"2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS" TO AIR LIVE FROM MOODY CENTER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SUNDAY, APRIL 2, ON CBS

Kelsea Ballerini Sets Return as Co-Host, Announces CMT's Most-Winning Artist Carrie Underwood as First Performer with Surprise On-Stage Reveal During Underwood's Sold-Out ATX Stop on "The Denim & Rhinestones Tour"

Paramount Global's Country Tentpole Makes History with Austin's First Major Televised Awards, Returning to America's Most-Watched Network on the Heels of Record-Setting Ratings

CMT and CBS together announce the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, country's only entirely fan-voted awards, will air Sunday, April 2, 2023 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), LIVE from Austin, Texas' Moody Center for the first time ever. Paramount Global's signature country music tentpole returns for its worldwide premiere exclusively via the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.*

Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini will return as CMT Music Awards co-host for the third consecutive year, she revealed tonight while onstage with global powerhouse Carrie Underwood during Undewrwood's sold-out "The Denim & Rhinestones Tour" stop at Moody Center. Underwood, who holds the title as the winningest artist in CMT history with a total of 25 trophies, was revealed as the first performer for the 2023 show.

"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 in the middle of her incredible performance at Moody Center - the exact venue where the show will air exactly five months from today!" shared Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin, Leslie Fram and Jason Owen, executive producers of the CMT Music Awards, in a joint statement. "Our fans are in for an unforgettable night of music, as the Live Music Capital meets Music City for the first time ever. It will be a true country music extravaganza."

"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.

"We are beyond thrilled to welcome the CMT Music Awards to Moody Center in 2023! This event will have not only a huge financial impact on Austin and its tourism industry, but it will also showcase two of the top music brands globally, Austin as The Live Music Capital of the World and Country Music Television," says Tom Noonan, president and CEO of Austin CVB.

Underwood, whose newest single and music video, "Hate My Heart," are out now, is currently on her 43-city U.S. arena tour, which kicked off Oct. 15 and continues through spring 2023. Upcoming stops include New York's Madison Square Garden, Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena.

Ballerini has had a busy year. The award-winning songwriter, producer and performer recently released her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Subject to Change, and wrapped a sold out 10-city headlining run. She is next appearing as part of the historic concert event "The Judds: Love Is Alive - The Final Concert," premiering March 2023 on CMT.

For its inaugural year on CBS, the 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS delivered 5.89 million viewers, a 529% increase from June 2021, and dominated on social with 2.7 billion impressions across platforms.^

The 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS executive producers are Margaret Comeaux (CMT), John Hamlin (Switched On Entertainment), Leslie Fram (CMT) and Jason Owen (Sandbox Entertainment); Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) is co-executive producer; Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino are executives in charge of production; Shanna Strassberg and Taryn Hurd are talent producers.

Additional details for the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on CBS will be announced soon. For more information and news, visit CMTPress.com and ParamountPressExpress.com and follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Tik Tok.

About the CMT Music Awards

Celebrated for its high-powered, world-premiere and cross-genre performances, the CMT MUSIC AWARDS have aired live since 2005, delivering Nashville's biggest party to music fans across the globe. The 2022 show, hosted by superstars Anthony Mackie, Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown, featured performances from country music's biggest stars with epic first-time collaborations and cross-genre pairings, including Jimmie Allen, Monica + Little Big Town, Kenny Chesney, Mickey Guyton + Black Pumas, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris + Ryan Hurd, Keith Urban, the last televised performance from legendary duo The Judds, and Carrie Underwood, who remains the most-awarded artist in CMT Awards history with 25 wins. 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS highlights available here.

About Moody Center

Moody Center provides the nation's 11th largest city with a premier venue to host the biggest artists and acts on the planet. Designed specifically for concerts, the new arena replaces the 45-year-old Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center at The University of Texas and is home to The University of Texas Women's and Men's basketball games, family shows, and other sporting and community events. Moody Center is the first of its kind in the industry with an unrivaled partnership between Oak View Group, Live Nation/C3 Presents, The University of Texas at Austin and Minister of Culture, Matthew McConaughey. Addition information and news, follow @moodycenteratx on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Tik Tok.

*Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand. Essential-tier subscribers will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

^Source: Nielsen Media Research, Most Current Ratings for April 11, 2022.