Awards
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Dante Bowe and Jonathan McReynolds tied as BMI’s Gospel Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, which were held at Flourish in Atlanta on Thursday, March 30. Mike O’Neill, BMI’s president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, vice president, creative, Atlanta, hosted the event.
Bowe and McReynolds each wrote two of the most performed gospel songs of the previous year. Bowe was honored for “Joyful” and “Promises” and McReynolds for “Brighter” and “Grace.”
BMI Gospel Song of the Year went to “Believe for It,” written by CeCe Winans and Mitch Wong (APRA). The song spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and garnered multiple accolades including two GMA Dove Awards and a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.
BMI’s Gospel Publisher of the Year went to Be Essential Songs for publishing award-winning songs “Brighter,” “Jireh,” “Promises” and “Something Has to Break.”
Gospel music superstars Tamela & David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones received Trailblazer of Gospel Music honors.
The musical tributes to The Manns kicked off with Zacardi Cortez and Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper performing “Now Behold the Lamb,” followed by Lisa Knowles-Smith performing “Take Me to the King.” After accepting the honor, Tamela Mann surprised the audience with a performance of her hit “Change Me,” which spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Gospel Songs.
The tribute performances honoring Jones’ legacy kicked off with The Company singing “What a Friend,” followed by a rendition of “Bring it to Jesus” featuring Beverly Crawford.
During the ceremony, the late, legendary Otis Redding was honored with four BMI Million-Air Awards, a distinction that recognizes songwriters whose works have surpassed one million broadcast performances on radio. The songs were “Sweet Soul Music” (4 million performances), “Hard to Handle” (7 million performances), “Respect” (7 million performances) and BMI’s Song of the Year in 1968, the classic “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” (12 million performances). Family members, including Redding’s widow Zelma and their daughter Karla Redding-Andrews, accepted the honors on behalf of her father and the Otis Redding Foundation.
The luncheon began with McReynolds, Chandler Moore and Kirk Franklin performing a medley of three of BMI’s award-winning songs, “Grace,” “Jireh” and “Kingdom.”
Additional performances included a tribute to the late singer-producer-choir director Kevin Lemons, who was known for his work with Donald Lawrence and the Company, and his own group, Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling. Members of Higher Calling hit the stage for a performance of “Perfect Peace” accompanied by Donald Lawrence and The Company.
Other award-winning songs performed throughout the evening included “Just Like God” by Evvie McKinney, “Great” by Kelontae Gavin and “Wonderful is Your Name” by Melvin Crispell.
Lizzo was nominated for a Webby Award on Tuesday (April 4) for her hit show Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. The star won her first Primetime Emmy in September for her work on the Amazon Studios show. Her Webby nod is in the category of best web personality/host, performances and craft (video).
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Nominations for the 27th Annual Webby Awards, which recognize quality work on the internet, were announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS).
Post Malone, Romeo Santos, Sublime, Disturbed, Future featuring Drake, Muse and Christina Aguilera are among the nominees in the music categories. Other music stars nominated in various categories include Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Doja Cat, BTS, BLACKPINK, Megan Thee Stallion and RuPaul.
All nominees are eligible to win two awards: The Webby Award, selected by the Academy, and The Webby People’s Voice Award, voted on by the online community. Voting for The Webby People’s Voice Awards is open now on the Webby Award’s website through Thursday, April 20, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
“The Webbys is in a unique position – every year we have the opportunity to see pivotal industry trends play out through our nominees,” Ciel VanderVeen, managing director of The Webby Awards, said in a statement. “This year was no exception; not only were we blown away by the creativity and quality of the work, but we were inspired by the teams that created new innovations with AI technologies, built new responsible products, and so much more.”
Reflecting the industry’s focus on Artificial Intelligence, this year’s Webby Awards nominees include work from the world’s leading AI companies including OpenAI, The New Bing, DeepMind: The Podcast, RoboKiller and Adobe.
The Webby Awards introduced a new suite of dedicated honors this year recognizing work in responsible technology as part of a new initiative to inspire the community of creators and innovators to build more responsible and inclusive digital ecosystems. These inaugural categories recognize work from Mozilla, Consumer Reports, Google, Human Rights Watch and more.
Organizations receiving the highest number of nominations this year were Apple (22), MTV (15), National Geographic (14), Netflix (14), Audible (13), CNN (12), HBO (12), The Washington Post (12), Google (11), Meta (11), Amazon (10), Amazon Music (9), WaitWhat (9), ESPN (8), Paramount (8), Spotify (8) and Wondery (8).
