Country music's biggest night of the year is here, with the 2023 CMT Music Awards taking place in Austin, Texas. The show kicked off with an incredibly emotional pre-recorded speech from host Kelsea Ballerini, who broke down in tears, as she paid tribute to "the ever growing list of friends, family, survivors, witnesses and responders whose lives contineue to be forever changed by gun violence". She began by honoring the three students and three staff members who were killed at random on March 27, 2023 at The Covenant School in Nashville.
"The communtiy of sorrow over this and the 130 mass hooting sin the US this year alone stretches from coast to coast," she continued, before sharing the heartbreaking story of how in 2008 she watched her castmate lose his life "to a gun in our cafeteria"
Carly Pearce showed off her rock side with an incredible performance of No Doubt's 'Just A Girl' with Gwen Stefani, while Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edward and Morgan Wade joined Alanis Morisette for a stunning performance of Alanis' iconic song 'You Oughta Know'.
Lainey - who was nominated for four awards - picked up two, while Jelly Roll was the big winner of the night taking home all three awards for which he was nominated.
The ceremony aired on the CBS Television Network and it's also available to stream on-demand on Paramount+. Fans who tuned in early saw the likes of Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain rock the red carpet in a series of gorgeous looks.
Exclusive: Why Madeline Edwards' CMT Music Awards performance is extra special
Read on for all the best moments from the night...
- Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown in Video of the Year
- Jelly Roll is three for three!
- Performance of the Year goes to Cody Johnson
- Shania accepts CMT Equal Pay Award
- Wynonna Judd joined by Ashley McBryde on stage
- Megan Moroney wins first CMT!
- Lainey Wilson picks up first of possible four awards
- Kelsea Ballerini breaks down in tears over gun violence
This is how you close out a country show!
Wynonna Judd! LeAnn Rimes! ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons! Guns n Roses' Slash! Cody Johnson! Allman Brothers' Warren Haynes and Chuck Leavell! Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers!
The mega group of performers came together to perform a tribute to Lynard Skynard. The tribute featured two of the band’s biggest hits - including 'Sweet Home Alabama' - and comes a few weeks after the death of Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s final original founding member and guitarist.
Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown win Video of the Year
And the final award of the night, Video of the Year, goes to Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown for 'Thank God'.
"This is all so new to me and when we recorded this a year ago I never would have dreamed this would happen," said Katelyn before thanking her "amazing husband" Kane.
"Thank you to the fans who voted, Sony and my manager Martha," added Kane, before thanking the director Alex Alvga, who had moved from Italy and was living "the American dream".
Bow down for the princess!
Carrie is on stage and performing 'Hate My Heart'. Her workout routine is insane but it works. Even Kelsea is making quips about needing to do some squats after watching her performance.
Also, we're big fan of Carrie's Axl-Rose-side-sway!
It's Alanis time!
Lainey, Morgan Wade, Ingrid Andress and Madeline Edwards are singing 'You Oughta Know' with Alanis!
Honestly, icons.
Jelly Roll is three for three!
Jelly Roll has won all three of the awards he was nominated for - including Male Video of the Year!
Did you recognize Kelsea's dancers?
Yep, those were RuPaul's Drag Race queens, Olivia Lux, Jan Sport, Kennedy Davenport and Manila Luzon!
Kane and Katelyn make CMT performance debut
Kane Brown and wife Katelyn married in 2018 and have two kids - and are now making their CMT debut as a duet! They worked together on the hit ''Thank God,' which number one on the Country Airplay chart in February 2023, making it the second duet by a married couple to top the chart.
The first? Country royalty Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
And Performance of the Year goes to...
Cody Johnson wins Performance of the Year for his 2022 performance of "Til you Can't'! Lainey was nominted for this one, meaning she won't be taking home four for four.
Lainey wins her second award of the night!
Lainey wins Female Video of the Year for her song 'Heart like a Truck'... and the star is wearing the most amazing metallic sequin bell bottoms!
OMG
Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce singing 'Just A Girl' live at the 2023 CMT Music Awards!
End the show right now. Nothing can top this.
Shania accepts CMT Equal Play Award
Megan is here to introduce the CMT Equal Play Award winner - the one and only Shania Twain!
The award celebrates artists who are advocates for “elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in country music,” according to the CMTs. She is the third artist to receive the honor, whose previous winners were Jennifer Nettles and Linda Martell.
"When I wrote the phrase 'Man I feel like a woman,' I had no idea it would become an undercurrent of a decades-long career," said Shania. "It's amazing how just one statement can empower so many."
