The CMT Music Awards are set to lasso their spot in the Moody Center once again on April 7, at 7 p.m. CT, bringing along a star-studded lineup to the heart of Texas. The city, which prides itself on being the 'Live Music Capital of the World,' has snagged the awards show for the second year running, after bidding adieu to its longstanding Nashville roots. According to a report by CBS Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson extended a warm "y'all come back now" to the event, lauding Austin's rich musical pedigree and the city's embrace of diverse musical talent.
Ticket sales have kicked off for the late-night hoedown, with past festivities selling out and the streets of Austin turning into a veritable Honky-Tonk with outdoor stages, the university's mascot Bevo trotting the red carpet, and fans experiencing what the show's executive producers called "one of our biggest and most unforgettable shows yet" in a statement to CBS Austin. Disseminating the twang and tunes live, the awards will also stream on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, ensuring not a boot in the house will be left unstomping, and not a country music fan without access to the show.
However, details such as hosts and nominations are still playing coy, as noted by The Tennessean. But the shift to Austin hasn't been a shot in the dark; it's been a strategic move with the city's history of hosting large-scale music events like Austin City Limits and SXSW. Leslie Fram, CMT's senior vice president of music strategy, told The Tennessean, "Leaning into Austin's resources — similar to Nashville, from an artistic and logistical standpoint, with Austin City Limits and SXSW, they're nationally and globally renowned — made sense."
As the anticipation builds, fans can rope in their spots by grabbing tickets through Ticketmaster or MoodyCenterATX.com, and with Moody Center being hailed by Pollstar as the 2023 winner for New Concert Venue of the Year; and by Billboard as the highest-grossing venue worldwide the event is set to shine amongst the finest, and as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Moody Center, Jeff Nickler, told The Tennessean, they are "honored to... showcase two of the top music brands globally, Austin as The Live Music Capital of the World and Country Music Television." So as the stage is set, the spotlights are warming up for what's sure to be another boot-scootin'', star-flinging, twang-tastic CMT Music Awards in the heart of Texas.
