Everything You Need to Know About the CMT Awards on Oct. 21, Including Performers, Presenters, Nominees & More

From nominations and notes to performers and presenters, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know about the 2020 CMT Music Awards.

  • Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21
  • Time: 7 p.m CT
  • Television Stations: CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop or TV Land
  • Hosts: Kane Brown, Ashley McBryde, Sarah Hyland
  • Performers: Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Caylee Hammack, Hardy, Ingrid Andress, Mickey Guyton, Riley Green, Travis Denning, Gabby Barrett, Morgan Wallen, Sam Hunt and Shania Twain
  • Collaborations: Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus; Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey; Luke Combs and Brooks & Dunn
  • Presenters: Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, Diplo, Idina Menzel, Jessica Chastain, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Rob Thomas, Tanya Tucker and Taylor Swift
  • Fan Voting: Closed, except for Video of the Year. Visit vote.cmt.com to vote until the show airs on Oct. 21.
  • Notes: Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett lead the honorees with three nominations apiece.
  • Special Award: Jennifer Nettles will receive the inaugural CMT Equal Play Award.
  • Nominees

Video of the Year
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director.

  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
  • Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”

Female Video of the Year
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

  • Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Maren Morris – “The Bones”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

Male Video of the Year
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

  • Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
  • Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
  • Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
  • Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
  • Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

Group Video of the Year
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

  • Lady A – “Champagne Night”
  • Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
  • Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
  • Old Dominion – “One Man Band”
  • The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
  • The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

Duo Video of the Year
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

  • Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
  • Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
  • LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
  • Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

Breakthrough Video of the Year
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

  • Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
  • Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
  • Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
  • Travis Denning – “After a Few”

Collaborative Video of the Year
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

  • Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You”
  • Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
  • Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
  • Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
  • Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
  • Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

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)

  • CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
  • CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning”
  • CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
  • CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
  • CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com