Country Music Awards

MVP meets CMT.

J.J. Watt has officially been tapped to co-host the CMT Music Awards next month -- after impressing producers as a presenter during last year's show.

CMT announced Watt will join Erin Andrews -- who hosted the show last year along with Brittany Snow. But Snow's out -- and Watt's in.

"I am very excited to be involved in a much larger capacity this year as co-host,” Watt said.

"I can’t wait to host the awards with Erin and be part of such a great night, honoring the biggest stars in country music.”

Hip-hop and R&B producer supreme Timbaland is ready to get his twang on, y'all ... and he's gonna do it with his pal Justin Timberlake.

Timbaland was on TMZ Live Tuesday and we brought up JT bringing down the house at the CMAs with his Chris Stapleton duet. Since Timberlake and Timbaland are connected at the musical hip ... we had to know if a country record was in the works.

Tim told us, "We are country! He's from Tennessee, I'm from VA!"

Watch the rest of his answer -- it sure looks like Justin and his fav producer will be dipping their feet in the Nashville pool soon.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton finally stopped hiding from fans and cameras, and they picked country music's biggest night for their coming out.

The pic we got of their fingers interlocked -- while sipping drinks at a CMA after-party -- kinda tells the story!

Kim Kardashian and the fam have an unlikely ally in Nashville, and his name's Steven Tyler ... who's ready and willing to make room for their asses on any stage they want.

Steven was leaving a CMA after-party when we asked him about Rebel Wilson going off on the Jenner/Kardashian clan ... blasting them as talentless hacks.

Check it out ... the Aerosmith frontman did NOT hesitate to tell us where he stands on the issue.

Sorry, Rebel ... Tyler's never been one to turn down hot chicks.

Justin Timberlake, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and a ton of other stars hit the bars and other party scenes in Nashville after the CMAs.

Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt, Brett Eldredge, Keith Urban and others let loose. It was bigger than country this time around ... lots of crossovers.

Country star John Rich says there's no need to pick sides in the Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert divorce ... he's just stoked Gwen Stefani is now in the picture.

The Big & Rich singer was leaving Legends Corner after the CMA Awards Wednesday, when our photog asked about the turn of events now that Blake is dating Gwen.

Carrie Underwood may not be your classic country s**t-kicker, but she's definitely a s**t-stirrer ... because she got the CMA crowd all riled up Wednesday night by taking a shot at the Prez.

Carrie and Brad Paisley got all political with a reference to Taylor Swift, whom they suggested has abandoned country music.

There's a tiny bit of room for interpretation ... whether the audience is going wild over the fact that the Democrats lost the Senate, or whether Obama is so unpopular he derailed his own party.

It's the second time in 2 years Obama's been skewered at the Country Music Awards.

Oh, and Brad took a shot at TMZ, too. We'll take that as a challenge.

Nelly, Darius Rucker, and Cowboy Troy hit up the CMT Awards ... on purpose -- proving country music is going the way of baseball, basketball, golf, and even hockey!

Ok, maybe not hockey. Yet.

Country singer Cowboy Troy (42), Hootie frontman Darius Rucker (47) and rapper Nelly (38) represented the African American community while walking the red carpet at the 2013 CMT Music Awards last night.