Toby Keith, Kristen Bell to co-host CMT Music Awards

“Toby Keith and Kristen Bell are a terrific one-two knockout punch for the 2012 CMT Music Awards,” John Hamlin, senior vice president of music events and talent CMT, said in a news release. “Toby has been involved with our show every year since its inception and Kristen is as entertaining and witty as any young actor working today. We're thrilled to have them both as hosts for this year's show.”

Keith won't be the only Oklahoman bringing star power to the fan-voted awards show. Checotah native Carrie Underwood will compete for a leading five prizes and perform on this year's CMT Music Awards.

Underwood earned two nominations in the top category, video of the year: one for “Good Girl,” the video for her newest uptempo hit, and one for “Remind Me,” the mini-movie for her chart-topping duet with fellow country superstar Brad Paisley. She also received a female video of the year nod for “Good Girl,” and she and Paisley share a collaborative video of the year nomination for “Remind Me.” In addition, the 2005 “American Idol” winner and “Idol” judge and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler are nominated for CMT Performance of the Year for their medley “Just a Dream/Dream On” from “CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam.”

Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert received two nominations for her solo work and shares two with her bandmates in her all-girl trio Pistol Annies, which will sing on the show. The Texas native is nominated for video and female video of the year for the video to her heartbreaking hit “Over You.” The Pistol Annies, which include Lambert, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe, garnered nods for group video and USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for “Hell on Heels,” the mini-movie to their sultry debut single.

Lambert's husband and fellow Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton earned three nominations, with the video for his heartfelt ballad “God Gave Me You” getting the nod for video of the year and male video of the year. Plus, the Ada native will compete for CMT Performance of the Year for his cover of the movie theme “Footloose” from “Invitation Only: Blake Shelton.”