Kid Rock presents award to Eric Church (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
During a televised special Sunday night, CMT revealed its annual list of who they deem to be Artists of the Year. And for 2012, that list features Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.
Though the 90-minute show was pre-recorded earlier last week in Nashville (see photos from the red carpet), the names were kept under wraps until the broadcast. Rascal Flatts cohosted the show along with Nashville star Hayden Panettiere.
- Hayden Panettiere and Rascal Flatts (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
Additional artists and celebs acted as presenters or otherwise helped celebrate the night’s honorees. These included Merle Haggard and Chris Young, who sung the praises of Miranda Lambert; Metallica’s James Hetfield, who sent a video message to Eric Church (earlier this year, Eric played Metallica’s inaugural Orion Music + More Festival); Kid Rock, who presented the award to Church; hip-hop star Ludacris, who was among those honoring Jason Aldean; and Sammy Hagar, who presented the trophy to his buddy Kenny Chesney.
Hangin with my country pals @tobykeithmusic & @kennychesney @@cmt Artists of the Year show- congratulations! #CMTAOTY twitter.com/sammyhagar/sta…
— Sammy Hagar (@sammyhagar) December 9, 2012
Performances during the program included Miranda singing “Over You,” Toby doing “Beers Ago,” Carrie singing “Two Black Cadillacs,” and Kenny Chesney’s upcoming tourmates (Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves) doing his hit “Come Over.”
The entire CMT Artists of the Year program can now be streamed online.
- Kurt Wolff, CBS Local
