A longtime staple of the CMT lineup, Hot 20 Countdown, will come to an end in December after 12 years on the air. Per Billboard, the program showcases the most popular videos from the genre. There are also appearances by various singers.
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CMT Has Been Undergoing Significant Changes
According to the outlet, Hot 20 Countdown "is the last original music programming on the channel...." There have reportedly been other concerning changes taking place behind the scenes. During the previous 18 months, staff has been reduced along with programming. Furthermore, the CMT Awards were "paused" several months ago due to the merger of CMT's parent company, Paramount Global, with Skydance Media. That merger was finalized as of August 2025.
There Is Still One Original Series Remaining in CMT's Lineup
CMT still airs an original show. It's The Last Cowboy, which is produced by Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind the Yellowstone empire. This, however, is not music-oriented. Its sixth season begins on November 7.
Many People Associated With CMT Are No Longer There
Billboard cites "a massive talent drain" at CMT during the past year and a half. The landscape there is rapidly evolving due to reported departures, buyouts, and staff cuts.
Among those who have jumped ship are Senior Producer of Hot 20 Countdown Darrell Hughes, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy and Talent Leslie Fram, and Senior Director of Production Ray Sells. Also gone from the CMT ranks are Vice President of Production Quinn Brown and Vice President of Production Stacy Cato.
Two other staffers have exited their roles at CMT as well. They are Vice President of Digital and Social Melissa Goldberg and Vice President of CMT Music and Talent Donna Duncan.
Paramount Global Has Been Cutting Back on Original Programming
This development has affected CMT. Crossroads, a show that had paired country vocalists with singers from non-country genres, stopped making new episodes nearly two years ago. Additionally, CMT named the Class of 2025 for the Next Women of Country. However, with the impending demise of Hot 20 Countdown, female country artists will generally get less airtime on CMT.
