Kelsea Ballerini joins CMT Awards remotely after positive Covid-19 test result

Keith Urban delivers a wild performance with plenty of heart at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.

Kelsea Ballerini may have been stuck at home but she still put on quite a show.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterThe CMT Music Awards aired for the first time on CBS and Paramount Plus Monday night, drawing 5.16 million viewers for the live telecast in early Nielsen numbers, which is up 521% from last year’s show on Paramount-owned cable channel CMT.The 5.16 million total viewer tally accounts for both linear ratings on CBA and live streams via television sets for Paramount Plus and other digital CBS platforms. The final Live + Same Day ratings for the 2022 CMT Awards, including out-of-home-viewing, will be released later Tuesday.

Carrie Underwood is always up for a challenge. The country music queen proved that on Monday during her high-flying performance at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.The 39-year-old singer wowed the crowd at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium when she performed her song, «Ghost Story,» amid an acrobatic spectacle.Underwood spoke with ET's Rachel Smith backstage after the show, and reflected on what made her want to try and pull off such a different and exciting sort of number.«Well, we we have these incredible aerialists and dancers in our show in Vegas,, and they were so inspiring,» Underwood said, referring to her Las Vegas residency show.

Chris Willman Music WriterThe lineup for the 2022 CMA Music Festival has been announced, and it’s easier to single out which mainstream country artists aren’t on the bill than which are. More than 150 names have been revealed for the lineup, from the superstars to the obscure, for a festival that’s returning to business as normal after a two-year time-out for the pandemic.Among the headliners who’ll be taking the stage for four nights of shows at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium June 9-12 are Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Alan Jackson, Carly Pearce, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Parker McCollom, Russell Dickerson, Gabby Barrett and Darius Rucker.The presence of Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean pretty much guarantees a reprise of Monday night’s CMT Award-winning duet “If I DIdn’t Love You” on the big stage; ditto for Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson both being named, and the likelihood of hearing “Never Say Never” again.

New Orleans’ own Anthony Mackie. Stars like R&B great Monica, host and interviewer Gayle King, country collab veteran Nelly, and rising country superstar Mickey Guyton were on hand to accept and present honors and take the stage in performance.

Bryan Adams teamed up with Jason Aldean to bring one of his classic hits to the country stage.

The Judds made their triumphant TV return on Monday at this year’s CMT Music Awards. Legendary mother-daughter duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd performed together for their first televised number in over 20 years.

The world’s biggest country music awards kicked off in Nashville, Tennesee thsi week, boasting a star-studded guest list.Carrie Underwood, Taylor Lautner, LeAnn Rimes and Miranda Lambert were among the stars flocking to the southern city, famed for its love of music, for the fan-voted awards.American singer-songwriter Carrie made history at Monday’s ceremony as she clinched her 24th and 25th Country Music Television award.The American Idol winner, 39, officially set the record of the most CMT awards ever won by a single person.She won the prize for collaborative video of the year, as well as video of the year for her song If I Didn’t Love You with country music star Jason Aldean.It was Carrie’s 10th time winning video of the year, and Jason’s first in a 17-year career – but it’s hard to say who was more excited as they took to the stage to accept.Speaking to the gathered audience and viewers at home, Jason thanked the fans ‘for loving the song like you have,’ and called Carrie ‘the perfect partner’ for the collaboration.‘I just have to say 17 years in the game, this is the first time I have ever won video of the year so this is pretty amazing to me,’ he admitted.Singer Carrie meanwhile, thanked everyone who worked on the video, as well as the CMT awards and the fans themselves, saying the song ‘belongs to you’.Carrie and Jason had beaten out some major contenders for the music video of the year, with If I Didn’t Love You chosen over the likes of Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves.As if Carrie’s record-breaking wins weren’t enough, the star made the night even more memorable as she soared over the audience for an incredible live performance of her track Ghost Story.The singer, dressed in a purple outfit,

Country star and actress Faith Hill was joined by her on-screen daughter in the Paramount Plus streaming series 1883 to present the final award at the 2022 CMT Music Awards. The 54-year-old Hill and 21-year-old May play Margaret Dutton and Elsa Dutton in the series, a prequel to Paramount Plus' Yellowstone. Hill and May reunited on stage at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville on Monday evening to present the biggest award of the night - Video of the Year, which was won by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood for If I Didn't Love You.

Country star and actress Faith Hill was joined by her on-screen daughter in the Paramount Plus streaming series 1883 to present the final award at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.The 54-year-old Hill and 21-year-old May play Margaret Dutton and Elsa Dutton in the series, a prequel to Paramount Plus' Yellowstone.Hill and May reunited on stage at theMunicipal Auditorium in Nashville on Monday evening to present the biggest award of the night - Video of the Year, which was won by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood for If I Didn't Love You. Presenters: Country star and actress Faith Hill was joined by her on-screen daughter in the Paramount Plus streaming series 1883 to present the final award at the 2022 CMT Music AwardsHill - who returned to the CMT Awards for the first time in 12 years on Sunday night - took to the stage in a full-length glittering green gown.She had her hair pulled back in a taut ponytail with silver strand earrings for her appearance on stage.

