The CMT Awards could be gone for good—or maybe not. Paramount recently announced that the CMT Music Awards are among several events that will be put on pause in 2025.
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Bruce Gillmer, Paramount’s president, explained the decision in a memo sent to staff, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Gilmer said that the decision of “pausing a few events for 2025” was made as the company looks to “reimagine and optimize our events slate going forward.”
“Our world-class events remain a key component of Paramount’s music offering as we continue to raise the bar in delivering iconic, unforgettable performances and moments that drive pop culture,” Gilmer’s memo read. “We have the best team in the business, and we are grateful for your hard work and dedication in bringing these events to life.”
The move was a major disappointment to viewers, as the CMTs are a fan-voted ceremony.
“the cmt awards were OUR AWARDS SHOW. an awards show where we actually felt like were seen & heard as fans. an awards show that was actually fun to watch,” one person tweeted. “now that’s taken from us.”
Why the 2025 CMT Awards Were Canceled
As for the real reason behind the decision, speculation has swirled that Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media is to blame. Changes have already been implemented at the company amid the merger, including staff layoffs.
When it comes to the future of the CMTs and other affected shows, THR reported that “it wasn’t immediately clear when a decision about the future of the events affected by the move would be made.”
However, it’s of note that Gilmer’s memo only indicated a “pause,” not a sweeping cancelation. Given that, country fans should remain hopeful about a possible CMT return in 2026 or beyond.
Other country music awards shows remain unaffected. Fans can still tune in for the ACMs on May 8 and the CMA Awards on Nov. 12. The 2025 People’s Choice Country Awards have yet to be announced. However, the 2024 show was held in Nashville in September.
Of course, there’s also the GRAMMY Awards, which was held earlier this month. The genre cleaned up at the ceremony. Beyoncé’s country album, Cowboy Carter, won both Best Country Album and Album of the Year.
Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT
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