Winners for the 27th Annual Webby Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 25, and celebrated at an in-person award show on Monday, May 15, at Cipriani Wall Street. Fans will be able to watch special moments and the signature five-word speeches from all the winners on May 15 by following @TheWebbyAwards across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
The Webbys report that there were nearly 14,000 entries this year from more than 70 countries and a record number of social entries.
Here are highlights from the nominations, with a focus on music personalities. For a complete list of nominees and to vote for the People’s Voice Awards, visit WebbyAwards.com.
Best Web Personality/Host, Performances & Craft (Video)
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls – Amazon Studios
Recess Therapy – Doing Things Media
Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans – Jesse Collins Entertainment
Trevor Noah – Between the Scenes – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks
Jimmy Fallon – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Best Individual Performance, Performances & Craft (Video)
Uprooted – Atmosphere Dance
Famous Wedding Show (Full) 2022 – Quick Style – Mantis Management
Gretta Ray – One Day Like This (Amazon Original) (Live Version) – Mude
Moonlight Sonata by Santa Baby Composer Philip Springer – Tamir Music
AirPods – Silhouettes x Harry Styles – TBWAMedia Arts Lab
Music, General Video (Video)
Post Malone – Twelve Carat Toothache Listening Experience | Amazon Music – Amazon Music
Gap Years – Mercury Studios
Romeo Santos: King of Bachata – Sony Music US Latin
Spotify RADAR Presents: Ayra Starr – Spotify
Sublime – Behind the Cover: 40oz To Freedom – Universal Music Enterprises
Music, Music Video (Video)
Disturbed – “Bad Man” – Doomsday Entertainment
Future featuring Drake – “Wait For U” – Fela
Muse – “Compliance” – Left
Hot Chip – “Eleanor” – Partizan Entertainment LLC
Christina Aguilera – “Beautiful” (2022 Version) – Sony Music Entertainment
Variety, Video Series & Channels (Video)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks
Rolling Stone on Twitch – Rolling Stone
Street You Grew Up On – Simpson Street
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Youtube – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Letterman YouTube Channel – Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Best Community Engagement, Features (Social)
#Hanguponit – MRM New York
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Sing It Right with Spotify Lyrics – TBWA Singapore Pte Ltd
Lil Mbappé – Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam
My BTS Story – YouTube
Celebrity/Fan, General Social (Social)
My Pokémon Journey (the Voice of Ash Ketchum Reflects on 17 years) – Cat Robot Inc
Lupita Nyong’o – ID
Jennifer Garner (& Pretend Cooking Show series) – Jennifer Garner
The Muppets of Sesame Street on Twitter – Sesame Workshop
Stephen Colbert is @StephenAtHome – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Best Partnership or Collaboration, Features (Social)
Lego Masters: Tap to Build Content Series – FOX Entertainment
JW Marriott — Lily Kwong x JW Garden – Marriott International
I.T. Squad – MediaCom
Metallica x Stranger Things – Netflix
#PinkVenomChallenge – YouTube Shorts x BLACKPINK – YouTube
Interview/Talk Show, Social Content Series (Social)
Amazon Music Live Social Campaign – Amazon Music
Anthony Padilla’s “I Spent A Day With…” – Dave Kim PR
Songwriter Saturday – Hoff Studios
LinkedIn News’ This is Working with Editor-in-Chief Dan Roth – LinkedIn
Roller Coaster Interview – Netflix
Fashion & Beauty, General Social (Social)
InStyle Social Programming, 2022 – Dotdash Meredith
Gucci Vault enters Discord – First Luxury Brand to adopt a new form of community building – Gucci
Levi’s TikTok Channel – IMGN Media
Jacob&Co Social Presence – Brand – Jacob&Co
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Rare Beauty
TV, Film & Entertainment, Social Campaign (Social)
Generational Anxiety – ALL ARTS
House of the Dragon – HBO
The Wilds Season 2 – Laundry Service
Adult Swimming – Movement Strategy
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 Queen Ruveal – MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks
Best Partnership or Collaboration, Advertising Campaign (Advertising, Media & PR)
FIFA 23 x TED LASSO – Apple
Doja Cat x Taco Bell: A “Contractual” Partnership – Deutsch LA
High Valyrian Lessons – Duolingo
The Coors Light – Mischief @ No Fixed Address
Mind Ordering – WorkInProgress
Best Performance, Metaverse & Immersive Features (Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual)
AmazeVR Megan Thee Stallion VR Concert – AmazeVR
Eli Roth’s HAUNTED HOUSE: Trick-VR-Treat – Crypt TV
The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience – Hyperreal
Post Malone’s Twelve Carat Toothache: A VR Experience – Media.Monks B.V.