Kelsea Ballerini, who tested positive for COVID-19 days before Monday’s show.Ballerini’s co-host, actor Anthony Mackie, took the stage alone at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville after opening performances on the live CBS telecast of the single “Wild Hearts” by Keith Urban and the duet “Never Say Never” by Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson.“I know all of you were looking forward to seeing Kelsea Ballerini out here tonight on the stage, but she’s a little under the weather,” the “Avengers” actor Mackie said. “But just like the NFL has backup QBs, here at the CMA Awards, we have backup KBs.”He then brought out his substitute “KB,” singer Kane Brown, who was summoned to help with hosting duties.

Carrie Underwood is always up for a challenge. The Country music queen proved that on Monday during her high-flying performance at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.The 39-year-old singer wowed the crowd at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium when she performed her song, «Ghost Story» amid an acrobatic spectacle.Underwood spoke with ET's Rachel Smith backstage after the show, and reflected on what made her want to try and pull off such a different and exciting sort of number.«Well we we have these incredible aerialists and dancers in our show in Vegas,, and they were so inspiring,» Underwood said, referring to her Las Vegas residency show.

Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Jae looked perfectly at ease as they walked the CMT Music Awards' red carpet together in Nashville on Monday.The singer-songwriter, 28, donned a dull-colored dark purple with the chest left open revealing a multi-colored undershirt.His brown hair was shaved on the sides and cut short on top while he added black dress shoes to the look. Happy couple:Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Jae looked perfectly at ease as they walked the CMT Music Awards' red carpet together in Nashville on MondayWhile his suit was a more muted purple, Katelyn Jae chose an off-the-shoulder rich purple minidress that ended in the middle of her thigh.

A big honor! Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s duet “If I Didn’t Love You” took home the top prize fro Video of the Year during the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday, April 11.

Chris Willman Music WriterJason Aldean and Carrie Underwood came out on top of “The CMT Music Awards” in the show’s broadcast premiere on CBS, picking up the top honor for video of the year, which was voted upon by fans during the three-hour telecast. The pair also picked up an additional trophy for their song “If I Didn’t Love You,” for collaborative video of the year.Cody Johnson was Monday night’s other two-time winner, picking up male video of the year for “‘Til You Can’t” and an award for a CMT digital performance.Miranda Lambert, who just walked away with an Academy of Country Music Award for entertainer of the year last month, had more reason to celebrate at the CMTs, as she won for female video of the year for “If I Was a Cowboy.” Maddie & Tae were surprise winners for duo/group, for “Woman You Got,” and Parker McCollom claimed breakthrough video with his hit “To Be Loved by You.”The show was co-hosted by actor Anthony Mackie, last-minute draftee Kane Brown and — gamely appearing from her living room and backyard, due to a positive COVID test two days earlier — Kelsea Ballerini.“Seventeen years in the game and this is the first time I’ve ever won video of the year,” said Aldean, who has waited his turn for a major country awards honor, having been passed over plenty of times by the CMAs and ACMs — and even, as he said, CMTs — despite his country superstar status.

A big honor! Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s duet “If I Didn’t Love You” took home the top prize fro Video of the Year during the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday, April 11.

Country cutie! Kelsea Ballerini stepped up to the plate cohosting the 2022 CMT Music Awards — and her awards show fashion was equally as showstopping.

2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday. This year's awards show saw some of music's brightest stars — including Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Mickey Guyton and more -- come together for one of country music's biggest nights.While last year's show was held in person, this year's event was also a celebration of a return to normality after last year's hybrid and socially distanced performances at venues across Nashville.Hosted by Anthony Mackie and Kelsea Ballerini, the show was forced to pivot at the last minute when Ballerini announced Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19.While Ballerini performed some of her duties from home, her co-host from 2021's show, Kane Brown, agreed to step in and host the show alongside Mackie.Despite the change in hosts, the night featured some hilarious moments, and a slew of incredible performances from the multitude of A-list entertainers including Brown, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce, The Judds, Keith Urban and Ballerini herself.And CMT’s most decorated artist of all time, Carrie Underwood, delivered a very special all-new performance from the Resorts World Theatre, home of her Las Vegas residency.Here's a look at the most memorable and jaw-dropping musical moments from Monday's big show.A Grand OpeningThis one goes out to all of the wild hearts ❤️

It was a great night full of the biggest stars in country music at the 2022 CMT Music Awards!

Miranda Lambert was in no mood to fade into the background at the CMT Music Awards on Monday.The 38-year-old country star stood out from the crowd as put on a busty display in a plunging ensemble, and posed with her police office husband Brendan McLoughlin.The pair struck a series of poses together on the pink carpet, for the event held in Nashville, Tennessee. Busty: Miranda Lambert shows off cleavage in a plunging sparkly ensemble as she poses with husband Brendan McLoughlin at the CMT Music Awards in NashvilleThe three-time Grammy Award winner made sure to match with the pink carpet as she held a magenta clutch person and matching heels.