Kelsea Ballerini attends CMT Hot 20 Countdown: Live In Austin at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Renee Dominguez/Getty Images) (Renee Dominguez, 2023 Getty Images)
AUSTIN – The events around the CMT Music Awards are heating things up in downtown Austin.
Photos show this year’s hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown throwing Texas-sized parties leading up to the main event, which takes place on Sunday night at the Moody Center.
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So far, CMT has held the Hot 20 Countdown and CMT Music Awards taping for the Outdoor Stage, along with Carrie Underwood.
The Hot 20 Countdown taping also had a special guest — the University of Texas Longhorn Band.
Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown kick off CMT Music Awards Week on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
The CMT Block Party is taking place on Saturday and Sunday and will be free and open to the public without pre-registration, but the event is also subject to capacity.
The block parties will be held from noon-4 p.m. on both days at Congress Avenue and West 9th Street, and include live music, meet-and-greets, freebies and chances to win tickets to the awards show.
Saturday’s event will feature DJ Cassandra, Hannah Ellis, Matt Koziol and William Clark Green, and Sunday’s performers will feature DJ Cassandra, Angel White, Danielle Bradbery and Tiera Kennedy.
Here are some more scenes from CMT’s tapings.
(L-R) Cody Alan, Carissa Culiner, and Russell Dickerson attend CMT Hot 20 Countdown: Live In Austin at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Renee Dominguez/Getty Images) (2023 Getty Images)
Kane Brown attends CMT Hot 20 Countdown: Live In Austin at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Renee Dominguez/Getty Images) (2023 Getty Images)
Marley Sherwood attends CMT Hot 20 Countdown: Live In Austin at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Renee Dominguez/Getty Images) (2023 Getty Images)
Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown are interviewed for CMT Hot 20 at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
Kelsea Ballerini arrives at CMT Hot 20's taping at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
The University of Texas Marching Band performs during the CMT Hot 20 taping at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini kick off CMT Music Awards Week on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
Cody Alan and Carissa Culiner interview Kelsea Ballerini for CMT Hot 20 at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
CMT Hot 20 tapes at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
The University of Texas Marching Band performs during the CMT Hot 20 taping at Stubbs on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT) (2023 Getty Images)
Russell Dickerson performs onstage during CMT Hot 20 Countdown: Live In Austin at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on March 29, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Renee Dominguez/Getty Images) (2023 Getty Images)
