Out country star Cody Belew makes prestigious music list

December 30, 2022 Queer Forty Staff 2 min read

CMT revealed its newest lineup of rising artists to watch in its highly anticipated 2023 CMT LISTEN UP program, which recognizes and supports country music’s most promising newcomers across CMT platforms and a queer country luminary, Cody Belew is on the list.

The year-long initiative is committed to raising support for these artists via full cross-brand support for their music and videos across CMT and CMT Music, CMT Hot 20 Countdown, CMT Hits on Pluto TV, CMT.com and @CMT social platforms, in addition to opportunities across other Paramount Media Networks with live events, the Paramount Times Square NYC Billboard and more.

“We’re thrilled to welcome this exciting list of new artists to our 2023 LISTEN UP initiative,” shared Leslie Fram, SVP of Music & Talent at CMT. “Each of these acts stand out in their authenticity and are already finding an audience with exceptional music. We look forward to amplifying their content across all CMT platforms and building long lasting relationships with this dynamic group of individuals.”

Belew has been busy in 2022, which saw him release his self-titled EP. The official video for the lead single “Rodeo” premiered in Times Square and found a home at CMT. His take on the Dolly Parton classic “Here You Come Again” was favored by Music Row Magazine’s Robert Oermann, with him saying, “He completely reinterprets this 1977 Dolly hit, transforming it from a bouncy ditty into a cry of romantic anguish. His only accompaniment is a pianist, but his dramatic performance is so gripping that it needs nothing else.” Belew’s reimagining of the Brooks & Dunn classic “Neon Moon” with Grammy Award winning producer Dave Audé, continues to top playlists.

Add in a yearlong, sold-out string of shows at Nashville’s famed Lipstick Lounge, and time in the studio, Belew enters 2023 with a new body of work to unleash on the world.

Here are the 20 artists to join CMT’s prestigious 2023 LISTEN UP roster:

Ashley Cooke
Bailey Zimmerman
Brandon Ratcliff
Catie Offerman
Chapel Hart
Cody Belew
Conner Smith
Corey Kent
Dalton Dover
Drake Milligan
Hannah Ellis
Ian Munsick
Jackson Dean
Kameron Marlowe
Madeline Edwards
Nate Smith
Pillbox Patti
The War And Treaty
Warren Zeiders
Zach Bryan

Since 2011, CMT’s LISTEN UP franchise has introduced new talent to the brand’s passionate fan base and has helped launch the careers of many country sensations. Some notable alumni of the franchise include: Ashley McBryde, Blanco Brown, BRELAND, Brett Eldredge, Brittney Spencer, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Jimmie Allen, Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lily Rose, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Morgan Wade, Thomas Rhett, Walker Hayes and Yola among others.

For updates and more information, visit CMT.com, follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok and use #CMTListenUP to join the conversation.