Kathy Najimy, 2002

Actress Kathy Najimy hosted the inaugural CMT Flameworthy Awards. She opened the show with an appearance from her animated alter ego, Peggy Hill of the Fox television series King of the Hill.

Kenny Chesney, 2002

Kenny Chesney was the man of the night, earning a double win for Flameworthy video of the year and Flameworthy male video of the year for "Young." He later performed his winning song after host Kathy Najimy introduced him by saying that he had no shoes, no shirt and "hopefully, no pants."

Dixie Chicks, 2002

The Dixie Chicks accepted the inaugural Flameworthy Video Visionary Award, and bandmember Natalie Maines gave credit to CMT for being instrumental early in the group's career. Dixie Chicks' Martie Maguire also thanked VH1 and "hopefully, one day, MTV, if they're listening." 

Toby Keith and Pamela Anderson, 2003

Toby Keith co-hosted that year's show with Pamela Anderson. Keith also won three awards that night for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)": video of the year, male video of the year and cocky video of the year. "I want to dedicate this great award to Mr. [Donald] Rumsfeld, to Tommy Franks and all the people over there putting it down for us tonight," Keith said in accepting the video of the year award. "The American soldiers are the best in the business."

Naked Cowboy and Faith Hill, 2003

Robert John Burck, better known as the Naked Cowboy, presented with Faith Hill, who took home the award for hottest female video of the year for "When the Lights Go Down." "Shock of the century," she said in her acceptance speech.

Sheryl Crow, 2003

Sheryl Crow performed "Picture" with Kid Rock in 2003; the duo teamed up again for a performance of "Collide" at the 2011 show.

Rascal Flatts, 2003

Tim McGraw, 2003

Tim McGraw took home two awards for "She's My Kind of Rain": fashion plate video of the year and hottest male video of the year. "Kenny [Chesney] and I were just talking; we think Keith Urban's pretty hot," he said in accepting the latter award. "We're just kind of pissed at him 'cause he got our hair."

Brooks and Dunn, 2004

The duo — Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn — presented the Johnny Cash Visionary Award to Reba McEntire, who was honored for her musical vision, groundbreaking videos and other accomplishments including a Broadway musical and her own sitcom.

Dolly Parton, 2004

Dolly Parton hosted the show in 2004, the year after her 38th studio album, For God and Country, was released. She also performed at that year's ceremony.

Keith Urban, 2004

Keith Urban was among the 2004 performers, a list that also included Alan Jackson, Montgomery Gentry, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts.

Little Jimmy Dickens, 2004

Little Jimmy Dickens, Jason Alexander, Jim Belushi, Trista Rehn and William Shatner won cameo of the year for their appearances in Brad Paisley's "Celebrity." "I was beginning to wonder if there was an age limit for nominations and stuff," Dickens said in accepting the award for Paisley, who was absent. "On behalf of my friend, dear friend ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Brad Paisley, he couldn't be here tonight, see he had to go fishing. He asked me to come and accept for him."

Jeff Foxworthy, 2005

Jeff Foxworthy hosted the awards show for three years in a row, from 2005-07.

Brad Paisley, 2005

Brad Paisley won collaborative video of the year for "Whiskey Lullaby" in 2005. The video was directed by Ricky Schroder, who also starred in it. In his acceptance speech, Paisley thanked Schroder "for the best dang video you could have ever done."

Gretchen Wilson, 2005

Gretchen Wilson won awards for breakthrough video for "Redneck Woman" and female video for "When I Think About Cheatin'." "I can't even express to you how much it means to me that this is fan-voted, that you guys are so involved in this," Wilson said in accepting the breakthrough video honor.

Jeff Foxworthy, 2007

Jeff Foxworthy hosted the 2007 awards and made headlines with his show-stopping opening speech. "I like country music because it's about the things in life that really matter. It ain't about braggin' about how you're gonna mess somebody up, or how somebody ain't respectin' ya. It's about love, family, friends — with a few beers, a cheap woman and a two-timin' man thrown in for spice. It doesn't take political sides, even with things as ugly as war. Instead, it celebrates the brave men and women who go to fight 'em, the price they pay to do it and the longin' we have for them to return home to the ones that they love," he said.

Kid Rock, 2011

Kid Rock returned for his second hosting stint at the CMT Music Awards in 2011.

Loretta Lynn and Reba McEntire, 2005

Loretta Lynn received the Johnny Cash Visionary Award for her career achievements. Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson presented her with the honor following a video segment that included tributes from Elvis Costello, Sissy Spacek and others.

Lady Antebellum, 2010

Lady Antebellum hit the stage in 2010 to perform "American Honey." They nabbed the honor of group video of the year for their hit "Need You Now."

Trisha Yearwood, 2005

The show included a surprise appearance by Trisha Yearwood, who had been out of the spotlight for some time. She performed the song "Georgia Rain" — her first new tune in three years — from her ninth studio album, Jasper County. "I was nervous like I was nominated or something, and nobody knew I was going to be here," she told reporters backstage. "I don't know what I had to be nervous about. But I think being out of the habit of doing it makes you feel a little rusty."

LeAnn Rimes, 2008

In addition to performing at the 2008 awards, LeAnn Rimes also won best collaborative video of the year for her Bon Jovi collab, "Tll We Ain't Strangers Anymore."

Luke Bryan, 2011

Luke Bryan stole the show in 2011 with a performance of "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)."

Bill Engvall, 2009

Bill Engvall hosted the 2009 ceremony, in which Taylor Swift took home the top honor of Video of the Year for "Love Story."

Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus; 2008

Father-daughter duo Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus teamed up to present at the 2008 show.

Carrie Underwood, 2006

Carrie Underwood brought home two statues at the 2006 ceremony for "Jesus Take the Wheel," including Female Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video of the Year.

Taylor Swift, 2009

In 2009, Taylor Swift brought her smash hit "You Belong With Me" to the CMT Music Awards.

Carrie Underwood, 2012

In 2012, Underwood nabbed the prize for Collaborative Video of the Year ("Remind Me" with Brad Paisley) and Female Video of the Year (for "Good Girl").

Trace Adkins, 2006

Trace Adkins opened the 2006 show with a performance of his infectious "Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk."

Dierks Bentley, 2009

Dierks Bentley, along with George Strait, Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley, took home the trophy for CMT performance of the year in 2006 for their appearance at the CMT Giants.

Eric Church, 2012

Eric Church may have left the 2012 CMT Music Awards empty handed, but he had led the pack of nominees with five. Here, Church performs "Drink in My Hand" on the CMT Music Awards stage.

Toby Keith, Kristen Bell; 2012

Toby Keith and Kristen Bell shared hosting duties in 2012.