CMT Awards 2023

Country cuteness! · Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani · Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini · Kane Brown and Katelyn Jae · Lily Rose and Daira Eamon · Jon Pardi and ...

[Charles Esten](https://people.com/tag/charles-esten/) and his wife of 30 years, Patty Hanson, cozied up on the carpet. Rachel and Jake Scott [Fresh off their Nashville wedding](https://people.com/country/lily-rose-marries-daira-eamon-wedding-photos-exclusive/), newlyweds Lily Rose and Daira Eamon shared a kiss on the carpet — and [showed off their new bling!](https://people.com/country/2023-cmt-awards-lily-rose-wife-daira-show-off-wedding-rings/) [Blake Shelton](https://people.com/tag/blake-shelton/) and [Gwen Stefani](https://people.com/tag/gwen-stefani/)! [Kelsea Ballerini](https://people.com/tag/kelsea-ballerini/) made their [red carpet debut](https://people.com/country/2023-cmt-awards-kelsea-ballerini-chase-stokes-red-carpet-debut/) at the CMT Awards, where the singer hosted and her actor boyfriend showed support. [Kane Brown](https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/) posted two glam pics with wife Katelyn, [captioned simply](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjNH7ROjmx/?hl=en), "The Browns."

The 2023 CMT Music Awards winners list is being updated as the ceremony announces this year's victors. Follow along with us to see who wins.

The fan-voted CMT Music Awards have come and gone for 2023! (Jelly Roll was victorious in all of his categories.) In the days heading into the ceremony, [Shania Twain](https://www.billboard.com/artist/shania-twain) was announced as the recipient of the CMT Equal Pay Award, which celebrates artists who are advocates for “elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in [country](https://www.billboard.com/t/country/) music,” according to the CMTs. [Lainey Wilson](https://www.billboard.com/artist/lainey-wilson) led in nominations with four, while [Kane Brown](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kane-brown), Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson are right behind her with three.

Megan Moroney won Breakthrough Female Video of the Year for her single “Tennessee Orange,” and Jelly Roll took home the award for Breakthrough Male Video of the ...

Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange” – WINNER Megan Moroney won Breakthrough Female Video of the Year for her single “Tennessee Orange,” and Jelly Roll took home the award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year for “Son of a Sinner” shortly after. Kelsea Ballerini – “Heartfirst” Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God” – WINNER Kane and Katelyn Brown took home the night’s top prize, the coveted Video of the Year award for their duet “Thank God.” Cody Johnson – “Human”

The 2023 CMT Music Awards will air on April 2. Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown will host. Here's how to watch and stream for free.

The CMT Music Awards just announced some major collaborations that will take the stage at the show, including The Black Crowes with [Darius Rucker](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a38148148/wagon-wheel-singer-darius-rucker-2022-tour-announcement/), [Wynonna Judd](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a42922965/wynonna-judd-health-scare/) with [Ashley McBryde](https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g43129197/ashley-mcbryde-weekend-essentials/), ad Gwen Stefani with Carly Pearce. The CMT Music Awards air on Sunday, April 2, at 8 EST/7 CST. You [can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Paramount+ ](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1525072&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paramountplus.com%2Faccount%2Fsignup%2Fplan%2F&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.countryliving.com%2Flife%2Fentertainment%2Fa39677286%2Fhow-to-watch-and-stream-the-2022-cmt-music-awards%2F&xs=1&xcust=%5Butm_source%7C%5Butm_campaign%7C%5Butm_medium%7C%5Bgclid%7C%5Bmsclkid%7C%5Bfbclid%7C%5Brefdomain%7Cwww.google.com%5Bcontent_id%7Cf5a48dc8-8168-4f22-91e8-f584019003f1%5Bcontent_product_id%7Cdc628666-07a4-4658-9c77-a8bab2e91c2a%5Bproduct_retailer_id%7C13625544-e85d-4bec-b1b7-8f4b38b10850%5Blt%7C)and then cancel at anytime. [Paramount+](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1525072&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paramountplus.com%2F), but there is a small catch. [Blake Shelton](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a42942181/the-voice-2023-blake-shelton-news-instagram-barmageddon/), [Carly Pearce](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a36374928/carly-pearce-kelsea-ballerini-friendship/), Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, [Keith Urban](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a43284691/nicole-kidman-keith-urban-oscars-red-carpet/), Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll, Tyler Hubbard, and Lainey Wilson. This year, the awards ceremony, hosted by

The 2023 CMT Music Awards red carpet featured stars such as Megan Thee Stallion, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown and more. See the photos.

Megan Moroney at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Ahead of the ceremony, the CMT Music Awards announced that Shania Twain will be honored with the CMT Equal Pay Award. Blake Shelton at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Gwen Stefani at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Bailey Zimmerman at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit : Christopher Polk for Variety Priscilla Block at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. HARDY at the 2023 CMT Music Awards held at Moody Center on April 2, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Performer and co-host Kelsea Ballerini and Outer Banks star Chase Stokes made their red carpet debut as a couple. Megan Thee Stallion, who is presenting during the ceremony, stunned in a dark blue curve-hugging gown with a cutout and white triangular detail on her left hip, with matching earrings and nails to balance her look. It’s all about the fans — and the stars, too, of course! Katelyn stunned in a strapless white dress with matching gloves.

