kelsea ballerini tour presale

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Kelsea Ballerini Adds 2023 Tour Dates: Ticket Presale Code & On-Sale Info

by Francesco Marano

Published march 7, 2023.

Kelsea Ballerini has added new 2023 tour dates.

Billed as the HEARTFIRST TOUR, ten newly planned concerts are set in June and July with opening act Georgia Webster. "HEARTFIRST" is also also the name of a song from her new album, Subject To Change .

Kelsea is currently on tour and later this month she will join Kenny Chesney on his North American headlining tour. See Kelsea's full schedule below.

Kelsea Ballerini All Tour Dates and Tickets

When do kelsea ballerini 2023 tour tickets go on sale and what is the presale code.

For the new dates, the general public on-sale begins as early as March 10. Presales are currently underway for VIP packages and fan club members. Live Nation, LN Mobile App, and local venues / radio presales will follow. Tickets for the previously announced shows are now on sale. Keep in mind, each date is different and details are subject to change.

The Live Nation presale password is STUDIO , and the LN Mobile App code is COVERT . Click through the individual concert links for more information about the show you're interested in.

We recommend following Kelsea Ballerini on social media, in addition to signing up for your local venue's email newsletter, to get the most up-to-date information.

For concert tickets and more, check out Kelsea Ballerini's Zumic artist page .

10 Kelsea Ballerini Tour Dates Added For Fall 2023

Gearing up for a much-anticipated return to the road, two-time GRAMMY® Award nominated and multiple ACM and CMA Award winning multiplatinum songwriter, producer and author Kelsea Ballerini will embark on the intimate HEARTFIRST TOUR for 10 Nights Only in the fall.

This exclusive headline jaunt launches on September 24 th when she tops the marquee at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. As part of this exclusive run, she’ll grace the stage of the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on October 6 th and visit major markets coast-to-coast. Check out the full confirmed itinerary for the HEARTFIRST TOUR 10 Nights Only below.

Pre-sale starts Tuesday July 26 th at 10AM local time. Sign up for early access to tickets at heartfirsttour.com . The Spotify presale follows on Wednesday July 27 th at 10am local time. Local and AEG presales commence on Thursday July 28 at 10am local time. Public on-sale goes live on Friday July 29 th at 10am local time.

Additionally, these dates will be the first in support of Kelsea’s eagerly awaited fourth studio album, and one of the year’s most anticipated country releases, SUBJECT TO CHANGE . Set to debut on September 23, 2022 , SUBJECT TO CHANGE is available for pre-order/pre-save/pre-add HERE with exclusive merchandise dropping at her official store HERE .

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Kelsea Ballerini Announces 10 Tour Dates Across The US

• July 22, 2022, 2:31 pm
• Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Oriel Co.

Gearing up for a much-anticipated return to the road, two-time GRAMMY® Award nominated and multiple ACM and CMA Award winning multiplatinum songwriter, producer and author Kelsea Ballerini will embark on the intimate HEARTFIRST TOUR for 10 Nights Only in the fall. This exclusive headline jaunt launches on September 24 th  when she tops the marquee at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. As part of this exclusive run, she’ll grace the stage of the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on October 6 th  and visit major markets coast-to-coast. Check out the full confirmed itinerary for the HEARTFIRST TOUR 10 Nights Only below.

Pre-sale starts Tuesday July 26 th  at 10AM local time. Sign up for early access to tickets at  heartfirsttour.com . The Spotify presale follows on Wednesday July 27 th  at 10am local time. Local and AEG presales commence on Thursday July 28 at 10am local time. Public on-sale goes live on Friday July 29 th  at 10am local time.

Additionally, these dates will be the first in support of Kelsea’s eagerly awaited fourth studio album, and one of the year’s most anticipated country releases, SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Set to debut on September 23, 2022, SUBJECT TO CHANGE is available for pre-order/pre-save/pre-add  HERE  with exclusive merchandise dropping at her official store  HERE

The multi-platinum country superstar was also recently named the newest face of COVERGIRL. She has joined the brand in a multi-year partnership and is set to launch a cosmetic collaboration with the brand next year.

Experience SUBJECT TO CHANGE and more from Kelsea Ballerini this fall!

TOUR DATES:

09/24 New York, NY             Radio City Music Hall

09/25 Boston, MA                Roadrunner

09/28 Washington, DC         The Anthem

10/01 Rosemont, IL              Rosemont Theatre

10/03 Denver, CO                 Mission Ballroom

10/06 Los Angeles, CA          Greek Theatre

10/09 Kansas City, MO         The Midland Theatre

10/11 Atlanta, GA                The Eastern

10/13 Philadelphia, PA         The Met

10/14 Mashantucket, CT      Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino

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Kenny Chesney to Embark on Nostalgic I Go Back 2023 Tour with Kelsea Ballerini — See the Dates!

