CMT Music Awards Host Kelsea Ballerini Tests Positive for Covid, Will Co-Host ‘Remotely’
Timing, alas, is everything. Kelsea Ballerini was set to co-host Monday night’s CMT Music Awards live from Nashville, but the country music star announced this morning that she had tested positive for Covid-19. Ballerini will still co-host, however — albeit remotely from her home. In an Instagram video post, she says she’ll perform too.
“I have some bad news and I have some good news,” Ballerini said. “A couple days ago, I tested positive for Covid. And the CMT Awards are tonight. So unfortunately I cannot be there in person anymore and I am devastated.”
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According to a statement from CMT, the “Half of My Hometown” singer is asymptomatic, and Ballerini says she’s “feeling a lot better.” So much so that she’s still going to perform. “[They] brought part of the CMT set to my house, to my little bubble, and set it up to where I can still host and perform…We’re doing our damn best,” she said. “Let’s make some lemonade together out of these very bitter lemons.”
Ballerini’s co-host, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie, will continue to host live from Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. He’ll be joined by Kane Brown, who co-hosted the awards last year with Ballerini. Brown leads his fellow artists with four total nominations, including Video of the Year for “One Mississippi.”
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Ballerini, who recently became the new face of Covergirl, released her new song “Heartfirst” last week.
The CMT Music Awards air live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET and will livestream simultaneously on Paramount+.