Gorillaz Presents – Nexus Studios
Pharrell Williams will be honored at the 2023 Grammys on the Hill Awards, which are set for April 26 at the Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. The annual event brings together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators’ rights. This year’s edition will also honor U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Special guests and attendees will be announced in the coming weeks. The event is sponsored by City National Bank and benefits the Grammy Museum.
“Grammys on the Hill is a celebration like no other, spotlighting music’s unifying power as we bring together our nation’s leaders with some of the most renowned artists in the world,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “It’s a privilege to honor Pharrell alongside Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Cassidy, all of whom have fought tirelessly for pro-music policy that protects the creatives that make up our community.”
“I’m very grateful to be honored at this year’s Grammys on the Hill among some incredible other honorees who have done tremendous advocacy work for others,” Williams said in a statement. “It’s important that we show up for each other and support one another to ensure that we can keep creating.”
Williams has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting creators’ rights and to philanthropy, from his role in founding organizations such as Black Ambition and YELLOW to his passion for social justice working with former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to make Juneteenth a paid state holiday.
Williams has received 13 Grammy Awards, including three wins for producer of the year, non-classical. He has received two Academy Award nominations – for his original song “Happy” (from Despicable Me 2) and as a producer for best picture (Hidden Figures). In 2019, he received an Emmy nomination for co-writing “Letter to My Godfather” for Netflix’s The Black Godfather about legendary music executive Clarence Avant. In 2020, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work alongside Chad Hugo in The Neptunes.
Together, Schumer and Cassidy have championed key policies in support of music makers, including co-sponsoring the Save Our Stages Act, which was included in the bipartisan COVID relief package passed in December 2020. In 2018, Schumer and Cassidy were both co-sponsors of the historic Music Modernization Act.
The awards dinner and presentation will feature live performances and special guests. The following day, April 27, the Recording Academy will host the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brings together current and past Grammy nominees, along with other industry leaders, to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues facing today’s music creators.
Over the past 21 years, Grammys on the Hill has honored artists and congressional leaders alike, including Yolanda Adams, Garth Brooks, Missy Elliott, Quincy Jones and John Mayer, as well as then-Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), former Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The annual advocacy event has also led to several major legislative wins for the music industry, most notably the Music Modernization Act.
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Kane Brown and Jelly Roll made history at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, which were presented on Sunday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The show aired on CBS for the second year in a row.
Brown became the first person in 20 years to both host or co-host the show and win the top award, video of the year. He co-hosted with Kelsea Ballerini for the third year in a row. He won video of the year for “Thank God,” his hit duet with his wife Katelyn Brown. The last person to accomplish this double feat was Toby Keith, who co-hosted the 2003 CMT Music Awards with actress Pamela Anderson and took the video of the year award for his post-9/11 song “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American).”
This is the third year in a row that a collaborative video has won video of the year. “If I Didn’t Love You” by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood won last year. “Hallelujah” by Underwood featuring John Legend won two years ago.
Jelly Roll won both male video of the year and breakthrough male video of the year for “Son of a Sinner.” This marks the fourth time in the show’s history that someone has won the award for the year’s top male, female, group or duo video and a breakthrough award in the same year. In 2005, Gretchen Wilson took female video of the year for “When I Think About Cheatin’” and breakthrough video of the year for “Redneck Woman.” The following year, Underwood took both awards for “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” In 2013, Florida Georgia Line took breakthrough video and duo video of the year for “Cruise.”
Underwood didn’t add to her record-setting collection of 25 CMT Music Awards. She was nominated for video of the year for “Hate My Heart,” but lost to the Browns’ smash. She was nominated for female video of the year for “Ghost Story,” but lost to Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like a Truck.” This marks the first time in 12 years that Underwood hasn’t won in at least one of those marquee categories.
Wilson, who led the pack with four nominations, won two: female video of the year for “Heart Like a Truck” and collaborative video of the year for her featured role on HARDY’s “wait in the truck.” HARDY and Wilson beat the Browns’ “Thank God” in the latter category, though there was a reversal of fortune in the video of the year category where the two videos again competed.
