'Austin' singer Dasha says CMT Awards are her first time to visit city

One can only sing about a place from afar for so long.

"Austin" singer Dasha Novotny said on the CMT Awards red carpet that the Sunday event is the first time she has been in her song's namesake city.

The song, which put Novotny — who performs under the name Dasha — on the map, will be performed as a part of the ceremony.

"I've written about the same situation so many times, I'm like 'I have to make something fun, like a story out of this,'" Dasha said. "'Let's just make it leaving Austin' and we made the whole storyline out of it."

"Austin" debuted in 2023 and was propelled to virality on TikTok. The song appeared on Dasha's country debut album “What Happens Now?”

How to watch the 2024 CMT Awards

The awards will air live on CBS on Sunday, April 7, starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT to 11 p.m.

Fans will be able to stream the awards live and on-demand on Paramount+ with Showtime. 

Contributing: Audrey Gibbs