Nashville, Tennessee - The 2023 CMT Awards, celebrating country music's biggest stars, took place on Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena. The show, which was hosted by country music icons Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood, featured unforgettable performances from some of the most talented artists in the genre. But the real highlight of the night was the announcement of the winners in various categories.
The coveted award for Video of the Year went to Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani for their heartwarming duet "Nobody But You." The couple was unable to attend the ceremony, but they sent a video message thanking their fans and expressing their gratitude for the award.
Miranda Lambert was a big winner of the night, taking home two trophies for Female Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year. Her song "Settling Down" won the Female Video of the Year award, while her duet with Elle King, "Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)," won the Collaborative Video of the Year.
Thomas Rhett was also a double winner, taking home the Male Video of the Year award for "Country Again" and the CMT Performance of the Year award for his performance of "What's Your Country Song" at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.
The Group Video of the Year award went to Old Dominion for their hit song "I Was On a Boat That Day." The band members expressed their gratitude and thanked their fans for supporting their music.
Other winners of the night included Kelsea Ballerini for the CMT Equal Play Award, which recognizes artists who advocate for gender parity in country music, and Chris Stapleton for the CMT Artist of a Lifetime award, honoring his contributions to the genre.
The show also featured memorable performances from artists like Luke Combs, Chris Young, and Mickey Guyton. The night ended with a special tribute to the late Kenny Rogers, featuring performances by Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Lady A.
The 2023 CMT Awards were a celebration of the best of country music, showcasing the genre's diversity and talent. The winners and performers showcased the continued growth of the genre and the importance of supporting and promoting its artists. As the show came to a close, it was clear that country music was stronger than ever, and the future looks bright for the genre and its fans.