Kicking off in March, the tour will see Chesney play shows for fans "who might not come to stadium shows, who live a little off the obvious path, but who love this music every bit as much..."

Kenny Chesney is going back to his roots.

Shortly after his massive Here and Now 2022 Tour wrapped in August, the country superstar announced on Monday that he's embarking on the I Go Back Tour with opening act Kelsea Ballerini next year, which will see Chesney hit cities outside of major markets — and many that he hasn't played since his rise to fame.

Launching March 25 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania, the I Go Back Tour will feature shows in North American locations including Lexington, Kentucky, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma before wrapping July 22 at the Hy-Vee Indy Race in Des Moines, Iowa — with more dates set to be added.

Chesney, 54, opened up about the tour's inspiration in a press release, telling fans that he was thinking about how to "recapture the magic" after concluding the Here and Now Tour.

"I still have the sounds of diesel engines and No Shoes Nation in my head — and that made me ask, 'What else could I do? What would be something that would put me every bit as much in the music and give No Shoes Nation another reason to believe?'" he stated, noting that he wants to play for fans "who might not come to stadium shows, who live a little off the obvious path, but who love this music every bit as much..."

The thought led the 12-time CMA Award-winner to think about his 2004 hit single "I Go Back," written about how music can remind you of important life moments.

"That song is about holding all those things that shaped you very close, recognizing how special they are – and keeping them alive any way you can," he continued. "So, I decided that rather than just go repeat what we did, I wanted to take this band and these songs to a lot of the cities we played on our way up! Let's call the tour I Go Back – and do just that."

Elsewhere in the press release, Chesney recalled playing some of the cities during the early years of his career, noting the "craziness" of the shows in "markets where people were using chain-cutters to get onto the lawn because we were so sold out in the Carolinas."

"That's a kind of energy that should never be left behind. For all those fans — based on how good last year felt — I want to bring what was coming off that stage to you, where you are, so we can all have that kind of experience together!" added Chesney.

Fans can expect to see the musician perform songs from his catalog that "time stamp people's lives" and "serve as the touchstone for memories in the making."

He said in the statement, "For people to come out and either live these songs again, or hear them for the first time? Who knows what will happen? But I know whether it's 'American Kids,' 'Get Along' or 'You And Tequila,' every single person knows exactly what we're singing about and singing along to together."

In another press release, Chesney spoke about choosing Ballerini, 29, as the tour's opening act following their 2020 duet "Half of My Hometown."

"Kelsea understands everything about where I come from, because she's from there, too," said the musician, referencing the fact that both he and Ballerini grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee.

"She knows how hard it is to leave, how much you miss all those things that make you who you are... but also how the only way to chase the kind of dream she has is to do just that. It's a tough call when you love home the way we both do, but for kids like us, there was never really a choice," added Chesney.

He then recalled the origin of "Half of My Hometown," noting that Ballerini texted him to record the duet: "As soon as I heard that first verse, I was in. And I have been one of Kelsea's biggest fans ever since. She's a writer, a girl who sings from her heart and isn't afraid to honor where she comes from. To me, there was no other choice for this tour."

Ballerini also spoke about collaborating with Chesney on both the song and tour in the press release, acknowledging their hometown connection.

"Music has taken me so many incredible places," she said, noting that she's collaborated across genres. "But singing with Kenny is going home. He was the only voice I heard on 'half of my hometown,' and when he comes in, it's just like hitting the Knoxville city limits. So to be able to go out to those cities like the place he and I grew up with an artist who's accomplished what he has, it's a lot like going home."

Tickets for the I Go Back Tour go on presale for American Express card members in select markets from Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. local time through Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. local time. The general public gains access to tickets the following day at 10 a.m. local time.

See the full list of dates for Chesney's I Go Back Tour below.

March 25 - State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center

March 30 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena

April 1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center

April 6 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena

April 8 - Wilkes-Barre Township, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

April 12 - Birmingham, AL - Legacy Arena at the BJCC

April 14 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily's Place Amphitheater

April 16 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Tortuga

April 25 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena

April 27 - Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena

April 29 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum

May 4 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena at The Mark

May 6 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena

May 9 - Grand Forks, ND - The Alerus Center

May 11 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford Premier Center

May 13 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena

May 18 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

May 20 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center

May 25 - Charleston, SC - Credit One Stadium

May 27 - Orange Beach, AL - The Wharf

July 22 - Des Moines, IA - Hy-Vee Indy Race

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Kelsea Ballerini is coming for a special one-night-only concert in Knoxville

Kelsea Ballerini is coming home ‒ for a special one-night-only concert in Knoxville at Thompson-Boling Arena .

