CMT Awards on Hiatus Amidst Paramount-Skydance Merger

Big news in the country music world: the 2025 CMT Awards have been canceled. This unexpected pause comes as parent company Paramount Global prepares to merge with David Ellison’s Skydance Media. The merger, expected to finalize in the first half of 2025, has prompted Paramount to reassess its event schedule.  

According to reports, several other Paramount events have also been impacted, including the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico, and the MTV MIAWs (formerly the MTV Millennial Awards). However, some award shows, like the VMAs and the Kids’ Choice Awards, appear to be unaffected.  

So, why the CMT Awards cancellation? A memo from Paramount Global executive Bruce Gillmer, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, sheds some light on the situation. Gillmer explained that the company will use this time to “reimagine and optimize our events slate going forward” in light of the upcoming merger. He emphasized the importance of their “world-class events” to Paramount’s music offerings and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver “iconic, unforgettable performances and moments that drive pop culture.” The memo also indicated that these paused award shows, including the CMTs, are still part of the company’s future plans, though no specific timeline for their return was given.  

This cancellation marks a significant interruption for the CMT Awards, one of the longest-running country music award ceremonies. Since its inception in 1967 (originally as the Music City News Awards), the CMTs have been a staple of the industry. Held annually since 2002, typically in the spring (most recently April), the fan-voted awards show celebrates the best music videos and television performances in country music. Last year, Jelly Roll dominated the awards, taking home three trophies, including Video of the Year for “Need a Favor,” Male Video of the Year, and CMT Performance of the Year.  

While fans will undoubtedly be disappointed by the news, the company’s focus on strategic optimization suggests a potential return for the CMT Awards in the future. We’ll be keeping an eye on developments and will share updates as they become available.

Sources and more details here and here.