2023 CMT Music Awards: See The Red Carpet Looks From Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Shania Twain, Carly Pearce & More

Country music’s hottest stars arrived at the Moody Center in Austin, TX.

By

Nicole Palsa

| Posted on

April 2, 2023

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7:51 pm

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Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Shania Twain, Carly Pearce; Photos by Getty Images for CMT

Country’s brightest stars shined on the red carpet at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, held in Austin, Texas for the first time ever. Many artists opted for classic tones of black, white and gray, while some stars pushed the envelope with more bold color choices, like Chapel Hart’s joyful yellow ensembles.

Co-host Kane Brown sported a half-white, half-black suit, while his wife Katelyn wore an all-white strapless gown with matching arm-length gloves.

Kane Brown and Katelyn Jae at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Kane Brown and Katelyn Jae at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre

Brown’s co-host Kelsea Ballerini wore a form-fitting light gray gown with a white strapped bodice peeking out from the neckline.

Kelsea Ballerini attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Kelsea Ballerini attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT

Lainey Wilson donned a stunning floor-length dress with a red and royal blue pattern, featuring a plunging neckline. She finished off the look with a black hat accented with a gold ribbon and feather plume.

HARDY opted for the Johnny Cash man in black look, dressing in all black from head to toe.

Shania Twain went rouge with her look, from her red hair to her red and black patterned dress.

Megan Moroney stunned in a lime green mini-dress.

Dustin Lynch sported a classic neutral look with a beige and tan ensemble, complete with his signature cowboy hat.

Carly Pearce opted for a classic black dress with a delicate rhinestone-adorned scoop neckline.

Carrie Underwood brought the party glam with her silver rhinestone jacket and short suit.

Carrie Underwood attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Carrie Underwood attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

Co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the 2023 CMT Music Awards will feature performances from Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, and Tyler Hubbard. 

Additionally, the show will feature one-of-a-kind collaborations, including a 10th anniversary of CMT Next Women of Country celebration featuring Alanis Morissette with Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce will join forces for a special collaboration, while Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown are set to team up for the television premiere of their chart-topping duet, “Thank God.” 

The Black Crowes and Darius Rucker will deliver a first-time collaboration of “She Talks To Angels,” and Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde will also take the stage together for a world premiere performance. 

The show will also include a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan from Gary Clark, Jr. and a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute featuring Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash & Warren Haynes and LeAnn Rimes & Wynonna Judd as honorary “Honkettes.”

Lily Rose attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Lily Rose attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

Rising stars Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Nate Smith, and Megan Moroney will make their CMT Music Awards performance debut on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.  

Presenters include Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Charles Esten, Dixie D’Amelio, Dustin Lynch, HARDY, Ian Bohen + Jen Landon (Yellowstone), Jon Pardi, LeAnn Rimes, Madison Bailey (Outer Banks), Max Thieriot (Fire Country), Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things), Parker McCollum, Peter Frampton, Shania Twain, Steve Howey (True Lies) and Travis Kelce.

The coveted awards show will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 2 at 8/7c on CBS. Additionally, it will stream live and on-demand via Paramount+. 

 Darius Rucker at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Darius Rucker at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Lainey Wilson at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Lainey Wilson at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Kane Brown; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Kane Brown; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Ashley McBryde at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Ashley McBryde at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Megan Moroney at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Megan Moroney at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Priscilla Block at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Priscilla Block at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Shania Twain at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Shania Twain at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
LeAnn Rimes at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
LeAnn Rimes at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Carrie Underwood at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Carrie Underwood at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Russell Dickerson; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Russell Dickerson; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Dustin Lynch; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Dustin Lynch; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Cody Johnson; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Cody Johnson; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Carly Pearce at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Carly Pearce at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Wynonna Judd; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Wynonna Judd; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach and Cameron Duddy of Midland; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach and Cameron Duddy of Midland; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Nate Smith attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Nate Smith attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Scott Thomas and Matt Thomas of Parmalee; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Scott Thomas and Matt Thomas of Parmalee; Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT
Trea Swindle, Danica Hart, and Devynn Hart of Chapel Hart; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Trea Swindle, Danica Hart, and Devynn Hart of Chapel Hart; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Bailey Zimmerman; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Bailey Zimmerman; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Ingrid Andress at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Ingrid Andress at the 2023 CMT Awards Photo: Getty Images for CMT Emma McIntyre
Kylie Morgan; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
Kylie Morgan; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
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Nicole Palsa

Written by

Nicole Palsa

Nicole Palsa is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 2012, she has written about the newcomers, superstars, and legends of country music for publications including Music Mayhem, Country Now, and Country Music Tattle Tale. Palsa has served as a volunteer guide with Musicians On Call since 2016 and is a Troubadour member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and her Bachelor of Arts degree in French. In addition to being a devoted country music fan, Nicole is a family historian and genealogist who can often be found in stacks of research. She is also an avid traveler with a passion for wildlife and nature photography.