Last night’s CMT Music Awards was three hours of performances, awards, and inclusiveness. A majority of the presenters – and many of the performers – had Texas ties.
The 2023 CMT Music Awards began with an emotional statement from co-host Kelsea Ballerini, dedicating the show to the victims and everyone affected by gun violence. From there, the mood lightened as co-hosts Ballerini and Kane Brown guided the festivities.
Here’s a play-by-play of how the whole evening unfolded:
- Kelsea Ballerini starts off the show with a heartfelt, emotional statement about mass shootings, dedicating the show to the victims and others affected by gun violence
- Blake Shelton opened the show musically with “No Body,” saluting the city of Austin by quoting his first hit of the same name – “If this is Austin, I still love you!”
- Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown came out to kick off the show as co-hosts
- Tyler Hubbard played “Dancing’ In The Country” in front of the Texas Statehouse in Austin
- Gary Clark Jr. performed a tribute to Austin blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan (“The House Is Rocking“)
- Newlywed Lily Rose performed an abbreviated version of “Whatcha Know About That”
- First award of the night, presented by “Stranger Things” Noah Schnapp – Collaborative Video Of The Year (WINNER: Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson “Wait In The Truck”)
- Jon Pardi introduced Carly Pearce for her performance of “What He Didn’t Do”
- Parker McCollum presented the award for “Breakthrough Female Video Of The Year” (WINNER: Megan Moroney “Tennesse Orange”)…and “Breakthrough Male Video Of The Year” (WINNER: Jelly Roll “Son Of A Sinner”)
- Wynonna and Ashley McBryde performed Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is“
- Texas-born and raised rapper Megan Thee Stallion introduced Equal Play Award winner Shania Twain
- Steve Howey (“True Lies”) introduced Cody Johnson, who performed “Human“
- Back to the outdoor stage, Keith Urban performed “Brown Eyes Baby“
- Kelsea Ballerini introduced Nate Smith for an abbreviated rendition of “Whiskey On You”
- Hardy and some of the cast of “Yellowstone” introduce Lainey Wilson who performed “Heart Like A Truck“
- Jackson Dean did a shortened version of “Don’t Come Lookin”
- Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce duet on No Doubt’s “Just A Girl“
- Shania Twain presented Female Video of the Year (WINNER: Lainey Wilson “Heart Like A Truck”)
- Jelly Roll performed “Need A Favor” backed by a choir
- “Outer Banks” cast members presented the CMT Performance Of The Year Award (WINNER: Cody Johnson “Til You Can’t” from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
- NFL player Travis Kelce introduced Kelsea Ballerini for a performance of “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” accompanied by dancing drag queens
- Max Theriot of “Fire Country” introduced Kane & Katelyn Brown for “Thank God“
- Avery Anna did a shortened version of “Narcissist”
- Black Crowes and Darius Rucker duetted on “She Talks To Angels“
- LeAnn Rimes presented for “Best Male Video” (WINNER: Jelly Roll “Son Of A Sinner”)
- Lainey Wison, Madeline Edwards, Ingrid Andress and Morgan Wade joined Alanis Morrisette for “You Oughta Know“
- Megan Moroney did a brief performance of “Tennessee Orange”
- Carrie Underwood performed “Hate My Heart“
- Chapel Heart performed a short version of “You Can Have Him, Jolene”
- Darius Rucker presented “Video Of The Year” (WINNER: Kane & Katelyn Brown “Thank God”)
- Peter Frampton introduced the all-star Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute performance that featured Billy Gibbons, Slash, Paul Rodgers, Cody Johnson, Warren Haynes, Wynonna and LeAnn Rimes who played a medley of “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Sweet Home Alabama” to close out the show
A lot went on in those three hours, and CMT made a point to put on an inclusive awards show, with Black, white, LGBTQ+ performers and presenters, and as much rock as there was country. Women were featured prominently, with Shania speaking forcefully about how far country music has come for women, and how much further she hoped it would go.
Here’s the complete list of 2023 CMT Music Awards winners – both televised and those awarded off-camera.
Source: CMT
