Kelsea Ballerini

Sunday's CMT Music Awards didn't open with a song, but an emotional message from country star and co-host Kelsea Ballerini.

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." [Three adults and three children](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2023/03/27/who-are-the-nashville-school-shooting-victims-covenant-presbyterian/70053940007/) were confirmed dead following the shooting, which took place at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. [school shooting in Nashville](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2023/03/28/a-timeline-of-covenant-school-shooting-in-nashville-what-we-know/70054525007/).

Kelsea Ballerini honored the Nashville shooting victims on Sunday at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.

[Kane Brown](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/kane-brown-different-man-1234587633/) as the show’s co-host. - By The singer-songwriter also shared how she witnessed a classmate die in a school shooting when she was younger. “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.” The artist opened the ceremony by sharing their names during the broadcast, paying tribute to students Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, and staff members Cynthia Peak, Katherine Koonce, and Mike Hill. [Kelsea Ballerini](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/kelsea-ballerini/) honored the [Nashville shooting victims](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/nashville-christian-school-shooting-children-suspect-dead-1234704224/) on Sunday at the [2023 CMT Music Awards](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/cmt-music-awards-2023-winners-list-1234708105/).

Kelsea Ballerini sparked romance rumors with Chase Stokes after announcing her split from Morgan Evans — all the details.

The duo, who parted ways in November 2021 after more than one year of dating, have [praised their approach to working together post-split.](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/madelyn-cline-chase-stokes-talk-filming-outer-banks-post-split/) “And that no matter what happens in our personal lives, and the ways that life sometimes takes you in different directions, that we’re always going to honor the work. In addition to performing during the awards show, Ballerini [has been nominated for Female Video of the Year](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/cmt-music-awards-2023-see-the-full-list-of-nominees/) for her “HEARTFIRST” visual. “They had been having issues, relating to each other and trouble being kind to each other, but the disagreement over kids was the nail in the coffin.” The Tennessee native offered a glimpse at her romance [when she opened up about their first interaction.](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/kelsea-ballerini-on-call-her-daddy-biggest-revelations/) “Kelsea was very young and naive when she met Morgan, they clicked right away, but their relationship was always an emotional roller-coaster,” the insider revealed in March, noting that their “intense romance” went through periods of “friction, tension and toxicity.” “Mads and I have been working together now for 30 episodes, and we made a promise to each other before we even started dating that the work was always going to come first,” the Maryland native told Entertainment Weekly in February. I mean that with all the respect in the world, but his journey is not mine.” “This is now public record, so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce.” It’s hard to find the words here … I want to be with someone that feels the same way about their life. but I feel extremely grateful for the years of marriage to Morgan and hopeful for the next seasons.

Ballerini and Stokes made their relationship red carpet official at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.

[officially confirmed their status in late February](https://tasteofcountry.com/kelsea-ballerini-chase-stokes-dating-dms/), after weeks of swirling rumors, hints and flirty social media posts. The couple were all smiles as they made their grand entrance to Moody Center in Austin, Texas, where the awards show is set to take place. She walked the carpet and posed for photos with her boyfriend, actor Chase Stokes.

Ballerini delivered a poignant speech at the 2023 CMT Music Awards on Sunday about gun violence following the recent school shooting in Nashville.

Everyone's very understanding of that and very protective of that trauma, and that memory for me." She also noted that she continues to suffer PTSD from the shooting. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Ballerini, now 29, opened up about the shooting she witnessed as a sophomore at Central High School in her native Knoxville, Tennessee. [Kane Brown](https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/https://people.com/tag/kane-brown/), and she's also set to deliver a performance during the ceremony. this year alone stretches from coast to coast," continued Ballerini, before recalling her own experience with gun violence. "On March 27, 2023, three 9-year-olds, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs along with Dr.

Kelsea Ballerini sings "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, backed by four drag queens.

Most recently, after Tennessee passed its widely criticized public-drag ban, a federal judge [blocked the law from taking effect](https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/tennessee-anti-drag-law-temporary-block-federal-judge-1235296707/) for 14 days on Friday (March 31), claiming that the state failed to make a compelling argument as to why the new law was warranted. “Thirty to life would go quicker with you/ So if you go down, I’m goin’ down too.” All dressed in their best 1950s southern drag, Ballerini and the queens strutted around the stage — which was decorated like a white picket-fenced front yard — singing about their ride-or-die friendship with one another.

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.

CMT Music Awards co-host Kelsea Ballerini started the awards show with a tribute to victims from a Nashville school shooting and then joined drag artists on ...

performed a tribute to the late Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn at the top of the show. [Shania Twain](/article/shania-twain-music-surgery-entertainment-9577110d73cc7dead0629dba6eb2790a) was given the Equal Play Award, recognizing her for being a “visible and vocal advocate” for diverse voices in country music. Carrie Underwood, the most-awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards, performed “Hate My Heart” as fireworks lit up the Austin night. Pop singer Stefani performed her No Doubt mid-1990s pop-punk hit “Just a Girl” alongside country singer Carly Pearce. “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.

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).”

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 ...

Carrie Underwood has a chance to extend her record as the most awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards. [CMT Music Awards](https://www.cmt.com/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. and tributes to [Lynyrd Skynyrd](https://apnews.com/article/lynyrd-skynyrd-southern-rock-gary-rossington-fd0ebbf204c89fd45271156fa58417b8) and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Kelsea Ballerini and boyfriend Chase Stokes made their red carpet debut at the CMT Music Awards 2023 Sunday night. She also co-hosted the show.

