The CMT Music Awards 2022 took place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on April 2. The event, which is voted on by fans and being hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown, featured performances by some of the biggest names in country music, including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Tyler Hubbard.
A Celebration of Women in Country Music
The 10th anniversary of CMT’s “Next Women of Country” was celebrated at the awards show with performances from Alanis Morissette, Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. This initiative supports women in country music by providing a platform to showcase their talent.
Shania Twain received the 2023 CMT Equal Play Award for advocating for change in the industry and elevating underrepresented voices in country music. Linda Martell was also honored for her contribution to the genre as a trailblazer who paved the way for many female artists.
Fashion Takes Center Stage
Country music stars brought their fashion A-game to the CMT Music Awards red carpet. Kelsea Ballerini and her boyfriend Chase Stokes made their red carpet debut together. Shania Twain wore a sexy cutout gown while Carrie Underwood sparkled in shorts and a glittering coat.
Lainey Wilson rocked a colorful jumpsuit with a metallic studded belt and Megan Thee Stallion stunned in a custom navy blue Defaïence gown with cutouts along her hips. Gwen Stefani also stood out with glittering gold hot pants while Blake Shelton opted for jeans and a sports jacket.
Tribute Performances
One of the highlights of the evening was the tribute performances to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute featured Slash, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, and Warren Haynes. LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd also served as honorary “Honkettes” for the performance.
Alanis Morissette performed “You Outta Know” with Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. Meanwhile, Darius Rucker performed with The Black Crowes and Kane Brown performed with his wife Katelyn for the first time on television.
Winners of the Night
Lainey Wilson led the nominations with four nods while Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, and Jelly Roll received three each. The top three finalists for the “Video of the Year” category were Carrie Underwood for “Hate My Heart,” HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson for “wait in the truck,” and Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown for “Thank God.”
Other categories included Female/Male/GroupDuo Video of the Year, Breakthrough Female/Male Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, CMT Performance of the Year, and CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year. The winners were decided by fan votes and were indicated in bold on the full list of nominees provided at the event.
Final Thoughts
The CMT Music Awards 2022 was a night filled with entertainment and recognition of some of country music’s biggest stars. With great performances and memorable fashion moments from both new and established artists alike, this year’s awards show was another triumph for country music fans everywhere.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
