The biggest names in country music headed to the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday (April 7) for the 2024 CMT Music Awards hosted by Kelsea Ballerini.
The 2024 CMT Music Awards red carpet boasted appearances from Ballerini, Trisha Yearwood, Jelly Roll, Brandi Cyrus, rapper GloRilla, Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Cody Johnson and Amber Johnson, Mickey Guyton, Chayce Beckham and more. Several of the collaborators on Beyoncé’s country-influenced new album, Cowboy Carter, were also present on the 2024 CMT Awards red carpet: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts. Cowboy Carter currently tops the Billboard 200, marking Bey’s eighth No. 1 on that chart.
In addition to the hosting the 2024 CMTs, Ballerini is also one of this year’s leading nominees. She, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Megan Moroney all netted three 2024 CMT Award noms, tying each other for the most this year. In her opening monologue, Ballerini joked about her viral reaction to Lainey Wilson winning best country album at the 2024 Grammy Awards (both were nominated in the category). She said you never really know what’s going on in anyone’s head, despite what their face might look like, when you’re watching them on your TV, and proceeded to do a bit where country stars in the crowd offered voice-over peeks into their internal thought processes.
The 2024 CMT Music Awards feature a tribute to country icon Toby Keith, who died on Feb. 5 of cancer. Lainey Wilson, rocker Sammy Hagar, Brooks & Dunn will lead a tribute to the legend, with Keith’s longtime backing band joining them, and Lukas Nelson and Roger Clemens appearing.
