Lance Smith, a Nashville native, is host of CMT's Top 20 Countdown and Can You Duet and joined CMT as the network's first VJ in 2001. As one of the on-air representatives of the network, Smith has been present at all important industry functions during his tenure including the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, as well as all of the CMT Music Awards broadcasts. In addition to his regular series hosting duties, Smith has brought his own unique style to hosting specials such as CMT at Summerfest and Spring Break specials with Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney.

A Tennessee native, Smith pursued a career in acting during a brief stint in Los Angeles after high school. A lifelong fan of music, he landed his first gig in country music as the emcee of the Dixie Chicks' 2000 Fly tour, as well as crowd-pleaser and overall entertainer between acts. Smith recently published his first book, The Old Man and the Cat, a children's book, and spends much of his personal time reading to elementary school children around the country.