Kelsea Ballerini

CMT Music Awards co-host Kelsea Ballerini spoke about gun violence during the awards ceremony. She also walked the red carpet with actor Chase Stokes.

"The community of sorrow over this, and the 130 mass shootings in the U.S. The singer also paid tribute to former high school classmate Ryan McDonald, who died as a result of gun violence in August 2008. [2023 CMT Music Awards nominations: See the full list of nominees](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/08/cmt-music-awards-2023-nominations-full-list/11425648002/) The female suspect was killed in an altercation with police. "Tonight's broadcast is dedicated to the ever-growing list of families, friends, survivors, witnesses and responders whose lives continue to forever be changed by gun violence." [CMT Music Awards](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/08/cmt-music-awards-2023-nominations-full-list/11425648002/) didn't open with a song, but an emotional message from country star and co-host [Kelsea Ballerini](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/05/kelsea-ballerini-sings-morgan-evans-divorce-blindsided-snl/11407761002/) in the wake of last week's [school shooting in Nashville](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/28/nashville-school-shooting-celebrities-react/11554407002/) [.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/28/nashville-school-shooting-celebrities-react/11554407002/) [Three adults and three children](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/27/covenant-school-shooting-nashville-live-updates/11549814002/) were confirmed dead following the shooting, which took place at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville.

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).”

Before co-hosting the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Kelsea Ballerini walked the red carpet with her boyfriend and Outer Banks star Chase Stokes.

[People](https://people.com/tv/chase-stokes-talks-outer-banks-season-3-having-good-time-with-singer-kelsea-ballerini/). [Keep reading](https://www.eonline.com/photos/35921/cmt-music-awards-2023-red-carpet-fashion) to see even more star sightings from the 2023 CMT Music Awards. "I've never seen the show but I just knew of him and I followed him and he followed me and I just swan dove right on in. "I wanted the hair to look and feel super healthy with a high shine." [podcast](https://www.eonline.com/news/1365685/kelsea-ballerinis-call-her-daddy-bombshells-morgan-evans-divorce-chase-stokes-romance-and-more). But for this award show, the 29-year-old wasn't alone.

Country singer Kelsea Ballerini opened the CMT Music Awards with a tribute to victims of a school shooting while sharing in that community's grief, ...

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will be honoured with a tribute performance following the death in March of the last original member, Gary Rossington. Texas native and Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion introduced Twain, the pair dancing and hugging to Twain’s hit, “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.” Ballerini, a co-host of the annual awards show with singer Kane Brown, opened the Austin, Texas, show by listing the names of six victims three adults and three 9-year-olds who were killed Monday at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.

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 performs onstage with Kennedy Davenport and Jan Sport at the 2023 CMT Music Awards. Christopher Polk for Variety. Popular on Variety.

Senate Bill 12 would define drag shows as “sexually oriented performances” made illegal if they take place in the presence of a minor or on public property., punishable with a $10,000 fine. While Republican lawmakers have contended that the law was aimed at risque performances possibly taking place in front of minors, opponents have argued — and the federal judge agreed — that it could be interpreted in a way that would make virtually all drag performances subject to misdemeanor or felony charges. “We’re still motivating young people, we’re still inspiring them, we’re still lifting them up because at the end of the day, we have a calling and we have a job as drag queens. The choreography and design offered the biggest splashes of color in a night already filled with colorful costuming and production elements. But Ballerini really went there later in the three-hour telecast, when she chose four “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queens to perform with her as she sang “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too).” That song, off her 2022 album “Subject to Change,” is Ballerini’s anthem of female friendship — and, with the way the CMT Awards routine played out, she very much seemed to be counting drag performers as among those friends. [CMT Music Awards](https://variety.com/t/cmt-music-awards/), broadcast from Austin on CBS, there was a comedic bit in which [Kelsea Ballerini](https://variety.com/t/kelsea-ballerini/) and Kane Brown exchanged anniversary presents to celebrate their cohosting of the show for the third consecutive time.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The CMT Music Awards opened Sunday with a tribute to victims from a school shooting, as co-host and country star Kelsea Ballerini ...

performed a tribute to the late Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn at the top of the show. The Tennessee native sang “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” and danced with Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport, Manila Luzon and Olivia Lux, all stars of the show “RuPaul's Drag Race.” Texas native and Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion introduced Twain and the pair danced and hugged to Twain’s hit, [“Man, I Feel Like a Woman.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg&utm_source=lakelandtoday.ca&utm_campaign=lakelandtoday.ca%3A%20outbound&utm_medium=referral) Pop singer Stefani performed her No Doubt mid-1990s pop-punk hit “Just a Girl” alongside country singer Carly Pearce. Carrie Underwood, the most-awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards, performed “Hate My Heart" as fireworks lit up the Austin night. The law has been “I believe in an all-inclusive country music.” Earlier in the evening, country artists wore black ribbons on the red carpet to honor victims of the shooting. “This is all so new to me. Lainey Wilson won twice with female video of the year for “Heart Like a Truck” and collaborative video of the year for “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY. She noted how she shared their pain, explaining that in 2008 she witnessed a school shooting in her hometown high school cafeteria in Knoxville and prayed for “real action” that would protect children and families. I promise you that.

The CMT Music Awards opened Sunday with a tribute to victims from a school shooting, as co-host and country star Kelsea Ballerini shared her own experience ...

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will be honored with a tribute performance following the death in March of the last original member, Gary Rossington. Carrie Underwood has a chance to extend her record as the most awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards. This year's CMT Music Awards will merge country, rock and blues straight from the heart of Texas, featuring performances including collaborations with Alanis Morissette, The Black Crowes, Gwen Stefani and Gary Clark Jr.