Zac Brown Band took group/duo video of the year for “Out in the Middle.” It’s their second win in the group video category, following a 2019 win for “Someone I Used to Know.” Rascal Flatts is the top winner in the category, with seven wins, followed by Lady A with five and Little Big Town with four.
Cody Johnson’s performance of “Til You Can’t” on last year’s CMT Music Awards won for CMT performance of the year. Johnson won male video of the year for the smash at last year’s show.
Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange” won breakthrough female video of the year.
Jelly Roll may have performed at the 2023 CMT Music Awards on Sunday night (April 2), but the performer he was most excited to see was none other than Gwen Stefani.
“My second concert ever was No Doubt,” he reveled to Entertainment Tonight on the award show’s red carpet. “We was at an amphitheater, it s–t storm rained, I mean just rain storm, we were mud sliding dancing to ‘Spiderwebs’ — it was awesome.”
Luckily for the rising country-hip-hop hybrid, he got a sneak peek of Stefani’s performance during rehearsals for the show, telling the outlet before her set, “I can’t say anything but I can say she looks like Gwen Stefani. What I seen was a real throwback.”
The throwback turned out to be the singer’s performance of No Doubt’s smash single “Just a Girl” from 1995’s Tragic Kingdom with help from Carly Pearce. For his own performance, Jelly Roll brought his song “Need a Favor” to the stage backed by a full gospel choir.
“This is my first everything,” he continued. “First live TV performance, first TV show performance, first award show nomination, first time I’ve done anything like this, this is a big night of firsts for me … I’m somewhere between nervous and cloud nine, so I’m just, I’m excited man. It feels so good, it’s like the return of the prodigal son, it’s like finally coming home, man.”
During the ceremony, Jelly Roll wound up taking home his very first awards show trophies as well, winning male video of the year, male breakthrough video of the year and the CMT digital-first performance of the year for “Son of a Sinner.”
Chase Stokes has definitely got the role of supportive boyfriend on lock. The Outer Banks star was captured on camera adorably rocking out to Kelsea Ballerini‘s performance at the CMT Music Awards Sunday (April 2) after the couple made their official red carpet debut at the ceremony.
In a clip posted by CMT’s official account, Stokes bops his head and claps his hands to the beat of “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too),” which Ballerini performed during the ceremony alongside a handful of drag queens — an act of protest against the recent anti-drag laws in Tennessee. At one point, the 30-year-old actor pulls out his phone and starts filming a home video of the three-time Grammy nominee.
Rumors of the pair’s romance started back in January, with Ballerini eventually confirming the relationship in a February episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. “I’ve never seen his show, but I just knew of him, and I just swan dove right on in,” she told host Alex Cooper at the time. “His handle is ‘@hichasestokes,’ and I said, ‘Hi, Chase Stokes.’”
In addition to performing and being nominated for video of the year and female video of the year, Ballerini also co-hosted the awards ceremony for the third year in a row. She devoted her opening remarks to those impacted by gun violence following the recent school shooting in Nashville. “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,” she said, also telling the audience about her own personal experience with the issue.
“I pray deeply that the closeness and the community we feel through the next few hours of music can soon turn into action, like real action that moves us forward together to make change for the safety of our kids and our loved ones,” she added.
The country star also subtly shouted out her beau in her opening monologue, celebrating country music from “Nashville and Austin to Yellowstone and the Outer Banks.”
Watch Chase Stokes dance along to his country star girlfriend’s CMT Music Awards performance below:
The 2023 CMT Music Awards took over the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, where everyone from Kelsea Ballerini and Shania Twain to Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and more took the stage.
Ballerini’s performance of “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” was a joyful romp filled with confetti and rainbows and backed by RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Manila Luzon, Jan, Olivia Lux and Kennedy Davenport, while the queen of country brought her new single “Giddy Up!” to life before being presented the Equal Play award by Megan Thee Stallion.
Shelton mashed up history by playing a medley of his 2001 debut track “Austin” and his latest single “No Body” before the American Idol season four champion powered through “Hate My Heart,” the second single off her ninth studio album Denim & Diamonds.
Meanwhile, the awards show also included multiple tributes over the course of the evening, including Gary Clark Jr. honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan with “The House Is Rockin’” and a star-studded tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd featuring Wynonna Judd, LeAnn Rimes, Chuck Leavell, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Slash and more.
Elsewhere, rising star Jelly Roll brought the Moody Center to church with “Need a Favor,” complete with a robed choir of gospel singers, and Kane Brown put his love on display with wife Katelyn Brown with their romantic duet of “Thank God.” Gwen Stefani made her CMT Music Awards debut with an assist from Carly Pearce for No Doubt’s smash hit “Just a Girl” off 1995’s Tragic Kingdom.