It's Ballerini's first headlining arena show, organizers say. In promotional images for “The Homecoming Show,” she's got a Vols jacket casually slung over one shoulder.

The country star and Knoxville native will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 2. Tickets for Kelsea’s fan club go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 13. Tickets for the general public go on sale through Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. Sept. 15.

Ingrid Andress and Georgia Webster will open “The Homecoming Show.” 

Ballerini has embraced her East Tennessee roots throughout her career, filming her "Half of My Hometown" video here in 2021 and visiting with her Central High School teachers earlier this year.

She surprised Central students on Sept. 12 by announcing that each student is getting two free tickets to her show at Thompson-Boling.

Knoxville fall 2023 concerts: Guns N’ Roses, Kelsea Ballerini, Shania Twain, Peppa Pig and more

Kelsea Ballerini to host 2024 CMT Music Awards

For the fourth consecutive year, kelsea ballerini will host the cmt music awards on apr. 7, 2024, emanating live from austin, texas' moody center..

Kelsea Ballerini, assuming the reins as host of the CMT Music Awards, is the latest-evolving trend in country music's mainstream industry.

It's also one that will continue for its fourth consecutive year at CMT's 2024 awards program on April 7, emanating live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The event airs live on CBS and is available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

"I couldn't be more excited to be back for my fourth year with my CMT family to host this year's CMT Music awards in Austin. Hosting an awards show that celebrates the music that the fans love most has been an honor and I know this year will be another unforgettable night," offered Ballerini in a press statement.

Ballerini will also perform live during the festivities.

Ballerini helmed the 2021 and 2023 CMT Music Awards program alongside Kane Brown. In 2022, she performed the duties remotely.

Nominations, performers and presenters for the 2024 CMT Music Awards are forthcoming.

Ballerini's honest and industry-stunning 2023 release "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat" brought heightened mainstream awareness to the Knoxville-area native's decade-long mainstream country career via a March 2023 appearance on "Saturday Night Live" and, in September 2023, gracing the cover of Time Magazine's 2023 Time100 Next issue.

In her Time feature , Ballerini describes emerging from "personal life shifts" after her 2022 divorce from Australian country performer Morgan Evans as offering the "unexpected" benefits of evolving her fan community.

In a 2023 Tennessean feature , Ballerini offers that her road ahead is one defined by "[defeating] the imposter syndrome that makes me feel like people don't know my music" because her openness as a singer-songwriter has caused her fans to "care about [her] art and [her] life equally."

Tickets for the 2024 CMT Awards are now on sale via Ticketmaster and MoodyCenterATX.com.

For more information about the event, visit https://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards.

CMT Awards return Sunday night with host Kelsea Ballerini and a tribute to the late Toby Keith

(AP) - The  CMT Music Awards , celebrating the best in country music videos, are set to return on Sunday night live from Austin, Texas.

Hosted by  Kelsea Ballerini , the fan-voted show begins at 8 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast from the Moody Center on CBS and Paramount+.

This year, the awards are expected to feature a tribute to  the late Toby Keith  performed by Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Sammy Hagar and backed by Keith’s longtime band.

Keith, a  hit country crafter of pro-American  anthems who riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans, died in February at 62 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Ballerini, Wilson, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Cody Johnson  lead the nominations  with three each.

All those artists,  except for Moroney , are up for the night’s biggest honor: video of the year.

Scheduled performers include Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Dasha, Jason Aldean, Johnson and Moroney.

There are expected to be a few collaborative sets, as well: Little Big Town will perform with Sugarland, marking the first time the latter’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will reunite on the CMT stage since 2011. Other scheduled joint performances include NEEDTOBREATHE and Jordan Davis and Sam Hunt and  Trisha Yearwood .

Yearwood will receive the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award, which honors musicians or industry veterans who demonstrate “an exceptional dedication to community and their fellow artists, embodying June’s spirit as a fierce advocate and initiator in paying it forward,” a statement said.

Yearwood also is expected to debut a new track, “Put It in a Song,” the first from a forthcoming album.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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CMT Awards return Sunday night with host Kelsea Ballerini and a tribute to the late Toby Keith

(AP) - The  CMT Music Awards , celebrating the best in country music videos, are set to return on Sunday night live from Austin, Texas.

Hosted by  Kelsea Ballerini , the fan-voted show begins at 8 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast from the Moody Center on CBS and Paramount+.

This year, the awards are expected to feature a tribute to  the late Toby Keith  performed by Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Sammy Hagar and backed by Keith’s longtime band.

