CMT Music Awards 2024: Host Kelsea Ballerini shares passionate kiss with Chase Stokes on red carpet ahead of ceremony

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes looked smitten as they hit the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards 2024 on Sunday.

The songstress, 30, who is hosting the ceremony for the fourth time but first time solo, looked incredible in a plunging red gown - with Outer Banks star Chase, 31, planting several kisses on her.

The amorous pair locked lips for snappers, with Chase looking sharp in a white blazer and black skinny jeans.

Kelsea wore her locks in soft waves as she showed off her glamorous look. 

Lainey Wilson, Kelsea, Megan Moroney, Jelly Roll, and Cody Johnson top the list with each earning three nominations. 

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes looked smitten as they hit the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards 2024 on Sunday

The songstress, 30, who is hosting the ceremony for the fourth time but first time solo, looked incredible in a plunging red gown - with Outer Banks star Chase, 31, planting several kisses on her

Trisha Yearwood will be the recipient of the first-ever June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award.

The fan-voted award show will air live from the Moody Center on April 7.

This year's edition will be hosted once again by country icon Kelsea Ballerini, who served as host for the last three ceremonies. This year, however, marks the first time she will be doing the honors on her own.

Ballerini, who ordinarily hosts with Kane Brown, told People: 'It's definitely new grounds for me.'

'But it's my fourth year hosting, so I feel like I've learned a lot. And the good thing about CMT is there's such a light energy, so there's not a pressure that I feel to be perfect.

'I just want to be fun, honor the night and help people have a good time.'

On top of hosting, Kelsea has been named as one of the night's performers. Jason Aldean, Dasha, Trisha Yearwood, Sam Hunt and more will also be hitting the stage.

There will also be a performance paying tribute to the late Toby Keith featuring Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Hagar, Lainey Wilson, and more. Toby's band will be backing the performance.

Kelsea looked stunning in a scarlet gown for the ceremony

The amorous pair locked lips for snappers, with Chase looking sharp in a white blazer and black skinny jeans

Chase looked dapper as he supported his love

The pair couldn't help but laugh as they posed

Billy Bob Thornton, Emma Roberts, James Van Der Beek, Jane Seymour, Mickey Guyton, and Jelly Roll are among the all-star presenters hitting the stage.   

Nominees for this year's awards show were announced last month.  

In the female video of the year category, Ashley McBryde, Gabby Barrett, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney and Reba McEntire square off.

In the breakthrough female video of the year, its Anne Wilson, Ashley Cooke, Brittney Spencer and Tigirlily Gold. 

Morgan Wallen, one of the genre's top stars, received only one nomination: for male video of the year for 'Last Night (One Record at a Time Sessions).' 

He will be competing against Bailey Zimmerman's 'Religiously,' Cody Johnson's 'The Painter,' HARDY's 'Truck Bed,' Jelly Roll's 'Need A Favor,' Jordan Davis' 'Next Thing You Know' and Luke Combs' 'Fast Car (Official Live Video).'

Wallen's 2023 album, 'One Thing at a Time,' spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, making it the most popular album of any style last year. Its run broke a record previously held by Garth Brooks´s 1991 LP 'Ropin´ the Wind' by becoming the longest reigning No. 1 country album, ever.

The couple were smitten as they posed up a storm

Kelsea looked radiant as she posed up a storm

In the breakthrough male video of the year category, Chayce Beckham, Tyler Childers, Warren Zeiders and Zach Bryan go head-to-head.

Other categories include Duo/Group Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, and CMT Performance of the Year. 

There are also 14 first-time nominees this year, a list that includes some acts that go beyond country music - a direct reflection of CMT's spotlight on genre-blending collaborations.

Those new names include Amber Riley, Ashley Cooke, Anne Wilson, Ella Langley, The Castellows, Tigirlily Gold, Bret Michaels, Chayce Beckham, Hozier, Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tyler Childers, Warren Zeiders, and Zach Bryan.