ENTERTAINMENT

2022 CMT Music Awards announce Jason Aldean, Bryan Adams, 'Queer Eye' cast members to appear

The network has announced its entire, star-studded slate of guests for the April 11 event

Marcus K. Dowling
Nashville Tennessean

Co-hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie will not be the only superstar pairing taking the stage at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11 at Municipal Auditorium.

Less than a week remains until the annual awards ceremony makes its CBS debut (streaming via Paramount+). The lists of both performers collaborating for live performances and those presenting awards are unquestionably impressive. 

Foremost, 2022 Academy of Country Music Song of the Year vocalist (alongside Carrie Underwood) Jason Aldean has been announced as appearing at the event. He'll be paired with rock legend Bryan Adams. Aldean's double-album "Macon, Georgia" -- out, in total, on April 22 -- features a cover of Adams' 1984 classic "Heaven." The duo first performed the track together on the second episode of the eighth season of CMT's "Crossroads" in June 2009.

The country star and acclaimed actor will co-host the event on April 11.

As well, Jimmie Allen, who just released a cover of Toni Braxton's 1994 classic "Unbreak My Heart" via Spotify, will pair with Monica -- another 90s R & B icon -- and country trio Little Big Town for a live duet. 

The list of performers for the 2022 CMT Music Awards highlights a plethora of sounds defining popular styles of country music:

  • Carly Pearce
  • Carrie Underwood (from Las Vegas' Resorts World Theater)
  • Cody Johnson
  • Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson
  • Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams
  • Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town
  • The Judds (as introduced by Kacey Musgraves)
  • Kane Brown
  • Keith Urban
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Little Big Town
  • Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
  • Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Old Dominion
  • Thomas Rhett and Riley Green
  • Walker Hayes 

Emerging artists Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Jessie James Decker, Parker McCollum, Elvie Shane and Caitlyn Smith will also perform from the Ram Trucks Side Stage. 

Kelsea Ballerini accepts the award for Performance of the Year during the 2021 CMT Music Awards at Bridgstone Arena in Nashville, Tenn, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

Award presenters will include Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Rob Corddry, Jordan Davis, Billy F. Gibbons, Gayle King, Taylor Lautner, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride, Joel McHale, Kacey Musgraves, Bobby Berk of "Queer Eye," Karamo Brown, Tan France and Antoni Porowski, LeAnn Rimes, Dylan Scott and Dennis Quaid.

Fan voting for the entirely fan-voted CMT Music Awards is available at vote.cmt.com.