Recap: Highlights from the 2023 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas
The 2023 CMT Music Awards took place on April 2 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and it was a night to remember.[0] The event celebrated Texas culture while also honoring country music stars from Nashville and beyond. The show aired live on CBS and was also available to stream on Paramount+.[0]
The event was hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, who also performed her hit song “If You Go Down (I'm Going Down Too)” alongside drag queens Jan Sport, Olivia Lux, Manila Luzon, and Kennedy Davenport from the TV show “RuPaul's Drag Race.”[0] The performance was a statement of inclusivity, as Ballerini believes in an all-inclusive country music family.
One of the highlights of the night was when Shania Twain was honored with the CMT Equal Play Award for her promotion of underrepresented voices in country music.[0] During her acceptance speech, she called for more equity and diversity in the country music industry.[0] Twain was introduced by Grammy-winning rapper and Texas native Megan Thee Stallion, who called the icon “hot-girl Shania.”[0]
Another memorable moment was when Alanis Morissette made her CMT Music Awards debut with a performance of “You Oughta Know” with Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of CMT Next Women of Country franchise.[0] The seven-time Grammy winner joined forces with the other female artists to perform the ultimate female-empowerment anthem.
Carrie Underwood was also a standout performer of the night, cycling through not one, but two next-level outfits. She stunned on the red carpet in a Swarovski crystal-encrusted top with matching short shorts by Dolce & Gabbana. Later in the show, she performed her hit song “Hate My Heart” in a black leather corseted top with sparkling crystal embellishment, teamed with glittering hotpants and a matching jacket.
In terms of awards, Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Brown took home the Group/Duo Video of the Year award for their song “Thank God.”[0] Morgan Wallen won Male Video of the Year for “You Proof,” and Jelly Roll won Breakthrough Video of the Year for “Son of a Sinner.” Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson won Female Video of the Year for “Heart Like a Truck.
0. “TV Ratings for Sunday, April 2: ’60 Minutes,’ Marjorie Taylor Greene” TVLine, 3 Apr. 2023, https://tvline.com/2023/04/03/ratings-60-minutes-marjorie-taylor-greene/