Keith, a  hit country crafter of pro-American  anthems who riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans, died in February at 62 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Ballerini, Wilson, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Cody Johnson  lead the nominations  with three each.

All those artists,  except for Moroney , are up for the night’s biggest honor: video of the year.

Scheduled performers include Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Dasha, Jason Aldean, Johnson and Moroney.

There are expected to be a few collaborative sets, as well: Little Big Town will perform with Sugarland, marking the first time the latter’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will reunite on the CMT stage since 2011. Other scheduled joint performances include NEEDTOBREATHE and Jordan Davis and Sam Hunt and  Trisha Yearwood .

Yearwood will receive the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award, which honors musicians or industry veterans who demonstrate “an exceptional dedication to community and their fellow artists, embodying June’s spirit as a fierce advocate and initiator in paying it forward,” a statement said.

Yearwood also is expected to debut a new track, “Put It in a Song,” the first from a forthcoming album.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Kelsea Ballerini on Hosting the CMT Music Awards One Final Time, and Balancing ‘Goofy’ and Serious Sides: ‘Two Things Can Live in the Same Space’

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Kelsea Ballerini has been the hostess with the mostest, as far as the CMT Music Awards , but it will soon be time to slap an “emeritus” on that. She hosts the awards show, now seen on CBS, tonight for a fourth and last time. Ballerini is revealing she will be relinquishing the role after handling emcee duties since 2021; Kane Brown was her partner in co-hosting previous telecasts, leading up to her solo reign over the ceremony this time.

“It’s my final year, yeah,” Ballerini confirms. “I’ve hosted or co-hosted this show for four years now, and I’ve gotten to host a lot of different kinds of ventures over the last decade — and I really enjoy it. It was the first thing that I did outside of music really, that allowed me to ask myself the question: What else? Like, what else can I do? And I’m ready to ask myself that question again, and I really want to give myself the space to see what else there is. Never say never — I will never say that I won’t come do this again. I love it. I just am excited to see what else I can do.”

It’s not any secret that Ballerini has her eyes set on other media; she discussed it in a previous interview with Variety … for an article otherwise focused on her renewing her record deal, indicating that she’s definitely not dropping everything to explore new avenues. So when it comes to what else might be ahead, for now, she says, “I’m really creatively fulfilled by the idea of finding a way to get involved with newer artists and find a way to creatively collaborate. And I’m really excited about the idea of doing some stuff in film and TV and just pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Music is always gonna be my baby and my focus and the thing that I protect the most, but in the space around it, I want tio keep growing and I want to keep challenging myself.”

Ballerini has a new album-in-progress, to follow up her Grammy-nominated “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” project. But before she starts teasing that, the singer has just released a between-albums one-off — a newly rearranged version of her breakout hit “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which she considers “just a little thank-you” to the fans who’ve been with her for 10 years. That’s the song she’ll be seen doing on the CMTs, pre-taped in front of a crowd at the tower at UT Austin.

“I stand by the song and the sentiment so much, still,” she avows. “The heart of ‘Love Me Like You Mean It’ is that we accept the love that we think we deserve, and encouraging each other to hold ourselves accountable to accept good love. And me as a 30-year-old feels the same way, but has a lot of life since I wrote that song at 19. So I was like, how would 30-year-old me sing this? And that was a really fun discovery. To me it was like the ending of a decade of music together, and and then a continuation of ‘Welcome Mat’ and sonically kind of a hint as to what’s next.”

Her role in the show aside, Ballerini has picks for what she thinks telecast highlights might be.

“In my opinion, the performance of the night’s gonna be Little Big Town and Sugarland, that they already have such a synergy and a history together,” she says. Although the identity of the song the two acts are doing together isn’t being revealed prior to showtime, “I’ve heard the song, because Karen (Fairchild) is just a dear sister to me,” she says. “And I remember when I heard ‘Life in a Northern Town when they did it together years ago” — on the CMT Awards in 2008, the last time those two groups collaborated on a performance — “and it just brings me right back to that, and I think it’s gonna be a moment.”

She’s also high on a brand new artist, Dasha, who’ll be making the transition from TikTok star to prime time television for the first time with a performance of “Austin.”

“I mean, we have Trisha (Yearwood) and we have Keith (Urban) holding it down, as pillar, household-name country artists that people have tuned into these shows for for years and years to see. And then the range goes all the way to Dasha, who is blowing up on TikTok. I called Jason (Owen), my manager, about a month ago, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if all the performance spots are booked or not, but if not, can we get her on the show’ She has the song called “Austin”’” — as in, perfectly coincidentally, the host city — “and it’s perfect. I think we need her, and I’m so happy she’s on the show now. And it’s her first awards show performance and her first performance in an arena, so it’s a big deal.”

