Donald Trump's tweeting habits have been mocked by the hosts of the Country Music Awards (CMA), provoking anger from the event's Republican fanbase.

Hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley opened the 51st annual awards show with a parody song about the US president's late-night tweeting and his habit of shortening names.

The song began with the lyrics "maybe next time he'll think before he tweets", a play on Underwood's hit song 'Before he cheats'.

It went on: "Right now he's probably in his PJs, watching cable news, reaching for his cell phone.

"It's fun to watch it that's for sure, 'til little 'Rocket Man' starts a nuclear war.

"Maybe next time he'll think before he tweets."

The country music stars wore eclipse sunglasses, poking fun at Mr Trump's attempt to watch a part of August's solar eclipse without eye protection.

But the parody sketch did not go down well with the show's Trump-supporting viewers, who took to Twitter to hit out at the music show's political overtone.