You never know who you’ll run into backstage at the CMT Music Awards. Remember John Mayer’s random abs competition with Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from The Jersey Shore? How about that awkward moment 2006 host Jeff Foxworthy had with Hank Williams Jr.? Thankfully, there’s plenty of photo evidence of all the best behind-the-scenes moments from the show.
Tickets to the 2019 event happening live on June 5 at 8 p.m. ET with hosts Little Big Town at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena are on sale through Ticketmaster. VIP packages are available through CID Entertainment.
Voting to determine the winners in each category is underway at CMT.com through 11:59 p.m. ET on June 4. The top five video of the year finalists will be announced the morning of the show, and fans will be able to vote for their favorites in the category all day and throughout the special at CMT.com and via Twitter.
Join the conversation by following @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, using hashtag #CMTawards and liking the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.
Enjoy some of our favorite candid behind-the-scenes moments from previous CMT Music Awards:
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2004 CMT Music Awards
Kenny Chesney and Little Jimmy Dickens
R. Diamond/WireImageBret Michaels and Dickens
R. Diamond/WireImageCarson Kressley and Sheryl Crow
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2005 CMT Music Awards
Josh Turner and Blake Shelton get a moment with Loretta Lynn, who was presented the Johnny Cash Visionary Award.at the 2005 awards.
R. Diamond/WireImage for CMT: Country Music TelevisionKeith Urban, Gretchen Wilson with Heart’s Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson.
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2006 CMT Music Awards
Jennifer Nettles crowd surfs during “Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good).”
Rusty Russell/Getty ImagesHank Williams Jr. photo-bombs Kid Rock, Wynonna Judd and actress Caroline Rhea.
Rick Diamond/WireImageWilliams has another awkward moment with the 2006 host, Jeff Foxworthy.
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2007 CMT Music Awards
We have no idea where Shelton got the pie for the 2007 awards.
Evan Agostini/Getty ImagesRosanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson chat backstage. Kristofferson was the recipient of the 2007 Johnny Cash Visionary award.
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2008 CMT Music Awards
Snoop Dogg and LeAnn Rimes meet backstage.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicSnoop Doog rubs elbows with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
Kevin Mazur/WireImageRobert Plant, Alison Krauss, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw hang backstage.
Rick Diamond/WireImageRemember the CMT series Gone Country? Stars Diana DeGarmo and Sisqó work the red carpet.
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2009 CMT Music Awards
Taylor Swift takes her brother Austin to the 2009 ceremony.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImageDef Leppard and Swift celebrate a knockout performance backstage at the 2009 show.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicT-Pain and Swift
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesDierks Bentley, Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley hug it out behind the scenes.
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2010 CMT Music Awards
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMTIncluding John Mayer and Paula Deen, it seems like everyone wanted to check out Jersey Shore’s Mike ’The Situation’ Sorrentino and the situation with his abs backstage at the 2010 awards.
Kevin Mazur/WireImageKid Rock, Uncle Kracker, Kellie Pickler and John Rich
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesPickler and Crow
Kevin Mazur/WireImageRichard Petty and McGraw
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesJersey Shore’s Nicole ’Snooki’ Polizzi and actress Hayden Panettiere
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesLuke Bryan and Gloriana’s Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin bring a gator to the 2010 afterparty.
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2011 CMT Music Awards
Crow and Justin Bieber
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMTBieber and Lauren Alaina
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMTLudacris and Jason Aldean
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2012 CMT Music Awards
Grace Potter, Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert
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2013 CMT Music Awards
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesNelly and Darius Rucker
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesDog Lee Chapman, Dax Shepard and Beth Chapman
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2014 CMT Music Awards
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Larry Busacca/WireImage -
2015 CMT Music Awards
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
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2016 CMT Music Awards
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT
John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic -
2017 CMT Music Awards
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
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2018 CMT Music Awards
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT