CMTMA 2023 - Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini
Photo by John Shearer - Getty for CMT

2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS Show: Highlights and Winners

The fans have spoken and winners were revealed when the biggest names in music and entertainment gathered in Austin for the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the live show in Austin featured epic performances, first-ever collaborations, and world premieres as part of Country music’s entirely fan-voted award show.

Kane Brown/Katelyn Brown take home “Video of the Year”

Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown take home Video of the Year photo
Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown take home Video of the Year photo

Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Brown make history as the first married couple to take home the night’s biggest award, marking Katelyn’s very first CMT Award win and Kane’s first “Video of the Year” trophy. This victory follows their TV world premiere of the #1 duet, “Thank God,” from the Congress Avenue Stage. Watch the full performance below.

Jelly Roll is the night’s top awardee with 3x wins; performs “Need A Favor”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Singer-songwriter-rapper Jelly Roll was the night’s top CMTMA winner, taking home three trophies for Male Video of the Year, Breakthrough Male Video of the Year, and Digital-First Performance. He also took the sold-out crowd to church joined by the Huston-Tillotson University choir for the debut rendition of his hit single, “Need A Favor.” Watch the full performance below.

Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute with Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash & Warren Haynes with LeAnn Rimes + Wynonna as honorary “Honkettes” – “Simple Man” + “Sweet Home Alabama”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Slash, Billy Gibbons, LeAnn Rimes, and Wynonna Judd perform onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)

The epic night concludes with a jaw-dropping all-star tribute combining Country music’s biggest stars with rock and roll’s boldest names for a rousing tribute to the kings of Southern Rock and the late great, Gary Rossington. Watch the full performance below.

2x winner Lainey Wilson performs “Heart Like A Truck”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Yellowstone star and the year’s most-nominated artist first fired up the night belting her triumphant hit song, “Heart Like A Truck,” later taking home the award for “Female Video of the Year” for the same song in addition to “Collaborative Video of the Year” with HARDY. Watch the full performance below.

Megan Thee Stallion presents Equal Play Award honoree Shania Twain

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Megan Thee Stallion speaks onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Texas native Megan Thee Stallion honored 2023 CMT Equal Play Award trailblazer Shania Twain with an inspiring tribute highlighting the multi-award-winning artist’s stellar career, advocacy, and impact.

Shania Twain accepts the 2023 Equal Play Award

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Shania Twain speaks onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT)

Record-breaking crossover icon Shania Twain accepted the 2023 Equal Play Award honoring the star for her boundary-shattering career and influence in elevating underrepresented voices. Shania delivered a heartfelt speech sharing how much Equal Play means to her and that she values the importance of including everyone regardless of gender or age in Country music. Watch the full moment below.

Shania Twain Accepts the Equal Play Award | 2023 CMT Music Awards

Kelsea Ballerini – “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)”

Kelsea Ballerini - IF YOU GO DOWN (I'M GOIN' DOWN TOO)
Kelsea Ballerini – IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)

The recent SNL host delivers a powerful message with a confetti-filled performance featuring four iconic queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race: Manila Luzon, Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport, and Olivia Lux. Watch the full performance below.

Alanis Morissette + Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, Ingrid Andress + Morgan Wade – “You Outta Know”

Alanis Morissette + Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, Ingrid Andress + Morgan Wade - You Outta Know

“You Outta Know” it’s something extraordinary when 7x Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette joins forces with four of CMT’s Next Women of Country to deliver a powerful rendition of Morisette’s undeniable female anthem in celebration of 10 years of CMT’s NWOC initiative. Watch the full performance below.

Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: In this image released on April 02, Carrie Underwood performs onstage for the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on March 29, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT)

The most awarded artist in CMT history set off fireworks during an electrifying performance of fan-favorite single “Hate My Heart” in front of the iconic Texas Capitol building. Watch the full performance below.

Gwen Stefani + Carly Pearce – “Just A Girl”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: (L-R) Carly Pearce and Gwen Stefani perform onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce took the Moody Center stage to celebrate being more than “Just a Girl” with an iconic world premiere and cross-genre collaboration of the No Doubt hit. Watch the full performance below.

Cody Johnson – “Human”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Cody Johnson performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)

The Texas powerhouse, Cody Johnson, strikes a powerful chord with a moving performance of his biographical hit single “Human” for a home state crowd. Watch the full performance below.

Blake Shelton – “No Body”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Blake Shelton performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)

Blake Shelton kicked off the 2023 “CMT Music Awards” first-ever broadcast LIVE from Austin by time-traveling back to the ’90s with a honky tonk-filled performance of “No Body.” Watch the full performance below.

Carly Pearce – “What He Didn’t Do”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Carly Pearce performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)

Carly Pearce treated the CMTMAs right with a soulful rendition of her new #1 hit, “What He Didn’t Do,” in a performance reminiscent of the top music video that got straight to the heart of what the power-ballad means. Watch the full performance below.

Gary Clark Jr. – “The House Is Rockin'”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Gary Clark Jr. performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Austin native Gary Clark Jr. brings down the house with a groovy jam session tribute to the Texas blues-rock legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. Watch the full performance below.

Matthew McConaughey makes a surprise video appearance

Matthew McConaughey makes surprise video appearance
Matthew McConaughey makes a surprise video appearance

Oscar-winner and proud Texan Matthew McConaughey made a surprise video appearance to celebrate the CMTMAs taking his home state by storm.

Keith Urban – “Brown Eyes Baby”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: In this image released on April 02, Keith Urban performs onstage for the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on March 29, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT)

From the streets of downtown Austin, the second-most nominated artist in CMT history, thrills Texas fans with a rousing rendition of “Brown Eyes Baby.” Watch Keith Urban’s full performance below.

Wynonna Judd + Ashley McBryde – “I Wanna Know What Love Is”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: (L-R) Ashley McBryde and Wynonna Judd perform onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)

Co-host Kelsea Ballerini broke the news of The Judds: Love Is AliveThe Final Concert special event premiering April 29 on CMT before Wynonna and Ashley McBryde performed their first-time duet of the hit Foreigner song. Watch the moving performance below.

The Black Crowes + Darius Rucker – “She Talks to Angels”

2023 CMT Music Awards Show
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 02: (L-R) Darius Rucker and The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson perform onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT)

Country hitmaker Darius Rucker crosses over with rock-favorite The Black Crowes for a stirring duet of the band’s iconic 90’s hit “She Talks to Angels,” following an outdoor taping of an episode of CMT CROSSROADS earlier in the week. Watch the full performance below.

Shania Twain + The BoykinZ – “Giddy Up”

Shania Twain + The BoykinZ - Giddy Up
Shania Twain + The BoykinZ – Giddy Up

Shania Twain and new artists The BoykinZ join together in perfect harmony for a surprise acapella version of her infectious new single “Giddy Up.”

2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like A Truck”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Zac Brown Band – “Out In The Middle”

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”

BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)

CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Jelly Roll – “Son of A Sinner” (from CMT All Access)

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