMT Communications / Getty Images