Shania - who is wearing a very daring purple crop top and micro mini shorts - added: "I promise I will continue to champion the many country artists who are not played, streamed or awarded to the level they deserve."
"I will continue to do my best as a trailblazer," she concluded.
Megan Thee Stallion is here!
That's it, that's the update.
A powerhouse performance from Wynonna and Ashley
The pair dueted on a cover of Foreigner's 'I Want to Know What Love Is,' showing off their incredible range, and wowwwwwwww. Tens across the board.
Megan Moroney wins first CMT!
Parker McCollum is wearing his shades indoors...
Anyway. He's here to present the Breakthrough Female Video of the Year to... Megan Moroney and her absolute banger 'Tennessee Orange'. Is it about Morgan Wallen? Who knows...
And Breakthrough Male Video of the Year goes to Jelly Roll and 'Son Of A Sinner'. This is his second win of the night as he also picked up the CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year.
Lainey picks up first of possible four awards
Lainey is nominated for four awards tonight. As well as Collaborative Video of the Year, she is also up for Female Video of the Year for her song 'Heart like a Truck', Video of the Year, Performance of the Year for her 2022 performance with Cole Swindell of 'Never Say Never', and Video of the Year with HARDY.
Collaborative Video of the Year award goes to....
Ask and ye shall receive.
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has arrived on stage to award the Collaborative Video of the Year award to.... Hardy feat Lainey Wilson for 'Wait in the Truck'.
"When I heard this song, this is an opportunity for people who have been through this to not feel alone and for the people who have been doing this... well... don't get me started, said Lainey as they accepted the award.
If you haven't listened to 'Wait in the Truck'... do yourself a favor and go and listen to it right now.
Matthew McConaughey cameo?
Well, we are in Texas.
CMT Awards? Or CMT Concert?
We're 20 minutes in to the ceremony and have had four performances - Blake, Tyler, Gary Clark Jr and a short moment from newly-married Lily Rose
But no actual awards...
Blake Shelton and Tyler Hubbard kick off performances of the night
It's hard to go from Kelsea's charged and passionate plea to a fun country song but that's what the CMT Music Awards had to do.
Blake Shelton was given that task, and it's surprising they didn't change up the order or ask him to sing something less upbeat.
Kelsea Ballerini breaks down in tears over gun violence
Kelsea opened the show with an emotional speech which saw her pay tribute to the three students and three staff members who were killed at random on March 27, 2023 at The Covenant School in Nashville.
"The communtiy of sorrow over this and the 130 mass hooting sin the US this year alone stretches from coast to coast," she continued, before sharing the heartbreaking story of how in 2008 she watched her castmate lose his life "to a gun in our cafeteria".
First winners of the night revealed!
Zac Brown Band have won the second award of the night, picking up Group/Duo Video of the Year!
Earlier, Jelly Roll picked up the CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year award for his song, 'Son of a Sinner'.
Wynonna Judd calls 2023 ceremony 'bittersweet'
"It's a bittersweet day. CMT has been a large part ofour lives... I had no idea it would be the last time I would sing with my mother," Wynonna shared on the red carpet.
Wynonna and her late mom Naomi performed 'Love Can Build A Bridge' at the 2022 ceremony. Naomi died by suicide in April 2022, two weeks earlier. It was mother-daughter duo's first televised appearance as The Judds in over 20 years.
Carrie Underwood rocks the red carpet solo
"My husband has the kiddos tonight," Carrie shared on the red carpet.
The superstar looked gorgeous in a silver sequin romper with matching stiletto heels. Carrie is married to former NHL star Mike Fisher and they have two sons.
Kelsea breaks silence over her red carpet guest
"I have a really hot date tonight," said Kelsea, when asked about her guest, Chase Stokes.
Kelsea confirmed their relationship during an appearance on Today after co-anchor, Sheinelle Jones, told viewers: "For those of you who don't know, they're dating."
Chase and Kelsea were first spotted together in January 2023 when they attended a football game. The actor shared a photo of them cuddled up in their seats, and while it didn't reveal their faces, he did tag Kelsea in the picture. A few weeks later, Chase alluded to their relationship, telling TMZ: "She's a sweet girl. We're having a good time and that's all I'll say."
The red carpet is actually... aqua?
The carpet may not have been red so it looks like the celebrities took control!
Red was the color of the night on the carpet, with Lainey and Shania rocking stunning fits.
Katelyn Jae to make awards debut
Katelyn Jae, Kane Brown's wife, is looking classy in a pure white column dress with long white gloves. "I am used to watching Kane do his thing so I feel blessed to be doing this with my husband," she said on the red carpet when asked about their upcoming performance!
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