The 2023 CMT Music Awards were on Sunday, April 2. For the first time ever, the ceremony was held at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown served as the co-hosts. Some of the night’s biggest winners were Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Cody Johnson. Kane and Katelyn Brown won the coveted Video of the Year Award for their duet, “Thank God.”
Stars who attended this year’s CMT Music Awards jumped at the opportunity to dress up for the red carpet and their performances. Some even changed outfits multiple times!
Here are some of our favorite looks from the night.
Carly Pearce
Carly Pearce walked the red carpet and performed twice during the ceremony, so she had several outfits. Our favorite was the white gown she wore during her solo performance of her #1 song, “What He Didn’t Do.”
The glittery gown was accented with a long cape that flowed behind Pearce while she sang.
Emmy Russell
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Emmy Russell, who is Loretta Lynn‘s granddaughter, looked absolutely beautiful in the red dress she wore to the CMT Music Awards. Russell was nominated for Performance of the Year alongside Lukas Nelson for singing “Lay Me Down” at Lynn’s memorial service.
Russell expressed her gratefulness for the nomination in a video on Instagram.
LeAnn Rimes
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LeAnn Rimes was a presenter and a performer at the CMT Music Awards this year. Rimes presented the award for Male Video of the Year to Jelly Roll. She also participated in the all-star Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute at the end of the show.
Rimes changed outfits for her performance. But we could not stop thinking about the sparkly, floral dress she wore on the red carpet and when she presented the Male Video of the Year award. It looked gorgeous on her!
Kelsea Ballerini
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We think it’s safe to say Ballerini changed outfits more than anyone else at the CMT Music Awards this year. Which makes sense, because she was the co-host and a performer!
CMT recognized all of her outfits in a photo collage on Instagram. We were big fans of the bedazzled dress she wore for the opening monologue, and also loved the color of her lavender jumpsuit.
Cody Johnson
We always love a classic country look at an awards show, and Cody Johnson brought us that. In fact, he brought us that several times over, since he walked the red carpet and performed twice during the ceremony.
His red carpet ensemble included a pair of jeans, a blue plaid jacket, a pair of black boots, a blue undershirt, and his signuatre cowboy hat. He wore the same ensemble when he accepted the award for Performance of the Year for singing “‘Til You Can’t” at last year’s CMT Music Awards.
Ashley McBryde
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Ashley McBryde often chooses to wear outfits that show off her colorful tattoos. For this year’s CMT Music Awards, her tattoos were on full display when she rocked a strapless white jumpsuit on the red carpet.
McBryde later changed into another jumpsuit for her performance with Wynonna Judd. This jumpsuit had strappy sleeves, was black, and had a deep neckline with a sequined panel at the front.
Lainey Wilson
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Lainey Wilson loves to have fun with fashion! As a two-time performer at this year’s CMT Music Awards, she had ample opportunity to show off some standout pieces.
Her most unforgettable outfit of the night was the one she wore on the red carpet. She rocked a red and blue jumpsuit with a deep V neckline and palm frond print. Wilson accented her look with tons of jewelry, a chunky belt, a clutch, and of course, one of her famous hats.
Kane and Katelyn Brown
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As the co-host of the ceremony, Kane changed outfits a few times. But his first look of the night was a unique color blocked suit jacket, which he paired with black slacks and a floral undershirt.
Katelyn complemented him in a stunning white dress and long white gloves. She added a touch of color to her ensemble with some mauve tights and shoes.
Kane and Katelyn later changed into coordinating black outfits when they performed “Thank God.” Watch that romantic performance below.
Now that you’ve finished the list, who do you think was the best-dressed star at the 2023 CMT Music Awards?