CBS MEDIA ALERT: KANE BROWN KICKS OFF APRIL ON CBS!

MULTI-PLATINUM ENTERTAINER TO CO-HOST THE "2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS" WITH KELSEA BALLERINI ON SUNDAY, APRIL 2 AND MAKE HIS ACTING DEBUT ON "FIRE COUNTRY," THE #1 NEW SERIES OF THE SEASON, FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Brown and His Wife, Katelyn Brown, Set World Television Premiere Performance of Their Multi-Week #1 Hit Single "Thank God" on the 2023 "CMT Music Awards"

2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

· CBS and CMT announce multi-platinum entertainer Kane Brown will return as co-host of the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS alongside Kelsea Ballerini for Austin's first major televised awards show airing LIVE from Moody Center on Sunday, April 2 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). Paramount Global's signature country music tentpole - and country's only entirely fan-voted award show - will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.

· Brown will also pull double duty as performer, teaming up with wife Katelyn Brown for the television world premiere performance of their multi-week #1 hit single, "Thank God." Kane and Katelyn made history with "Thank God," becoming only the second married couple in country music to earn a #1 together with a duet.

· "Kane Brown is a genre-defying force and an electric live performer who continues to break barriers and smash records. He and Kelsea are both seasoned pros and an unstoppable duo with mega charisma, star power and global appeal to match. We couldn't pick a more dynamic pair to helm our show's first ever move to Austin in what is sure to be one of our most memorable yet - and can't wait for him and Katelyn to share the stage for what will be an unforgettable, world premiere performance," shared CMT MUSIC AWARDS producers.

FIRE COUNTRY

· Brown will make his acting debut on the hit drama FIRE COUNTRY, Friday, April 7 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

· He will play Robin, an enigmatic, modern-day train hopper who helps injured patients at the scene of a crash. Robin is more of a Robin Hood - an outlaw on the run who has a heart of gold.

· "As soon as Kane stepped onto set it felt like he had been a part of the FIRE COUNTRY family from the beginning," said series star and creator Max Thieriot. "I was really blown away by how natural and honest he is in each scene. To top it off he's just a wonderful person - kind, excited to learn and fun to be around... dude is the real deal!"

ABOUT "2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS"

· As previously announced, CMT's most decorated artist Carrie Underwood is set to perform at the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, which Ballerini announced live on stage at Moody Center this past November.

· Nominations, additional performers, presenters and details on ticketing will be announced soon.

· 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); Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino are executives in charge of production; Shanna Strassberg and Taryn Hurd are talent producers.

· The 2023 CMT Media Credential Application is now open here.

ABOUT "FIRE COUNTRY"

· FIRE COUNTRY stars Max Thieriot (SEAL TEAM) as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region.

· FIRE COUNTRY also stars Billy Burke, Kevin Alejandro, Diane Farr, Stephanie Arcila, Jordan Calloway and Jules Latimer. Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Tia Napolitano, Max Thieriot, Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed are executive producers. The series is produced by CBS Studios.

· Since its premiere on Oct. 7, FIRE COUNTRY has averaged 8.5 million viewers per episode, making it the top new broadcast series of the season. Including live +35-day multiplatform viewing, more than 10 million viewers are watching each episode of FIRE COUNTRY across linear and streaming platforms.

*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.