People’s Choice Country Awards: How To Watch The Star-Studded Show
Here’s everything you need to know about the People’s Choice Country Awards, hosted by Little Big Town.
Carly Pearce, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Wynonna Judd; Photos by Andrew Wendowski
The first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards are upon us!
Hosted by Little Big Town, the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards will take place live at the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Thursday, September 28 at 8/7c.
The star-studded awards ceremony will feature performances by Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Toby Keith, Wynonna Judd and more.
Adam Doleac, Blake Shelton, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Hunter Hayes, Jessie James Decker, Josh Ross, Kameron Marlowe, Kristin Cavallari, Lady A, Lauren Alaina, Leanne Morgan, Mickey Guyton, Nikki Garcia, Scotty McCreery and The War And Treaty will also be on hand to present.
Throughout the show, awards for 12 categories will be given out, including People’s Artist of 2023, Male Artist of 2023, Female Artist of 2023, Group/Duo of 2023, New Artist of 2023, Social Country Star of 2023, Song of 2023, Collaboration Song of 2023, Crossover Song of 2023, Album of 2023, Music Video of 2023 and Concert Tour of 2023.
The two-hour broadcast will be produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski serving as executive producers, along with RAC Clark as executive producer and showrunner.
Below is a complete rundown of everything you need to know about the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, including how to watch, who’s hosting, which artists are performing, the nominees and more.
How To Watch
The 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards will air LIVE on NBC and Peacock on Thursday, September 28 at 8/7c simultaneously on NBC and Peacock from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.
The People’s Choice Country Awards will extend across platforms with “Backstage Live: People’s Choice Country Awards.” The livestream will air on Peacock, PCA Twitter, NBC Twitter/Facebook/YouTube, TODAY All Day/Twitter, E! News Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/E!Online, Access Twitter/YouTube, and Circle TV Network and Circle social platforms, featuring red carpet arrivals, backstage chats and more.
Host
Grand Ole Opry members’ Little Big Town will serve as the official hosts of the People’s Choice Country Awards.
“We are honored to host the inaugural ‘People’s Choice Country Awards,’ especially on one of our most beloved stages in the entire world,” the group previously shared in a press release. “We look forward to welcoming so many of our talented peers to take the Opry stage for this magical night of music.”
Performers
Blake Shelton
Carly Pearce
Dan + Shay
HARDY
Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Kelsea Ballerini
Little Big Town
Toby Keith
Wynonna Judd
Presenters
Adam Doleac
Blake Shelton
Brothers Osborne
Carly Pearce
Chris Young
Dustin Lynch
Gabby Barrett
Hunter Hayes
Jessie James Decker
Josh Ross
Kameron Marlowe
Kristin Cavallari
Lady A
Lauren Alaina
Leanne Morgan
Mickey Guyton
Nikki Garcia
Scotty McCreery
The War And Treaty
Country Icon Award Recipient: Toby Keith
Toby Keith will be honored with the Country Icon Award, which will be presented to him by fellow Oklahoma native, Blake Shelton.
“We’re overjoyed to honor legendary artist Toby Keith with the first-ever Country Icon Award,” Cassandra Tryon, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Live Events, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming said. “As a talented songwriter and powerhouse performer, Keith has touched the hearts of fans across the globe. His illustrious career and passion for philanthropy has cemented his place as an icon in country music history.”
According to the press release, the award honors Keith for “his decades-long career as a groundbreaking musician, humanitarian and entrepreneur.” The award will also recognize Keith’s 30-year career as a musician, philanthropist and entrepreneur.
The same press release dubbed Toby Keith “a pioneer in country music and one of the most influential artists of all time.”
Country Champion Award Recipient: Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd is set to receive the Country Champion award, which will be presented to her by Brothers Osborne.
“Wynonna is one of the most recognized and lauded performers in country music,” Tryon previously shared. “Not only is she incredibly talented, her selflessness and passion for putting the needs of others in the spotlight is unmatched. We can’t think of a better person to honor as our inaugural ‘Country Champion’ and to celebrate the holidays with across these two major country music events.”
Wynonna is being honored for her extensive career and her impactful contributions to philanthropy and activism. Over the years, she has consistently utilized her public influence to drive significant positive change. Her advocacy has touched upon various crucial issues, such as children’s welfare, support for military veterans and their families, disaster relief efforts, and more. Wynonna has actively collaborated with multiple organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project and Habitat for Humanity, to make a meaningful impact on these causes.
Nominees
The fan-voted People’s Choice Country Awards feature 12 categories including People’s Artist of 2023, Male Artist of 2023, Female Artist of 2023, Group/Duo of 2023, New Artist of 2023, Social Country Star of 2023, Song of 2023, Collaboration Song of 2023, Crossover Song of 2023, Album of 2023, Music Video of 2023 and Concert Tour of 2023.
Morgan Wallen leads all nominees with 11 nods, followed by Luke Combs and HARDY, who each have nine, Jelly Roll with eight, Lainey Wilson with seven, Zach Bryan and Kane Brown with six nods each and Megan Moroney with five.
Wallen, Combs, Wilson, Bryan and Brown are all nominated for the show’s top award, The People’s Artist of 2023, alongside Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini and Old Dominion.
To see the full list of nominees, click HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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