Kelsea Ballerini Tests Positive For COVID Ahead Of CMT Awards, Kane Brown To Step In As Host

Just before the 2022 CMT Music Awards tonight (April 11), co-host Kelsea Ballerini has unexpectedly tested positive for COVID-19. Ballerini is asymptomatic and will continue to co-host the show remotely.

On the live side, last year’s co-host and this year’s most nominated artist Kane Brown will step in alongside Anthony Mackie for tonight’s show, broadcasting live from Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium from 7 – 10 p.m. CT.

In a video posted to social media, Ballerini says she’s “gutted” to have to sit out from in-person hosting duties.

Additionally, the final three nominees for the coveted 2022 Video of the Year award have been announced with fan voting now open via Twitter, using artist-specific hashtags, for the night’s biggest trophy. The nominees are “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood), “One Mississippi” (Kane Brown), and “‘Til You Can’t” (Cody Johnson)

Brown leads the star-studded nominations this year with four nods; while Ballerini, Mickey Guyton and first-time nominees Breland and Johnson follow with three each. Tenille Arts, Priscilla Block, H.E.R., Paul Klein of Lany, MacKenzie Porter, Elvie Shane, Caitlyn Smith and Brittney Spencer also received their first CMT recognitions. Underwood remains the most decorated artist in CMT history with 23 wins, vying for two additional trophies in the Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year categories, both for her duet with Aldean.

The evening will also feature special performances from some of country music’s best, including newly added Gabby Barrett, Brown, Combs, Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris with Ryan Hurd, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell featuring Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban, and more.

The 2022 CMT Music Awards will broadcast on CBS and will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.