CMT Awards

Alanis Morisette attends the CMT Music Awards on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP.

The CMT (Country Music Television) Music Awards are underway at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Chris Young - “Gettin’ You Home” (from “CMT Stages”) Kelsea Ballerini - “HEARTFIRST” Cody Johnson - “Human”

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 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.

After more than 50 years in Nashville, the CMT Music Awards will be hosted at the Moody Center in Austin on Sunday, April 2. Guests and performers for the ...

After more than 50 years in Nashville, the CMT Music Awards will be hosted at the Moody Center in Austin on Sunday, April 2. The Statesman asked CMT hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown about their thoughts on Austin, what performances they're looking forward to and more. CMT Hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown chat with the Austin Statesman

With superb musicianship and blazing soul, the Austin singer-songwriter and guitarist rocked her performance at the CMT Awards.

With warmth, humor and the power of song, she thawed our wounded hearts. "Not only is she an incredible songwriter and performer but Alanis is also a force for good in the industry and has done so much to support women in music, including her recent charity work at We Are Moving the Needle. The Austin native and second-generation musician joined Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade for a performance of Morissette's female empowerment anthem, “You Oughta Know.”

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).”

'We're shutting Sixth Street down tonight.' Watch Jelly Roll celebrate winning third CMT Award. Nate Chute. Austin American-Statesman.

After winning this third award, Jelly Roll ended his acceptance speech with a call to celebrate. It had previously been held for decades in Nashville, the hometown of Jelly Roll (AKA Jason DeFord). [first-ever CMT Music Awards](https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/04/02/cmt-awards-2023-austin-moody-center-fan-photos-videos/70074302007/) Sunday night.

Check out the outfits the country music stars wore for the 2023 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet: See Awards Fashion, Outfits. See the best fashion and outfits ...

Did they have Zach Bryan? Because these are the three biggest artists in country music, and their lack of participation speaks volumes. The CMTs couldn't even ...

One of the few impressive things of the night was Parker McCollum’s bulge, even though this was supposed to be a family show. And the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute kicked ass. How about paying tribute to a country women to celebrate the women of country instead of feeling like country music is always second-class to pop, so it must cast itself as subservient? This ain’t the CMAs. This is for the losers and the have-nots,” Mr. Of course there was plenty of signaling for “equality” from CMT throughout the show, but very little substance. And by the way CMT’s, Austin actually had country legend you could have paid tribute to also. You would have hoped that other non-genre performers like Gary Clark Jr., Slash, Billy Gibbons, and The Black Crowes would’ve had more dignity and told CMT to get lost. But they ceased when the CMT crowd figured out it wasn’t the orange man on stage, but the orange woman. This weekend, Police and Fire personnel had large swaths of downtown Austin cordoned off due to a mass casualty/hazardous exposure event, also known as the CMT Awards. When Jelly Roll is the most country artist on your show, you know you’re in trouble. Along with the CMTs transpiring in Austin’s new Moody Center, there was also a stage at the the Texas State Capital.

"Son of a Sinner" singer Jelly Roll got emotional during the show in Austin, Texas, as he thanked the country radio industry for its acceptance and shouted ...

performed a tribute to the late Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn at the top of the show. Rocker Alanis Morissette brought more of the '90s rock to the stage with a group performance of "You Oughta Know" featuring Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade. 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." I told them that I wanted to be a country singer and I am standing here at the CMT Awards with the male video of the year, baby," he shouted. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg) Earlier in the evening, country artists wore black ribbons on the red carpet to honor victims of the shooting.

Follow along as winners get announced Sunday night during the 2023 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas.

- HARDY feat. - Cody Johnson - “Human” Country music faithful cast ballots online ahead of the show to determine winners.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Country music's A-listers and superstars were in Austin as the 2023 CMT Music Awards kicked off from Moody Center Sunday night.

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.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton hit the CMT Awards 2023 red carpet in matching suited-up looks, but Stefani's outfit caught some heat on social media.

[Shop our exclusive merch](https://shop.nypost.com/) [Subscribe to our weekly “Style Edit” newsletter](https://email.pagesix.com/) [Watch our celebrity-inspired Style Trial series](https://pagesix.com/tag/style-trial/) [wed on July 4, 2021](https://pagesix.com/2021/07/04/blake-shelton-and-gwen-stefani-married-in-intimate-ceremony/). Added a third, “Not the furry boots again from 2010.” [on popular account Check the Tag’s post](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjVmK8AM41/) showcasing Stefani’s outfit. [wrote](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqj0sekAnoD/), “I sooooo love you and your fashion. [on Stefani’s Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjgMQxJuYj/), others weren’t sold.

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.

Ballerini, who cohosted the event with fellow country singer Kane Brown, walked the red carpet hand in hand with Stokes. The pair were also snapped sharing an ...

At Sunday night's awards, Ballerini performed her song, "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" flanked by four drag queens — Kennedy Davenport, Manila Luzon, Jan Sport, and Oliva Lux, all "RuPaul's Drag Race" alums. This February she released a six-song EP, "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat," and the songs include lyrics about her divorce and her rebuilding in the aftermath. Stokes finally confirmed they're an official couple once and for all during a March 3 appearance on the ["Today"](https://www.today.com/popculture/chase-stokes-confirms-officially-dating-kelsea-ballerini-rcna73235) show. "I have my sh*t together and for me to share that with anyone is a gift. Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes made their debut as a couple at the CMT Awards on April 2 at the Moody Centre in Austin, TX. They announced their separation in summer 2022, and their divorce was finalized that November.