Lainey Wilson and Shania Twain steal the show at the 2023 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas

The 2023 CMT Music Awards took place on April 2nd, 2023, broadcast live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The fan-voted country music award show featured an array of performances and presentations, honoring some of the biggest names in country music today.

Lainey Wilson leads nominations with four

Lainey Wilson had an unforgettable night, walking away with four nominations for her outstanding contributions to country music. The up-and-coming star received nods for Female Video of the Year, Breakthrough Female Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, and Performance of the Year. She wowed audiences with her newest single “Neon Diamonds” during a standout performance on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.

Shania Twain showcased abs and received the CMT Equal Play Award

One of the most highly anticipated moments of the night was when Shania Twain made her grand entrance on the red carpet wearing a stunning gown with a cutout accent that showed off her toned abs. The superstar also made headlines when she received the CMT Equal Play Award, which honors artists who use their platform to advocate for underrepresented voices in country music.

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes walk red carpet together before hosting gig

Kelsea Ballerini returned as co-host for the second year running and brought her boyfriend Chase Stokes along to make their red carpet debut together. The pair looked radiant posing together in their stunning outfits before taking on hosting duties while entertaining audiences throughout the night.

Performances from country’s biggest stars and rising talents

The night was filled with electrifying performances from some of country music’s biggest names. Blake Shelton took to the stage for a rendition of his hit single “Minimum Wage,” while Keith Urban performed his latest hit, “Wild Hearts.” The evening also saw Carly Pearce and Darius Rucker collaborating on their track, “Dear Miss Loretta.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute astonishes audiences

Another unforgettable moment of the night was when a star-studded lineup of artists paid tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s final concert. With Slash, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell among others taking up the stage in a performance that left audiences in awe.

Kane and Katelyn Brown perform duet

Kane Brown joined his wife Katelyn Brown for an emotionally charged performance of their duet “Thank God,” setting the audience’s hearts ablaze.

Awards and Presenters

The event featured an array of awards celebrating the cream of the crop in country music, with categories such as Video of the Year, Female Video of the Year, Breakthrough Female Video of the Year and Breakthrough Male Video of the Year being awarded. Amongst those who presented at the awards include Jon Pardi, LeAnn Rimes and Megan Thee Stallion.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards provided some unforgettable moments for country music fans around the world. With unforgettable performances from some of country music’s biggest stars as well as rising talents, not to mention emotional tributes that brought audiences to their feet,the awards show did not disappoint.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons