Jelly Roll And Bunnie XO Turn Heads On The CMT Music Awards Red Carpet
The couple enjoyed a date night in Austin, Texas.
Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT
Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie XO made their first CMT Music Awards red carpet appearance together, where he promoted his upcoming album Whitsitt Chapel on a patch of his red and black letterman jacket. Bunnie XO wore a black sequin strapless cocktail dress with thigh-high boots.
The “Son of a Sinner” singer and first-time nominee is nominated for three CMT Music Awards, including Male Video of the Year, Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, and CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year.
During rehearsals for his first-ever CMT Music Awards performance, Jelly Roll talked to CMT about how it was a moment he spoke into existence just one year ago.
“So last year I’m sitting on the couch, right, and we’re watching the CMT Awards, because dude we’ve been watching CMT since I was a kid, you know, and I was sitting there and I was like, man I’m gonna perform on this thing next year dude. Ya know how crazy that sounded when I told my wife that and I was just high enough to tweet it. I didn’t even remember tweeting it is the best part until it came back up.”
Ahead of his first awards show performance, Jelly Roll’s wife Bunnie XO shared how proud she is of her husband in a sweet Instagram post:
“This weekend I get to see you perform at the Cmt awards & I don’t think I’ll be able to contain the tears. 😭 You’ve worked so hard to get here, never once compromising who you are as a man. Nothing is more beautiful than watching you become the star I always knew you were. Let’s bring ‘em hell Daddy & let’s bring home some awards! 🏆🪄💫 Tune in Sunday April 2nd at 8 pm to watch his first award show performance 📺🎵🎉”
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.”
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+.
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.