2022 CMT Music Awards
The 2022 CMT Music Awards, the 56th edition of the awards ceremony, were held in Nashville, Tennessee on April 11, 2022, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium and locations in and around Nashville, Tennessee.[2][3][4] The ceremony was hosted by Kelsea Ballerini (virtually), Kane Brown, and Anthony Mackie.[5] The ceremony marked the final appearance and public performance of the country music duo, The Judds, as Naomi Judd died on April 30.
| 2022 CMT Music Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | April 11, 2022 |
| Location | Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Hosted by | Kelsea Ballerini (virtually) Kane Brown Anthony Mackie |
| Most awards | Jason Aldean Cody Johnson Carrie Underwood (2 each) |
| Most nominations | Kane Brown (4) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | CBS |
| Viewership | 5.5 million[1] |
Background
The CMT Music Awards is country music's only entirely fan-voted awards show. Following the long-time CBS produced Academy of Country Music Awards departed from the network, Paramount Global announced that the live televised ceremony would move to CBS from CMT. While CBS will carry the award show live, CMT will have week-long special programming and events capped by exclusive "director’s cut" airing of the ceremony on CMT.[6]
Judds Reunion
On April 1, CMT announced that Wynonna and Naomi Judd would be reuniting for a performance on the 2022 CMT Music Awards. The reunion comes ahead of the duo's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in May and Final Tour in the Fall. They performed their hit song, “Love Can Build a Bridge,” from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The performance marked The Judds’ only nationally televised award show performance in more than twenty years.[7] The reunion performance was met with positive reception. People Magazine called the performance "stunning",[8] and Billboard called the reunion a "glorious return and a welcome comeback".[9] This would be the final live performance for Naomi Judd and for The Judds as a duo; on April 30, 2022, just nineteen days after their performance, and the day before their induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Wynonna and Ashley Judd announced that Naomi had died.[10][11]
Ballerini tests positive for COVID-19
On the day of the live telecast, Ballerini announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19. She was asymptomatic, and said she would be able to co-host and perform from her home, with help from CMT and CBS.[12] Kane Brown, who hosted the previous year's ceremony with Ballerini, would step in and shared the main stage with Mackie as a co-host.[13]
Winners and nominees
Nominees were announced on March 16, 2022. Winners are in bold.[14]
Performers
Performances include both the live performances shown on CBS and extended cut performances shown exclusively on CMT.
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Keith Urban | "Wild Hearts" |
| Lainey Wilson & Cole Swindell | "Never Say Never" |
| Little Big Town | "Hell Yeah" |
| Carly Pearce | "Diamondback" |
| Old Dominion | "Time, Tequila and Therapy" |
| Thomas Rhett & Riley Green | "Half of Me" |
| Carrie Underwood | "Ghost Story" |
| Jason Aldean & Bryan Adams | "Heaven" |
| Mickey Guyton & Black Pumas | "Colors" |
| Gabby Barrett | "Pick Me Up" |
| Cole Swindell | "Stereotype" |
| Lainey Wilson | "WWDD" |
| Walker Hayes | "AA" |
| Kelsea Ballerini | "Heartfirst" |
| Maren Morris & Ryan Hurd | "I Can't Love You Any More" |
| Cody Johnson | "'Til You Can't" "Human" |
| The Judds | "Love Can Build a Bridge" |
| Jimmie Allen, Monica & Little Big Town | "Pray" |
| Jason Aldean | "Trouble With A Hearbreak" |
| Kane Brown | "One Mississippi" |
| Miranda Lambert | "If I Was a Cowboy" |
| Kenny Chesney | "Beer in Mexico" |
Ram Trucks Side Stage performances
Presenters
On April 7, 2022, CMT announced a list of presenters, their exact roles to be determined during the ceremony.[15]
- Rob Corddry, presented Collaborative Video of the Year
- Jimmie Allen, introduced Old Dominion
- Jordan Davis, introduced Thomas Rhett and Riley Green
- Billy Gibbons, honored the 20th anniversary of CMT Crossroads
- LeAnn Rimes, introduced Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas
- Dylan Scott, presented Breakthrough Video of the Year
- Craig Morgan and Mike Singletary, introduced Walker Hayes
- Lily Aldridge, introduced Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
- Dennis Quaid, introduced Cody Johnson
- Martina McBride, presented Female Video of the Year
- Kacey Musgraves, introduced The Judds
- Gabby Barrett and Dustin Lynch, presented Group/Duo Video of the Year
- Gayle King, introduced Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town and Honored CMT Equal Play
- Joel McHale, presented Male Video of the Year
- Taylor Lautner, introduced Kane Brown
- Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France and Antoni Porowski, introduced Miranda Lambert
- Faith Hill and Isabel May, presented Video of the Year
Milestones
References
- Maas, Jennifer (2022-04-12). "CMT Awards Viewership Jumps 521% From Last Year With Move to CBS and Paramount Plus". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- Nicholson, Jessica (2021-07-08). "'CMT Music Awards' To Air April 3, 2022 on CBS". CMT News. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- "Country Aircheck". www.countryaircheck.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- Liptak, Carena. "2022 CMT Music Awards Gets a New Air Date After Getting Bumped For the Grammys". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- "Just In: @KelseaBallerini and @AnthonyMackie are set to host the CMT Awards on CBS next month". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- Grein, Paul (2021-06-28). "CMT Music Awards Set to Move to CBS in 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- "The Judds' Wynonna and Naomi Judd to Reunite for CMT Music Awards Performance". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- Avila, Daniela; Irvin, Jack (April 11, 2022). "The Judds Deliver Stunning Comeback Performance — with a Choir! — at the 2022 CMT Awards". people.com. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- Lynch, Joe (2022-04-12). "The Judds Make Glorious, Gospel-Tinged Comeback at 2022 CMT Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- "Naomi Judd, of Grammy-winning Duo The Judds, Dies At 76". Bloomberg.com. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- "Naomi Judd, of Grammy-winning duo The Judds, dies at 76". AP NEWS. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- "Kelsea Ballerini Will Host CMT Music Awards From Home After Testing Positive for COVID-19". Time. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- "Kelsea Ballerini Tests Positive for COVID, Kane Brown Joins as CMT Co-Host". Extra. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- "CMT Music Awards Nominations: Kane Brown Leads Field, but First-Timers Abound". 16 March 2022.
- Watts, Cindy. "2022 CMT Music Awards: New Performers, Superstar Collaborations and Presenters Announced Jason Aldean + Bryan Adams, Jimmie Allen + Monica + Little Big Town, Walker Hayes and Thomas Rhett + Riley Green". CMT News. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- Paulson, Matthew Leimkuehler and Dave. "CMT Music Awards 2021: 5 can't-miss moments". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
- "Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean win big at 2022 CMT Music Awards". cleveland. Associated Press. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-12.