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Jason Kempin/Getty; Jason Davis/Getty Kelsey Ballerini and Carrie Underwood
Get excited, country music fans! A date has been set for the 2023 CMT Music Awards — and with it comes some exciting announcements.
On Wednesday, CMT and CBS announced that the fan-voted awards show will take place on April 2, 2023, and for the first time ever, the show will be broadcast live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas!
Also, Kelsey Ballerini will return as host with CMT for her third year in a row, she revealed Wednesday during a surprise appearance on Carrie Underwood’s show at the Moody Center.
Meanwhile, Underwood, 39, was announced as the event’s first performer.
“Austin and Nashville are two of the best music cities in the world, and we couldn’t be more excited to announce the return of the CMT Music Awards to CBS,” co-host Kelsey Ballerini said, surprising our most awarded artist Carrie Underwood with her incredible performance at the Moody Center. In the middle of a live performance – the exact place we’ll all be returning to exactly five months from now!” Margaret Comox, Jon Hamlin, Leslie Frame and Jason Owen, executive producers of the CMT Awards, said in a press release.
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The statement continued, “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 on a national stage in what will be a true country music extravaganza.”
Tom Noonan, President and CEO, Austin CVB added: “We are thrilled to welcome the CMT Music Awards to the Moody Center in 2023! Not only will this event have a huge financial impact on Austin and its tourism industry, but it will showcase two of the top music acts worldwide. Brand, Austin the Live Music Capital of the World and Country Music Television.”
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On this year’s show in April, Ballerini tested positive for Covid and took over her hosting duties from home, while co-hosts Ken Brown and Anthony Mackie appeared on the show.
“Okay guys, I have some bad news, and I have some good news,” Ballerini said in a video of the new announcement. “The bad news is that I tested positive for Covid a few days ago and the CMT awards are tonight, so unfortunately I can no longer be there in person.”
Noting that she was “devastated” by her diagnosis, the “Peter Pan” singer continued by sharing her “good news” that she is “feeling much better.”
“The incredible CMT team and my team bought parts of the CMT set for my house, my little bubble, and set it up in a place where I can still host and perform,” added Ballerini. “It’s certainly not what we expected or planned, but we’re doing our best. … Let’s make some lemonade out of this very bitter lemon.”
Ballerini is fresh off her 10-night HeartFirst Tour, which ended on October 14. Meanwhile, Underwood is currently on her 43-city Denim & Rhinestones tour, which runs through spring 2023.
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