“That makes me smile,” she says, when told how many young women with debut albums mention her as an influence or someone they hope to meet. “I’m always in conversation with myself on finding the right line of still thinking I’m a new artist, and then also honoring the decade that I’ve had and not discrediting the success I’ve had. I feel like I’ve spent a lot of my career kind of with my shoulders a little bit hunched in, and I’m really trying to stand tall in this last decade of work and be proud of myself and show up for that, while also knowing that I still have a long way to go and I always wanna push myself and keep growing. So it’s really fun to be able to be friends with and in the same room and situations as my heroes, but then also being meeting the newer artists that I still really identify with, a lot of the time.”

Of her previous three stints hosting or co-hosting the CMTs, last year was her favorite. “I was proud of the show as a whole, and I was proud of what I was able to bring to the show,” she says of 2023’s show— including a musical performance from her that included a phalanx of drag queens, right as Tennessee legislators were enacting anti-drag legislation, plus an opening statement addressing gun violence in the wake of a Nashville mass school shooting. “As far as my opening statement, my performance hosting with Kane, being in a new city, I feel like we really did bring a new breath of life to the show that was really fun to watch happen in real time. So I think that, for me, is the bar.”

Definitely not the high point, but something she is able to look back on with some affection, was the year 2022, when she was scheduled to co-host in person with Anthony Mackie but shifted to virtual co-host when she tested positive for COVID, despite feeling fine. Brown stepped in to assume some of the duties she would have had at the host arena in Nashville, while Ballerini did live remotes from the socially distanced comfort of home.

“I laugh at it now, and I’m really proud of the pivot that we ended up being able to do,” Ballerini says. “It would’ve been really easy for them to be like, ‘OK, we’re gonna just fill your spot,’ and they didn’t. They put a satellite truck outside of my house with all the equipment that it was easy for me to figure out and to still be a part of it. It was very much a bookmark of that time, which was pivoting and figuring things out as it was happening to us. It definitely wasn’t ideal, but we pulled it off, and I got to end the night in my sweatpants, so it was a win.”

This year, “I do know going into these moments that I love having fun with the fashion and the looks and all that stuff, and I really pride myself on not taking myself too damn seriously. And I think especially with this show, and really with the script this year in particular, I get to lean into that more and just kind of be who I am.” Which is… “Really, I’m a goofy girl, and I like being able to be that alongside being a credible artist. Two things can live in the same space.”

Some have wondered about the tone of her next album, since she pivoted from making the mostly upbeat — and, yes, sometimes goofy — “Subject to Change” in 2022 right into “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” in 2023. That EP (later expanded to album lengthin a deluxe edition) was her “divorce record,” completely holistic as a thematic look into dark developments in her personal life. If anyone following the country world had failed to give her credit as a cred artist in the past, “Welcome Mat” disabused them of those doubts, and racked up the kind of album of the year nominations at awards shows (including the Grammys) that had sometimes eluded her when she was producing more effusive material. But speaking of Team Evolve, will the next album project be a pivot back to more obviously mainstream fare, or…?

“Well, I think that’s kind of like what I was saying earlier: two things can be true. Like, I am a deeply emotional and committed songwriter. That is my absolute truth. It is the love of my life; it is my craft. And even in this new season of life, I’m really being diligent about making a record that has that same level of songwriting and honesty and intention as ‘Welcome Mat’ in depth. In the same breath, I’m a 30-year-old girl that really is enjoying my life, and I’m in a different phase of my life now that is filled with a lot more light and joy. And I love being able to celebrate that, and there’s space for both.”

But you won’t see much of the “Welcome Mat” side of her on the CMTs. For the bigger audience that now watches the show live on CBS and Paramount+ (and, after a few days, its namesake, CMT, too), she will be rolling out a true welcome mat, one that’s closer to comedic in tone.

“You know, I’m gonna be doing a little ‘Barbie’ bit. I’m gonna be doing a little impromptu collab. And I’m gonna be making fun of myself at the top of the show. Because I just like to beat people to the punch, and I am going to be probably losing (as a nominee)… but looking good and doing it well.”

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2024 CMT Music Awards Reveal Video of the Year Finalists

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The nominations are in, and the 2024  CMT Music Awards  will have plenty of familiar faces -- and a whole lot of new ones. 

Ahead of Sunday's ceremony, the CMT Music Awards revealed their top three finalists for Video of the Year. The exclusive category came down to Cody Johnson's "The Painter," Kelsea Ballerini's "IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)" and Jelly Roll's "Need a Favor."

