Breakout stars Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett will face off against country music heavyweight Keith Urban at the fan-voted “2017 CMT Music Awards,” hosted by Nashville’s Charles Esten, premiering LIVE from Nashville on Wednesday, June 7th at 8pm ET/PT.
The country stars, who top this year’s nominations with four each, will go head-to-head in categories including “Video of the Year,” “Male Video of the Year” and “Female Video of the Year,” as well as “Social Superstar of the Year,” celebrating this year’s most creative, social media-savvy icon. Carrie Underwood, who holds the title of most “CMT Music Awards” wins, nabs three nominations this year, along with Florida Georgia Line, Lauren Alaina and Luke Bryan.
The competition for the night’s biggest award, the highly-coveted “Video of the Year” features fourteen powerhouse players. Six-time winner Carrie Underwood faces off with returning nominees Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley (with first-time nominee Elle King), Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett and first-timers CMA 50th anniversary collaborators Artists of Then, Now & Forever, Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi and Kelsea Ballerini. The top seven “Video of the Year” nominees will be announced live on air at the beginning of the show, and fans will be able to vote live for the winner.
“CMT Performance of the Year” brings together artists from diverse musical backgrounds, spotlighting the growing presence of country music crossovers. The eclectic roster includes collaborations with pop-superstars Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas, P!nk, R&B/soul legends Alicia Keys and Jill Scott, and seasoned rockstar John Mellencamp.
Artists with first-time “CMT Music Awards” nominations this year include Brett Young, Chris Young, Jon Pardi and Midland.
Fan voting begins today at CMT.com and continues until 12:01am ET on Monday, June 5th. Superstar show performances revealed last week include Blake Shelton, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett. Additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.
The nominees for the 2017 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.
- Artists of Then, Now & Forever – “Forever Country”
- Brad Paisley – “Today”
- Brett Eldredge –“Wanna Be That Song”
- Carrie Underwood – “Church Bells”
- Cole Swindell –“Middle Of A Memory”
- Dierks Bentley and Elle King – “Different For Girls”
- Florida Georgia Line –“H.O.L.Y.”
- Jon Pardi – “Dirt On My Boots”
- Keith Urban – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
- Kelsea Ballerini – “Peter Pan”
- Little Big Town – “Better Man”
- Luke Bryan – “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”
- Miranda Lambert – “Vice”
- Thomas Rhett – “Star Of The Show”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
- Blake Shelton – “Came Here To Forget”
- Eric Church – “Record Year”
- Jason Aldean – “Lights Come On”
- Keith Urban – “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
- Luke Bryan – “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”
- Thomas Rhett – “Star Of The Show”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
- Carrie Underwood – “Church Bells”
- Kelsea Ballerini – “Peter Pan”
- Lauren Alaina – “Road Less Traveled”
- Maren Morris – “80s Mercedes”
- Miranda Lambert – “Vice”
- Reba McEntire – “Back To God”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
- Big & Rich feat. Tim McGraw – “Lovin’ Lately”
- Brothers Osborne – “21 Summer”
- Dan + Shay – “How Not To”
- Florida Georgia Line – “H.O.L.Y.”
- LoCash – “I Know Somebody”
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
- Eli Young Band – “Saltwater Gospel”
- Lady Antebellum – “You Look Good”
- Little Big Town – “Better Man”
- Midland – “Drinkin’ Problem”
- Old Dominion – “Song For Another Time”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)
- Brett Young – “In Case You Didn’t Know”
- Jon Pardi – “Dirt On My Boots”
- Kane Brown – “Used To Love You Sober”
- Lauren Alaina – “Road Less Traveled”
- Luke Combs – “Hurricane”
- RaeLynn – “Love Triangle”
COLLABORATION VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists
- Artists of Then, Now & Forever – “Forever Country”
- Chris Young feat. Vince Gill – “Sober Saturday Night”
- Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King – “Different For Girls”
- Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw – “May We All”
- Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood – “The Fighter”
- Kenny Chesney with P!nk – “Setting The World On Fire”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
- Jason Aldean – “Hicktown” (From CMT Concert of the Summer)
- Jason Derulo and Luke Bryan – “Want To Want Me” (From CMT Crossroads)
- John Mellencamp and Darius Rucker – “Pink Houses” (From CMT Crossroads)
- Alicia Keys and Maren Morris – “80s Mercedes” (From CMT Crossroads)
- Meghan Trainor, Jill Scott and Kelsea Ballerini – “You’re Still The One/Any Man of Mine/Man I Feel Like A Woman” (from CMT Artists of the Year)
- Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett – Close (From CMT Crossroads)
SOCIAL SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR
Most creative and engaging social media posts by an artist; awarded to the artist
- Brett Eldredge
- Jake Owen
- Keith Urban
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Lauren Alaina
- Thomas Rhett
For more information, follow @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, use hashtag #CMTawards and like the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.
