CMT Music Awards 2017 Performers

The 2017 CMT Music Awards airs tonight at 8 – 10 p.m. ET/7 – 9 p.m. CT, with host Charles Esten on board, along with big names like Ashton Kutcher and Jada Pinkett-Smith as presenters. But, let’s get into the performers of the night and what they are said to have in store for their acts. Some are unexpected collaborations and others are tributes. Read on below for the details.

Blake Shelton – Not only is Shelton a performer tonight, but he is also a nominee for Male Video of the Year for his song “Came Here to Forget.” Country artist RaeLynn, who was on season 2 of The Voice, will also be at the awards show and she recently gushed to Hollywood Life about her relationship with Shelton since the show. She dished, “Blake is like my older brother/dad. He is so much fun to be on the road with. I never have to worry about anything. He’s so sweet and has so much fun on stage. If you went to a Blake concert and you didn’t know him you would leave thinking you were his best friend. Honestly. And, Gwen’s awesome. She’s such a sweetheart and the life of the party. It’s been an honor to get to hang out with her and to spend time with someone that is so iconic in music in general. I always forget who I’m hanging out with because she’s so down to earth and sweet. They’re so cute.” Most likely, Shelton will appear at tonight’s show with girlfriend Gwen Stefani at his side.

Luke Bryan & Jason Derulo – These two are collaborating, getting together again after a CMT Crossroads performance last year. Joking to CMT, Bryan said that, “[Jason] holds back around me because he knows at any moment he could just thrash me. He kind of lets me do my uncoordinated moves, and then he just gives a little tease, and all the girls scream.”

Thomas Rhett – Rhett is a performer as well as a nominee tonight and the awards he is up for include Performance of the Year, Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and Social Superstar of the Year.

Brett Eldredge – Brett Eldredge is up for Video of the Year and Social Superstar of the Year at the CMT Music Awards. As for his performance, he plans on singing “Something I’m Good At” and at rehearsals, he talked about what to expect, saying, “We’ve got this incredible drum line. I don’t know how many there are, but there are a lot of them. And it’s very crazy to run all the way from one side of the stage to the other stage and still sing all these words. It’s just a unique way to perform this song. Fans can expect the equivalent of how crazy this song is with the performance. It starts with a launch to say the least.”

Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea Ballerini is a performer and she is also nominated for four different awards tonight. She’s up for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year for her song “Peter Pan.” In addition, she’s up for Social Superstar of the Year and Performance of the Year.

Miranda Lambert – It’s rare that Lambert, who is performing tonight, walks away from an awards show without winning, but you never know. Tonight, she is up for Video of the Year, along with Female Video of the Year.

Jon Pardi, Brett Young, Lauren Alaina, Midland and Chris Lane – Breakthrough Video of the Year nominees Brett Young, Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina, Group Video of the Year nominee Midland and music artist Chris Lane will all perform on the Firestone Stage during the awards show. This episode will air on CMT on June 23, 2017 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Little Big Town – Little Big Town is a performer and a nominee for their song “Better Man,” which is up for Video of the Year and Group Video of the Year.

Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood – Underwood and Urban often perform together and The Boot reports that there’s a good chance they will perform their song “The Fighter.”

The Chainsmokers & Florida Georgia Line – These two are getting together and they will most likely be performing their song “Last Day Alive.”

Earth, Wind & Fire and Lady Antebellum – This may seem like an unusual combination but the two groups are also getting together for a special episode of CMT Crossroads, which is titled CMT Crossroads With Earth, Wind & Fire and Friends. Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum is gearing up for the release of their new album, “Heart Break”.

Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley – These artists are collaborating for a tribute performance to Greg Allman, who died this May 2017. CMT President Brian Philips released the following statement about Allman’s impact on country music, saying, “Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band helped create the bedrock foundation of modern southern music. Over the weekend of his death, CMT’s most important artists reached out to see how we might honor Gregg at our Awards. This tribute will celebrate Gregg Allman’s soul, charisma and enduring artistry. ‘The Road Goes on Forever’, indeed.” Derek Trucks will be performing on the guitar.

Peter Frampton & Brothers Osborne – Combining a little rock and country, these two are teaming up for a CMT Music Awards show performance.