This year, there's a four-way tie for first when it comes to total number of nominations, with Johnson, Jelly Roll, Ballerini and Megan Moroney all getting three noms each.

Many of the pack leaders are very familiar with being honored at the CMT Music Awards, with Jelly Roll being the most-awarded artist of 2023  and Johnson earning that honor in 2022. Meanwhile, Wilson was the most-nominated artist last year.

As for Ballerini, the songstress isn't just a nominee this year, she's set to host the show once again  after previously co-hosting alongside Kane Brown in 2023.

Notably, there are also 14 first-time nominees this year -- including several artists new to the country genre, including Amber Riley, Bret Michaels, Chayce Beckham and Hozier.

Check out all the nominees below:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.) Cody Johnson - "The Painter" Jelly Roll - "Need a Favor" Kelsea Ballerini - "IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)"

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Ashley McBryde - "Light on in the Kitchen" Gabby Barrett - "Glory Days" Kacey Musgraves - "Deeper Well" Kelsea Ballerini -  "Penthouse" Lainey Wilson - "Watermelon Moonshine" Megan Moroney - "I'm Not Pretty" Reba McEntire - "Seven Minutes in Heaven"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Bailey Zimmerman - "Religiously" Cody Johnson - "The Painter" HARDY - "Truck Bed"  Jelly Roll - "Need a Favor" Jordan Davis - "Next Thing You Know" Luke Combs - "Fast Car (Official Live Video)"  Morgan Wallen "Last Night (One Record at a Time Sessions)"

DUO/GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne - "Nobody's Nobody" Dan + Shay - "Save Me the Trouble"    Old Dominion - "Memory Lane" Parmalee - "Girl in Mine" The War And Treaty - "Have You a Heart" Tigirlily Gold - "Shoot Tequila"

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Carly Pearce feat. Chris Stapleton - "We Don't Fight Anymore" Ella Langley feat. Koe Wetzel - "That's Why We Fight" Jon Pardi and Luke Bryan - "Cowboys and Plowboys" Justin Moore and Priscilla Block - "You, Me and Whiskey" Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real feat. Lainey Wilson - "More Than Friends" Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown - "Nothing Compares to You" Old Dominion and Megan Moroney - "Can't Break Up Now"

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Walt Disney World® Anne Wilson - "Rain in the Rearview" Ashley Cooke - "your place" Brittney Spencer - "Bigger Than the Song" Tigirlily Gold - "Shoot Tequila"

BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Walt Disney World® Chayce Beckham - "23" Tyler Childers - "In Your Love" Warren Zeiders - "Pretty Little Poison" Zach Bryan - "Oklahoma Smokeshow"

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Amber Riley - "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." (from CMT Smashing Glass) Bret Michaels & Chris Janson - "Nothing But a Good Time" (from CMT Crossroads) Carrie Underwood - "Hate My Heart" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) Cody Johnson - "Human" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) Dierks Bentley - "Drunk on a Plane" (from CMT Storytellers)  Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter - "Thinking ‘Bout You" (from CMT Campfire Sessions) Hozier and Maren Morris - "Take Me to Church" (from CMT Crossroads) Jelly Roll - "Need a Favor" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) Kelsea Ballerini - "IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) The War and Treaty - "On My Own" (from CMT Smashing Glass)

CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Chase Rice - "Goodnight Nancy" (from CMT Studio Sessions) Dylan Scott - "Don't Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley Cover)" (from CMT Digital Campfire Sessions) Megan Moroney - "I'm Not Pretty" (from CMT Digital Campfire Sessions) Nate Smith - "Whiskey on You" (from CMT Studio Sessions) Scotty McCreery - "It Matters to Her" (from CMT Stages) Stephen Wilson Jr. - "Year to Be Young 1994" (from CMT Studio Sessions) The Castellows - "I Know It Will Never End" (from CMT Studio Sessions)

Hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, the 2024  CMT Music Awards  takes place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show will air on CBS and will also be  available to stream live and on demand via Paramount+.

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

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Best things to see and do in Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. It’s rich and complex history is a constant reminder of its strategic position between Europe and Asia and makes it one of the cities you should visit once in your life. In terms of the many iconic landmarks, the delicious cuisine, and the characteristic, colorful architecture it has, Moscow is full of surprises for first-timers and seasoned travelers. Apart from the main attractions, it has like the Kremlin or Red Square, Moscow has many hidden gems for you to discover on your free walking tour with your local guide. 

