Talent
Much like their musical genre which has long been defined by perseverance and grit
the biggest names in country came out for a special evening during a difficult time to unite fans everywhere.
Just when audiences could use a fun-filled night of fantastic music and surprises-
this entirely fan-voted award show delivered one-of-a-kind performances and appearances from the year’s hottest stars!
A TRIO OF NEW HOSTS LED FANS THROUGH A NEW LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S CMT MUSIC AWARDS!
- Co-hosts included country music hitmaker Kane Brown, multi-CMT award nominee Ashley McBryde, and “Modern Family” actress Sarah Hyland.
- The hosts safely represented segments from their own unique stages throughout Nashville to bring together a refreshed show deeply rooted in humor and heart.
- Co-hosts Ashley McBryde and Kane Brown were not only busy hosting, they took to the CMT Music Awards stage. McBryde performed her dark single, “Martha Divide” and Brown sang “Worship You” from his 2020 album “Mixtape, Vol. 1”.
CMT Music Awards Hosts: Sarah Hyland, Kane Brown, and Ashley McBryde
the Music!
ICONIC COLLABORATIONS CROSSED GENERATIONS AND GENRES!
- Jimmie Allen and pop-sensation Noah Cyrus performed their love ballad “This Is Us” from the heart of Nashville, at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall.
- Kelsea Ballerini teamed up with Halsey to perform their darker ode to a cheating man in “The Other Girl”.
- Dan + Shay collaborated with pop-star Justin Bieber for the nominated song, “10,000 Hours”. The duo performed their single, “I Should Probably Go To Bed” under a veil of illuminated trees in Nashville.
- CMT Music Awards alum Shania Twain sang her classic, “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?” from a wax museum in Switzerland- reminiscent of her 1995 music video for the song.
- Many nominees collaborated and crossed genres including Marshmello x Kane Brown for “One Thing’s Right” and Gwen Stefani x Blake Shelton who won Best Collaboration Video for “Nobody Like You”.
PERFORMANCES FANS COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF!
- Gabby Barrett performed her emotional track, “I Hope” – later taking home Breakthrough Video of the Year.
- Sam Hunt performed his hit, “Hard to Forget” from The Estate at Cherokee Dock.
- Singer-songwriter, Maren Morris delivered an intimate performance of her relatable single, “To Hell & Back”.
- From an illuminated cave in Dickson, TN Morgan Wallen sang his chart-topping ballad, “Chasin’ You”.
- Luke Bryant rocked out with his single, “What She Wants Tonight”, later winning for Best Male Video of the Year with “One Margarita”.
- Little Big Town closed out the show from the gorgeous backdrop of Ruskin Cave, singing their ode to the drink in “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”.
Ingrid Andress from the Ram Stage
Ingrid Andress from the Ram Stage
Little Big Town
Dan + Shay
HARDY from the Ram Stage
Shania Twain
Luke Bryant interviewing pre-show
Halsey performance with Kelsea Ballerini
Riley Green from the Ram Stage
Ashley McBryde
Caylee Hammack from the Ram Stage
Sarah Hyland stepping out of her trailer
Brooks & Dunn interviewing pre-show
Morgan Wallen
Maren Morris
Gabby Barrett’s Guitarist
Travis Denning
Jimmie Allen
Pay It Forward Honoree, Jennifer Nettles
Sam Hunt
Kane Brown
Noah Cyrus
Carrie Underwood accepts awards for “Drinking Alone” including Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year
Luke Combs
Fireworks at the Gabby Barrett Performance
Shay Mooney of duo Dan + Shay
Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani accepting the award for Collaborative Video of the Year
One of the many CMT Music Award stages in Nashville
Gabby Barrett
RAM TRUCK STAGE SHOWCASED THE NEXT GENERATION IN COUNTRY MUSIC ALL WHILE SAVING OUR STAGES!
- To preserve the ecosystem of independent live venues affected by the tornado that swept through Nashville in March, coupled with a pandemic, Save Our Stages focused on helping Music City get back on steady ground, and back to playing the music they love for Nashville and beyond.
- Making their debut on the RAM stage, six emerging country artists performed for the first time at the CMT Music Awards, including: Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Ingrid Andress, Mickey Guyton, Riley Green, and Travis Denning.
GETTING BEHIND THE WOMEN OF COUNTRY
- Super-star entertainer Jennifer Nettles received the inaugural CMT Equal Play Award for her work in supporting the women of country music.
- This initiative was launched in 2019 in response to the lack of female representation in country music, and designed to encourage measurable industry-wide action to create a path for parity.