AUSTIN, Texas — Austin proves itself yet again to be the Live Music Capital of the World as it prepares to host its first CMT Music Awards in 2023 at the Moody Center. The awards are the only one in the country that is entirely fan-voted.
The ceremony, which is traditionally held each year in Tennessee, will air live on CBS on Sunday, April 2, 2023, and can be streamed on Paramount+.
Multi-platinum country superstar Kelsea Ballerini returns as the co-host of the CMT Music Awards for the third consecutive year. She revealed the surprise news on-stage at Carrie Underwood’s sold out tour “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” stop in Austin Moody’s Center. Underwood, who holds the record as winningest artist in CMT history with 25 trophies, was revealed to be the first performer of the 2023 awards show.
“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!” shared Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin, Leslie Fram and Jason Owen, executive producers of CMT Music Awards. “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.”
Ballerini announces this news amidst one of her busiest years yet, just wrapping up 10-city sold out headlining run. She will be appearing next as part of the “The Judds: Love Is Alive – The Final Concert,” premiering on CMT next March.
Underwood’s 43-city U.S. arena tour continues through spring 2023.
“The programming team at Oak View Group and Moody Center has spent the past two years cultivating this relationship and working to endear CMT, CBS and Paramount to Austin and our new, world-class arena. CMT’s commitment to Austin reflects those efforts and we couldn’t be more grateful and excited to host them next year,” says Michael Owens, vice president of programming at Moody Center.