On any of the free guided tours we offer in Moscow , you will be able to find a selection of many tours which are available in different languages and at different times of day, like the morning, afternoon, and evening. Since Moscow is such a large metropolis, getting your bearings by doing a guruwalk with a local guide who will show you all Moscow’s hidden gems is a great idea. This way you get to learn as much as possible about the local culture and way of life. A trip to Moscow wouldn't be complete without visiting iconic places like St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, or the State Historical Museum, before getting some fresh air at Gorky Park, the medieval church of Kolomenskoye, or shopping at Izmailovsky Market. Don’t miss visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Bolshoi Theater, or checking out the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. 

Many travelers have left their r eviews and opinions about the local guides , gurus, and the routes they walked. If you have any questions about the routes or what is included in the tour, check out their opinions. 

Free walking tour near Moscow

Others cities to visit after moscow, where are you traveling to.

Come with me on my travels, as you plan yours

A Moscow Free Walking Tour of the Iconic Red Square

Updated March 10th, 2020

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No visit to Moscow, Russia is complete unless you take a walk around the famous Red Square and see the iconic sights of the city. One of the best ways to see all the famous landmarks in Moscow and learn a little something about them too is on a free Moscow walking tour through the Red Square.

Continue reading for a sneak peek at what you will see on your free tour in Moscow and for tips on both the tour and visiting the sights. Make sure to save some time during your trip to go inside of the magnificent buildings because you will not be going in the buildings during the tour.

The State Historical Museum

The Moscow free walking tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum . You can’t miss this massive red building. The museum’s interior is almost as spectacular as the artifacts you can see within. Read my post dedicated to the museum here to find out more on what you can see and tips for visiting. Admission is free with the Moscow City Pass .

The Kremlin

Behind the walls of the Kremlin lie the working offices of Russian’s government and president. When visiting the Kremlin you can see the Armory Chamber, Cathedral Square, the Patriach’s Palace and many more cathedrals. You definitely want to buy tickets ahead of time so you avoid the long-lines. You can get free admission with the Moscow City Pass . It’s also worth it to take a guided tour if you don’t speak Russian so you have more of an understanding of what you are seeing.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

If asked to conquer up an image of Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral might just be the most likely image you picture. The cathedral has a museum that you can visit at a later time. You can buy tickets at the ticket kiosk outside the cathedral or receive free admission with the Moscow City Pass .

Moskva River

Next up on the tour is the Moskva River which runs through the center of Moscow. A cruise on the Moskva River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

GUM Shopping Mall

Who would think a mall would be one of Moscow’s most well-known attractions? GUM shopping mall across from the Kremlin makes up one of the four sides of the Red Square. The stores might be a bit too pricey for shopping, but the gorgeous interior is worth a visit. If that doesn’t convince you, the mall has some of the best ice cream! GUM is the only building you go inside during the free walking tour. There are pay bathrooms you can use while you have a few minutes of free time.

Kazan Cathedral

Located on the northeast corner of the Red Square, the Kazan Cathedral is another impressive dome-shaped building in Moscow that is also an active place of worship. Entering the cathedral is allowed, but remember to be respectful if people are worshipping.

Bolshoi Theater

Contrary to the previous buildings, the Bolshoi Theater isn’t along one of the four sides of the Red Square. Located a few minutes away, the theater is one of the best theaters in the world. Make sure to come back for a guided tour of the inside or make reservations far ahead of time to attend a ballet or opera.

Alexander Gardens

The tour ends near the Alexander Gardens , a free public park located along the western Kremlin walls. The garden’s green lawns, sculptures and water fountains offer a nice place to take a stroll or relax a bit after some busy sightseeing.

You can visit all these sites on your own, but the best part of doing the Moscow free tour is that you learn more information and have the potential to meet new people!

During my tour I started to talk to a woman from Malaysia and she invited me to join her and her friends for a Russian meal afterwards. It’s these little impromptu meetings and opportunities that I love most about traveling and add more to the sightseeing experience. While I was a little hesitant about going to the tour myself I told myself it would be a great opportunity to possibly meet new people. I love when things work out like that!

If you have already seen the iconic sights of the Red Square and are looking for other things to do in Moscow check out my What to Do in Moscow post that gives more off-the beaten track things to do in Moscow!

Moscow Free Walking Tour Visiting Information

Moscow Free Walking Tours

How to Get There

The Moscow Free Walking Tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum (a large red building). The website shows a map with the exact meeting point.

To get to the red square area you can take the blue 3 metro line to the Ploshchad Revolyutsii stop, or the green 2 line to the Teatralnaya station or the red 1 line to the Okhotny Ryad station. For more on how to use the metro read my Moscow Metro Guide .

Tours every day at 10:30am – 1pm in English

If you need a toilet before the start of the tour the Okhotny Ryad and GUM shopping malls are both close to the start of the tour. You will need to pay to use the toilets. There is a quick break mid-way through the tour at the GUM shopping mall where you can use the toilet if needed.

