CMA Awards 2023 recap: All the biggest wins and epic performances
Lainey Wilson took home the top honor of entertainer of the year.
Many of the biggest names in country music were honored at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night.
Lainey Wilson took home three of the top awards of the night, including the coveted entertainer of the year award, as well as female vocalist of the year and album of the year. She won two awards prior to the show, thanks to her collaboration with Hardy on his song "Wait in the Truck," bringing her total number of wins this year to five.
Elsewhere at the 2023 CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton won the award for male vocalist of the year, while Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne won vocal group of the year and vocal duo of the year, respectively.
There were also plenty of notable performances during the packed show, including a moving tribute performance for the late music legend Jimmy Buffett.
Check out a recap of how the night unfolded below.
Key moments:
Nicole Kidman, Mickey Guyton and more step out on red carpet
Some of country music's biggest stars walked the CMA Awards red carpet before the show.
Kelsea Ballerini stepped out in a pink, one-shoulder gown with her boyfriend, actor Chase Stokes, by her side. Mickey Guyton stepped out in a yellow minidress, and Nicole Kidman walked the red carpet with her husband Keith Urban, both of them in black ensembles.
Red was the color of the night, with several artists, including Ashley McBryde and Megan Moroney, opting for red gowns. Michael Trotter Jr. of the duo The War and Treaty also wore a unique red blazer with music details.
Who is up for entertainer of the year?
There are five artists nominated for entertainer of the year, the highest honor at the CMA Awards.
This year's crop of nominees includes Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Combs has won the award for the past two years.
Lainey Wilson and HARDY win 2 CMA Awards
Singers Lainey Wilson and HARDY won the first two CMA Awards of the day.
This morning on "Good Morning America," it was announced that the two singers had won the awards for musical event of the year and music video of the year for their song, "Wait in the Truck."
Who is up for the most nominations tonight?
Lainey Wilson reigns supreme as the artist with the most nods at this year's CMA Awards, with nine nominations including entertainer of the year, single of the year and album of the year.
Following close behind is Jelly Roll with five nominations, as well as Luke Combs and HARDY with four nods apiece. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen all have three nominations each.
See the full list of nominees here.
Jelly Roll gives inspiring speech accepting new artist of the year
Jelly Roll took home the CMA Award for new artist of the year during Wednesday's ceremony.
The singer gave his wife Bunnie XO a shoutout, saying, "You changed my life, baby."
"There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year. I don't know where you're at in your life, or what you're going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby," he continued. "I want to tell you success is on the other side of it. I want to tell you it's going to be OK. I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason."
He added, "What's in front of you is so much more important than what's behind you."
Other nominees in the category included Zach Bryan, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney and Hailey Whitters.