Watch all the performances from the 2023 CMT Music Awards and vote for your favorite below. (Note: Shania Twain’s performance of “Giddy Up!” isn’t available on YouTube as of press time.)
The 2023 CMT Music Awards went on the road this year, airing for the first time from Austin, Texas on Sunday night (April 2). It was an excuse to bring some Lone Star State flavor to the fast-paced show, which featured more than 20 performances from such country luminaries as Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and Darius Rucker, and celebrated the top videos of the past year.
The show, which aired live on CBS for the second year in a row after the ACM Awards decamped to Amazon’s Prime Video, opened cold with co-host Kelsea Ballerini addressing the mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School last week that left six dead and Music City reeling. The somber moment included Ballerini recalling her own experience in 2008 watching a classmate die from a shooting when she was in high school and calling for “real action.” That then gave way to celebration, as she and Kane Brown, co-hosting for the third time, proved again to be an amiable, nimble pairing.
Shania Twain, introduced by Megan Thee Stallion, accepted the CMT Equal Play award, calling for the country industry to “do our part to close the gap and provide an equal workspace for all talent. Let’s ensure that all our fellow artists get equal play, regardless of gender, age or race.” And the show tried to do just that, relying heavily on girl power throughout the evening. (Jelly Roll was still the night’s biggest winner, taking home all three awards for which he was nominated.)
The evening’s performances heavily relied on collaborations featuring country artists and rock acts performing the latter’s 90s hits. It was a gambit that worked, in large part because many of the rock fans of the ’90s are now country listeners.
Below are the top performances of the night.
Wynonna and Ashley McBryde Show They Know What Love Is
Image Credit: Kempin/GI
The Judds‘ last performance before Naomi Judd’s death last year was at the 2022 CMT Awards, when they sang their anthem, “Love Can Build a Bridge” — so it was only fitting that Wynonna return this year to showcase a song from her upcoming CMT special, which recreates the Judds’ 1991 initial final show in 1991. Joined by Ashley McBryde for an elegiac, slowed down version of Foreigner’s classic “I Want to Know What Love Is,” Judd took the audience to church, turning the song into her own personal testimony. When she declared, “Mama, you need to be here tonight,” she invoked goosebumps.
Kelsea Ballerini’s Performance Is a Real Drag
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/GI
If such things were handed out, Kelsea Ballerini’s performance of current single, “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” easily won the award for best set of the night. Looking like something straight out of Barbie’s backyard and building on the retro pastel theme of the video, it featured Ballerini dressed like a ‘60s housewife, complete with teased hair and a bright green duster (under which she had on a floral romper), surrounded by equally festively dressed drag queens — including Manila Luzon, Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport and Olivia Lux. Leave it to Ballerini, one of the few country artists not afraid to speak out on issues, to address the Tennessee anti-drag bill in a fun, but very obvious, way.
Jelly Roll Takes Us to Church
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety
Just like Wynonna, rapper-turned-country artist Jelly Roll took the CMT Awards to church with his rising and rousing single, “Need a Favor.” The thumping track, featuring Jelly Roll accompanied by a gospel choir, includes the poignant line, “I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer,” which Jelly Roll delivered like a man seeking salvation. The crowd couldn’t get enough — and it felt like a new superstar was crowned, as Jelly Roll was the evening’s big winner, taking home three awards.
All-Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd Turns Austin into Alabama
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/GI
Though it helps, you don’t have to be southern to love Lynyrd Skynyrd — as the show’s closing performance proved, with both Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers and Guns N’ Roses’ Slash paying tribute to the band following March’s death of the last original member, Gary Rossington. Joined by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, the Rolling Stones’ Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson and the world’s finest backing vocalists, LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd, the ensemble started slowly with Rodgers delivered a soulful “Simple Man,” before several members took over lead vocals for the southern rock anthem, “Sweet Home Alabama.” Johnson seemed right at home onstage with the legends, banging his head and playing air guitar during Gibbons’ and Slash’s smoking solos.
Darius Rucker and The Black Crowes Talk to Angels
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety
If the Black Crowes were just starting now, their bluesy, swampy sound would probably make them a country act. The Crowes joined Darius Rucker for a down-and-dirty version of their 1990 hit, “She Talks to Angels,” with Chris Robinson and Rucker both in fine vocal form. Rucker is one of the top vocalists of any genre, and to hear him and Robinson trade off lines on the song about drug addiction (with the Rolling Stones’ Chuck Leavell on keys) was potent and powerful. The two acts also performed the song for a forthcoming edition of CMT Crossroads.