During the mid-way break in the tour you can buy some ice cream at the GUM shopping mall. There aren’t many other options or time for anything else. After the tour there are a lot of restaurants in the area. There are a couple of Varenichnaya №1 locations nearby if you would like some authentic Russian food. Their speciality is Russian dumplings. Another classic choice nearby is Grand Cafe Dr. Jhivago. While you can try traditional Russian foods like borscht and Olivier Salad, you may need a reservation. GUM has several restaurants, including a couple of buffets upstairs.

Recommendations

While I would start off your visit to Moscow with a tour of the Red Square, make sure to come back to each place to tour the inside. If you are visiting several sights consider buying the Moscow City Pass  to save money on admissions.

Other Tour Options

Another company  Moscow Free Tour  does a similar free walking tour in the Red Square. Check the site for the details on the starting point and times. If you prefer a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral included check out this tour . For a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to the Kremlin included you may want to take this tour or this one . Even if you don’t typically take tours, I would recommend taking tours as much as possible in Moscow. Many people do not speak English and most information is not in English either.

Where to Stay in Moscow

Find somewhere to stay in Moscow near the Red Square so you are convenient to all the sights!

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do:  Unique Things to Do ,   Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market ,   Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums:  Moscow City Museum ,  Victory Museum ,  Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 ,  State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life:  Malls ,  Christmas in Moscow ,  Metro ,  Learning Spanish ,  My Russian Apartment ,   What is Life Really Like in Russia ,  FiFa World Cup ,  Russian Winters , and more posts about  life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg:  City Guide ,  The Hermitage Museum ,  Kayaking the Rivers & Canals ,   Peterhof Palace

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22 comments.

The Kremlin looks rather imposing. It would be great to explore the history in Moscow.

There is a lot of history in Moscow to explore!

What a handy guide to get the most of Moscow’s red square! I’ve always wanted to try a walking tour and this looks like the perfect place to start!

I really enjoy walking tours, I think they are a great way to get to know a new place!

You have highlighted all the main sights around and in the Red Square indeed! I have visited Moscow in winter and the atmosphere was magical…even though it was cold 🙂 I’m looking forward to visiting in summer too!

Yes, there is a magical feel during the winter. I have to say I prefer the warmer, brighter summers though 🙂

Follow My Anchor

I am planning to go to Moscow and St. Petersburg this year so reading this was very helpful. I would love to do the walking tour! What time of year did you do it? I am planning to go in August as I really can’t stand the cold 😀 Do you think August might be a good time to visit Moscow? Thank you so much for your information!

I did the walking tour in September. July and August are the best times to visit Moscow in my opinion, so you are going at a great time! I lived in Moscow for a year so I have a lot of posts about Moscow and a couple for St. Petersburg too. Please check out my other posts as you are planning your trip and feel free to send any questions my way!

I’m a huge fan of taking free walking tours whenever my husband and I travel. We learn more about the history from the local’s perspective. Your walking tour in Moscow looks fun. The St. Basil’s Cathedral is beautiful and would love to see it. Thanks for sharing the must-see places in Moscow!

I’m a big fan of free walking tours too! I completely agree that you get a good perspective and introduction to the history of the city.

I would love to take the walking tour to get a good coverage of the area! The tip about paying for the bathrooms is great. That’s something I didn’t realize when I went to Europe for the first time from the US.

I always find it annoying paying for bathrooms in Europe!

I visited Moscow in June this year for the World Cup and I loved it. St. Basil’s Cathedral was the highlight for me, it’s such an impressive piece of architecture. I would’ve liked to visit more of Russia but maybe next time!

I really enjoyed Moscow during the World Cup too. The city was much livelier than usual!

I have been to St. Petersburg but never to Moscow. I think that these kind of tours are very useful to gather many information but I second your suggestion to visit the palaces inside as they have stunning interior decor and art treasures.

Yes, I think both going on tours and getting an overview and touring the inside of places are good to do.

Shreya Saha

St. Basil’s cathedral is definitely a beautiful place to visit. I would also love to stroll by the Alexander gardens and maybe spend some time in the shopping mall call mom maybe visit the theater, also I would love to visit Kremlin and the State Historical Museum. That’s a great list you have managed to provide here.

Never been to Russia, but the country’s history and culture has always fascinated me. Great list of things to do in Moscow’s Red Square. Kremlin is definitely on top of my list!

Russia does have a fascinating history and culture!

The architecture here always looks so beautiful. I would love to go to Russia. Some helpful tips here that would really help me navigate a future trip. I love the Russian ballet so a trip to the theater would be a must for me.

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