The 2023 Country Music Awards were held at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday night and included a few unexpected moments that stood from the rest.
The awards ceremony included a touching tribute to the victims of the Nashville shooting, delivered by co-host Kelsea Ballerini, and a music crossover that fans didn’t see coming. Here are the must-see-moments stemming from Sunday night’s big country music showcase…
Wynonna Judd Sang To Her Late Mother
Wynonna Judd returned to the stage with a heavy heart, noting that the last time she performed with her mother was at the 2022 CMT Music Awards. Weeks after that performance, Naomi Judd died by suicide.
Judd delivered an emotional rendition of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” along with Ashley McBryde.
During the final moments of her performance, Judd looked up and said, “Mama, you need to be here. And I miss you, and I love you, and I don’t understand.”
Shania’s Big Win
Rap superstar Megan Thee Stallion made an unexpected appearance at the CMAs, and introduced one of the biggest winners of the night, Shania Twain. Shania took home the CMT Equal Play Award which has only been awarded two times. The award is a dedication to an artist who is a vocal advocate for elevating diverse and underrepresented voices in country music, according to People.
“I believe in an all-inclusive country music,” Twain said while accepting her award on stage. “We’re family.”
A Rock Music Crossover
The 2023 Country Music Awards included a very heavy rock presence. Legendary artist Alanis Morissette made a surprise cameo appearance and broke out into one of her hit songs. She belted out the lyrics to “You Oughta Know” alongside Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade, all of whom lent their voices for the impressive performance.
Gwen Stefani made her first-ever on-stage appearance at the CMAs and sang her epic hit “Just A Girl” with Carly Pearce. Stefani’s expressive outfit and incredible energy dominated the stage, proving that she could snag success in any genre with her natural talent.
Adding to the infusion of rock star presence at the CMAs was Guns N’ Roses icon Slash, who performed with Billy Gibbons and others in a star-studded tribute to the legendary Lynyrd Skynrd. (RELATED: Country Music Singer Rocked By Nashville School Shooting)
Drag Queens Stormed The Stage
Ballerini brought drag queens on stage for a colorful performance that featured Progress Pride flags and has since been the topic of many disputes and conversations on social media. The artist immediately drew backlash from country music fans who didn’t agree with her political messaging.