“All I ask is that if you’re on my pages, please don’t be mean. [not sharing the “reality” of their split](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/21/morgan-evans-slams-kelsea-ballerini-for-not-sharing-the-reality-of-their-split/). “I’m really, really happy.

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.

Kelsea Ballerini thought the CMT Music Awards was the perfect time to do a drag show. She also lectured about guns.

They don’t want to be lectured about guns, drag shows or anything else. It’s all about how lecturing middle America on guns and putting a drag show on broadcast TV makes her a “queen.” She opened the CMT Music Awards by lecturing the country about guns. To be crystal clear, it’s not illegal to have a drag show in Tennessee once the law goes into effect, no matter what anyone claims. People want to be entertained. The bill was recently blocked by a judge and remains in limbo.

The group served as Ballerini's backup dancers, while the singer sang and strummed along on a pink guitar. After throwing her long, green coat to the side, ...

[2023 CMT Music Awards](https://www.etonline.com/event/cmt-music-awards) airs live on CBS and is streaming on Paramount+. Get used to it, baby!" Sport added, "If there's one thing: Do not mess with the LGBTQ+ community, okay? And that's what it's all about." "And I take the job on wholeheartedly because that's what we're here to do. We're here to lead people to a brighter light in this business!" Other country music stars, concerts, and events should take note of CMT’s inclusion and follow suit." Kelsea’s performance at the CMT Music Awards reinforced that drag is not a threat, it’s an art," said GLAAD's Vice President of Communications & Talent, Anthony Allen Ramos. We're here to uplift we're here to stay free. "Even the song, if you're going down, I'm going down too -- it is about the celebration of being a community. "Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are also artists. The group served as Ballerini's backup dancers, while the singer sang and strummed along on a pink guitar.

Plus, all the winners from the star-studded event.

BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner” The night proved to be huge for Jelly Roll who was the most successful artist with three trophies. CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner” (from CMT All Access) Veteran rock star Peter Frampton introduced a special tribute to legendary band Lynyrd Skynyrd which featured Chuck Leavell, Billy Gibbons, [Cody Johnson](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cody-johnson/), Paul Rodgers, Slash, Warren Haynes [Wynonna Judd](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/wynonna-judd/) and [LeAnn Rimes](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/leann-rimes/) performing “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Simple Man.” MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner” “Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are also artists. BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange” Nashville’s biggest stars had decamped to Austin, Texas, for the annual awards show, where country fans vote for the winners. FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like A Truck” GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR: Zac BrownBand – “Out In The Middle” VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God” The singer’s bold choice came amid moves in her home state of Tennessee to ban drag shows.

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 award show on Sunday, also shared the stage with queens from "RuPaul's Drag Race" during her performance.

"I think I'm kind of still on that journey figuring that out." She was joined onstage by a quartet of drag queens who starred in "RuPaul's Drag Race." "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." "On March 27, 2023, three 9-year-olds, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, along with Dr. "I'm very open about the deficit of women in country music and in the book, I talked about eating disorders and body dysmorphia, and then gun violence." The assailant had [legally purchased seven firearms](https://www.insider.com/nashville-shooting-parents-thought-shooter-shouldnt-own-guns-police-2023-3) before killing six people.

Kelsea Ballerini made waves Sunday as co-host of the Country Music Television awards, with an emotional tribute to Nashville shooting victims and a ...

“Plaintiff’s other option is to proceed as planned, knowing that the Friends of George’s drag performers could face criminal — even felony — charges.” “If you go down, I’m going down too,” tweeted Ballerini with a rainbow flag emoji. “Thus, the prohibited speech is defined by the identity of the drag performer — and the message he conveys,” the group’s lawyers said. The group also said that should a cheerleader for the Tennessee Titans and a Drag Queen dance in front of a minor, only the drag queen would face charges. [performed her most recent single](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwJDLeCsVb0&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=CMT), “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too),” accompanied by alumni from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” — an act of protest against a proposed Tennessee law that would criminalize drag revues. “The community of sorrow over this and the 130 mass shootings in the US this year alone stretches from coast to coast,” the 29-year-old singer said.

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.

Country music star Kelsea Ballerini used the opening segment of country music's CMT Awards show to pay tribute to the victims of last week's school shooting ...

[In The Know](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/) [In The Know](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/) [In The Know](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/) [In The Know](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/) [See All](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/) “The community of sorrow over this, and the 130 mass shootings in the US this year alone, stretches from coast to coast.” [See all Hill.TV](https://thehill.com/hilltv) [See all Video](https://thehill.com/video) [Court Battles](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/) [Court Battles](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/) [State Watch](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/) [Defense](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/) [See All](https://thehill.com) [Hakeem Jeffries](https://thehill.com/social-tags/hakeem-jeffries/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://thehill.com/tag/kelsea-ballerini/) [Kevin McCarthy](https://thehill.com/social-tags/kevin-mccarthy/) [nashville](https://thehill.com/city/nashville/) [Nashville School Shooting](https://thehill.com/tag/nashville-school-shooting/) [nashville shooting](https://thehill.com/social-tags/nashville-shooting/) [Tennessee](https://thehill.com/province-state/tennessee/) [pressed](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3928811-jeffries-urges-mccarthy-to-hold-vote-on-common-sense-gun-reform-after-nashville-shooting/) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to hold on a vote on “common sense gun safety legislation.” [In The Know](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/)