Alanis Morissette With Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards & Morgan Wade
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety
The evening was high on multi-generational and cross-genre girl power, as Carly Pearce joined Gwen Stefani for a spunky performance of the No Doubt’s 1995 classic, “Just a Girl,” and then country upstarts Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, Morgan Wade and Lainey Wilson kicked off Alanis Morissette’s vitriolic “You Oughta Know,” also from 1995, before being joined by Morissette herself. Nearly 30 years later, neither the song nor Morissette has lost any of its primal urgency. The new rendition received a resounding standing ovation. Ashley McBryde spoke for all of us when she jumped out of her seat, raised her arm, flashed the rock horns and shouted, “Yes!”
Gary Clark Jr. Pays Tribute to a Texas Hero
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety
Falling under the “When in Rome…” maxim, the CMT Awards leaned into the location of Austin and wisely decided to pay homage to one of Texas’ finest, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, by having Austin native and fellow gunslinger Gary Clark Jr. pay tribute. In one of the most exhilarating performances of the night, Clark and his band played a blazing medley of SRV & Double Trouble’s “The House is Rockin’”/”Travis County Courthouse,” so fiery that it threatened to burn down the Moody Center.
Carrie Underwood Rocks the House
Image Credit: Catherine Powell/GI for CMT
In a show when the collaborations, most of them of non-country songs, dominated and outpaced the appearances by today’s current country hitmakers, Carrie Underwood served to show them she is still boss with a rollicking performance of “Hate My Heart.” Dressed in a black leather jacket and shorts with hearts emblazoned on them, the country Queen of Hearts took the audience outside the Austin Capitol to a fever pitch with her incomparable vocals and moves copped from her beloved buddy Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses.
Following the passing of Southern rock star Gary Rossington in March, the 2023 CMT Music Awards decided to pay tribute to the late superstar and his impact with Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sunday night (April 2).
Taking to the stage for the evening’s final performance, country singers Cody Johnson, Wynonna Judd and LeAnn Rimes were joined by Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers and former Allman Brothers Band members Chuck Leavell and Warren Haynes for a tribute to the late guitarist, performing the band’s iconic tracks “Simple Man” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
The star-studded group of performers was introduced by British rock star Peter Frampton, who lauded Rossington as a “Southern rock icon,” saying the star “helped define a band’s sound, and he inspired millions of fans and musicians” before joining his fellow bandmates “in rock n’ roll heaven.”
For their performance, the superstar group turned the stage into a Southern swamp of talent, backed by images of murky waters and reeds, as the musicians grooved their way through “Simple Man,” with Johnson and Rodgers trading verses back and forth. Once they finished out the classic track, the supergroup launched into a rollicking performance of “Sweet Home Alabama,” bringing the cheering crowd to its feet for a big finish to the annual ceremony.
Johnson, Judd, Rimes and company were far from the only performers to take to the CMT stage on Sunday. Stars including Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll and Carrie Underwood all performed at the awards show, while Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown hosted the telecast and delivered sets of their own.
Carrie Underwood delivered her highly anticipated CMT Music Awards performance on Sunday night (April 2) when she unleashed her Denim & Rhinestones hit “Hate My Heart” onstage in front of the capitol building in Austin.
Fittingly dressed in a Queen of Hearts-inspired blazer, corset and shorts — and holding a heart-encrusted microphone — the country superstar delivered the track as fireworks blasted off behind her. “Hate My Heart” was up for video of the year at this year’s ceremony, though it ultimately lost to Kane and Katelyn Brown’s “Thank God.”
Underwood’s “Ghost Story” was also nominated for female video of the year.
The singer is no stranger to the CMT Music Awards, as she’s taken home 25 total trophies throughout her career. She also has the most video of the year wins and female video of the year wins of any artist.
“I wanted to have fun from the get-go,” the 40-year-old star previously told Billboard of Denim & Rhinestones, which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. “That was definitely mission No. 1. With some other albums, it took me writing for a while before I figured out where the album’s gonna go. It’s got a lot of vintage sparkle. It’s not solidly throwback, but we have a couple of songs that are a little more ’70s feel and some that are in the ’80s pop world and some ’90s rock stuff, and obviously country. But we wanted to have music that was fun and felt good.”