Chase Stokes was one proud boyfriend during Sunday night's 2023 CMT Music Awards. Stokes and Ballerini, who co-hosted the ceremony alongside Kane Brown, ...

They tied the knot in 2017. Fans couldn’t get enough of the “Outer Banks” star’s love for Ballerini, with one commenting: “It’s the way he knows EVERY word & the way he pulls out his phone & the SMILE & how he’s genuinely SO proud of her thats really doing everything & more for me. READ MORE:

Kelsea Ballerini, 2023 CMT Awards co-host, made a statement by having 'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars join her for 'If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too).'

(Artists attending the CMT Awards also wore black ribbons on the red carpet to honor the victims.) [Melissa Joan Hart details involvement in harrowing scene near Nashville school shooting](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-03-29/melissa-joan-hart-details-involvement-in-harrowing-scene-near-nashville-school-shooting) Ballerini dedicated the evening’s broadcast to “the ever-growing list of families, friends, survivors, witnesses and responders whose lives continue to forever be changed by gun violence.” [RuPaul slams those laws banning drag shows: ‘Get these stunt queens out of office’](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-03-08/rupaul-drag-show-bans-response) LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD also highlighted Ballerini’s “bold allyship” amid the anti-trans legislation pushes in Tennessee, Texas and other Southern states. “New legislation that tries to silence drag performers in some Southern states is as unpopular as it is unnecessary. Other country music stars, concerts, and events should take note of CMT’s inclusion and follow suit.” “For country fans upset about this, wait till you find out that MANY of the songs you blast on country radio are written by LGBT writers. Country music is for everyone,” We slayed the CMTs!!!,” Sport Luzon, Davenport, Sport and Lux echoed the sentiment on their own social media accounts. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/janjanjan/status/1642725227338637316). [tweeted](https://twitter.com/KelseaBallerini/status/1642740781482930176) after the show.

"I wanted to personally stand up here and share this moment because on Aug. 21, 2008, I watched Ryan McDonald, my 15-year-old classmate at Central High ...

Bill Lee tweeted](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paigeskinner/tennessee-governor-praying-nashville-school-shooting?bfsource=relatedmanual) that he was praying for the victims. [Morris simply said](https://www.etonline.com/maren-morris-sheryl-crow-and-more-stars-react-to-nashville-school-shooting-201641), "oh my god," alongside a news story about the shooting on Instagram, while Crow tweeted, "No words… This comes as [Tennessee is banning drag performances in public](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lilkalish/tennessee-governor-signs-drag-ban-into-law) and the Texas Legislature is voting soon on a similar measure. "I try to stay off here for my mental health but for the love of God!" "The community of sorrow over this and the 130 mass shootings in the US this year alone stretches from coast to coast." "Tonight's broadcast is dedicated to the ever-growing list of families, friends, survivors, witnesses, and responders, whose lives continue to forever be changed by gun violence," she said.

The singer confirmed her romance with the actor in February, revealing they began dating in December.

Evans shared his side of the break-up in a song titled "Over for You" which was released in October 2022. [dropped a five-part docuseries](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/morgan-evans-releases-docuseries-shines-light-side-kelsea-97551343) about the making of "Over for You" in March. [Rolling Up the Welcome Mat](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/kelsea-ballerini-drops-short-film-6-new-songs-97187785)" in February in which she recounts her side of the story in the split. Ballerini was previously married to fellow country singer Morgan Evans for nearly five years. "I'm really, really happy … [Kelsea Ballerini](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/kelsea-ballerini-talks-music-90372303) and [Chase Stokes](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/outer-banks-star-chase-stokes-talks-season-hit-79111951) appeared together at the 2023 CMT Music Awards Sunday night.

Kelsea Ballerini made an emotional plea for change after Nashville's school shooting and showed support for LGBTQ performers during the CMT Awards.

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Bill Lee after a Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group filed a suit against the state, The Commercial Appeal reported. Later in the show, Ballerini's showed her support for drag performers. this year alone, stretches from coast to coast," she said directly to the camera after naming all six victims from Covenant. The school shooting killed three adults and three children. And when she took the stage to sing one of her hit songs, she was joined onstage by four drag performers – another topic that has recently sparked debate in Tennessee.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards aired live Sunday night from Austin, Texas, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown. Ballerini opened the show with an emotional ...

Elsewhere, Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde delivered a soulful cover of "I Want to Know What Love Is," Gary Clark Jr. Twain was honored with the CMT Equal Play Award, which recognizes an artist who is an advocate for elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in country music, and began her acceptance speech by harkening back to her hit song "Man! Jelly Roll, a first-time nominee and winner of all three awards for which he was nominated, also hit the stage to perform his song "Need a Favor." This is a genre of music with a rich history that raised and nurtured my own songwriting and performance and recording career from childhood. Three students -- all of whom were 9 years old -- and three staff were killed in that shooting. I promise you, you can," he

Kelsea Ballerini made her feelings about the Tennessee drag ban known during her performance at the 2023 CMT Music Awards Sunday. Ballerini, who also served ...

And that’s what it’s all about.” We’re here to uplift we’re here to stay free. “And I take the job on wholeheartedly because that’s what we’re here to do. And I think that’s what we did on the stage tonight. The group served as Ballerini’s backup dancers, while the singer sang and strummed along on a pink guitar. “Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are also artists.

"Tonight's broadcast is dedicated to the ever-growing list of families, friends, survivors, witnesses, and responders whose lives continue to forever be ...

The annual awards show aired live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas Sunday.