The country star is up for video of the year and female video of the year at this year's ceremony.

On Sunday night, the award show, co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, is handing out trophies to recognize country artists for their music and ...

- Russell Dickerson feat. - Midland feat. - HARDY feat. [Check out PEOPLE's full CMT Awards coverage to get the latest news on country's big night](https://people.com/tag/cmt-awards/). [Lainey Wilson](https://people.com/country/2023-cmt-awards-nominations-lainey-wilson-kane-brown-carrie-underwood/) led the pack this year with four nominations, including video of the year, female video of the year, collaborative video of the year and CMT performance of the year. [Kane Brown](https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/) and [Kelsea Ballerini](https://people.com/tag/kelsea-ballerini/) is handing out trophies to recognize country artists for their music and music videos!

Ballerini delivered a poignant speech at the 2023 CMT Music Awards on Sunday about gun violence following the recent school shooting in Nashville.

Everyone's very understanding of that and very protective of that trauma, and that memory for me." She also noted that she continues to suffer PTSD from the shooting. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Ballerini, now 29, opened up about the shooting she witnessed as a sophomore at Central High School in her native Knoxville, Tennessee. [Kane Brown](https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/), and she's also set to deliver a performance during the ceremony. this year alone stretches from coast to coast," continued Ballerini, before recalling her own experience with gun violence. "On March 27, 2023, three 9-year-olds, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs along with Dr.

Kelsea Ballerini, Manila Luzon, Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport, and Olivia Lux had a kiki on the 2023 CMT Awards. The performance comes amid anti-drag ...

Kelsea Ballerini affirmed her support for the LGBTQIA+ community with her performance at the 2023 CMT Awards. The definition of drag in the bill is so large it could apply to Shakespeare in the Park. She brought out Drag Race stars Manila Luzon, Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport, and Olivia Lux for her performance of “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” — an ode to solidarity in praxis unparalleled since “L’Internationale.” Right wing politicians continue to introduce anti-trans and anti-queer legislature into state houses across the country, including many so-called “drag bans.” Texas, the state which hosted this year’s CMT Awards, is

Kelsea Ballerini and RuPaul's Drag Queens took the stage on Sunday night to perform her hit single "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)."

“I pray — deeply — that closeness and community we feel for the next few hours of music can soon turn into action, like real action, that moves us forward together to create change for the safety of our kids and our loved ones,” said the artist. [Statesman](https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/2023/04/02/rupauls-drag-race-texas-drag-queens-cmt-music-awards-2023-austin/70073966007/?utm_source=SND&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=statesman) asked if the group had advice for Texas drag queens impacted by the [state’s anti-drag show ban](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-tennessee-drag-ban-1234707764/). [paid tribute](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/kelsea-ballerini-honors-nashville-shooting-victims-cmt-awards-1234708119/) to the [Nashville shooting victims](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/nashville-christian-school-shooting-children-suspect-dead-1234704224/). “Continue to be your authentic self,” said Davenport. [2023 CMT Music Awards: How to Watch, Who's Nominated, Who's Performing](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/2023-cmt-music-awards-how-to-watch-nominees-performers-1234707144/) [2023 CMT Music Awards](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/cmt-music-awards-2023-winners-list-1234708105/), and a quartet of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens took the stage on Sunday to perform her hit single “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too).”

Kelsea Ballerini paid tribute to the victims and noted that she survived a 2008 school shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee — details.

[lucky and blessed but still so incredibly sad](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/shawn-johnson-cries-over-nashville-elementary-school-shooting/). [Shawn Johnson](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/shawn-johnson/), for her part, opened up about her kids’ school — which she described as “right in the vicinity” of Covenant — getting put on lockdown the day of the shooting. [Sabrina the Teenage Witch](https://www.usmagazine.com/shows/sabrina-the-teenage-witch/) alum, 46, said in a Tuesday, March 28, Instagram video. “Today has changed me.” Johnson shares daughter Drew, 3, and son Jeff, 20 months, with husband [Andrew East](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/andrew-east/). I’m [just heartbroken for these families](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jessie-james-decker-tears-up-over-shooting-near-kids-school/),” the country singer, 34, said. [Jill Biden](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jill-biden/), for her part, addressed the shooting while speaking with conference of city leaders in Washington D.C. [Jessie James Decker](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jessie-james-decker/), who shared in a Monday Instagram Story that the school is “only two miles up the road” from her home. “We stand — all of us — we stand with Nashville in prayer.” “It’s in our town. I pray, deeply, that the closeness and the community we feel for the next few hours through of music can soon turn into action — like real action — that moves us forward together to create change for the safety of our kids and our loved ones.” this year alone stretches from coast to coast,” Ballerini, who cohosted the CMT Music Awards with “On March 27, 2023, three 9-year-olds — Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs — along with Dr.