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:
Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and more pay tribute to Jimmy Buffett
Several country music stars took the stage to pay tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett, who died Sept. 1 at age 76.
Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Mac McAnally and Zac Brown performed a medley of Buffett's biggest hits including "A Pirate Looks at Forty" and "Margaritaville."
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.
The War and Treaty perform "That's How Love is Made"
Husband and wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty took the CMA Awards stage to perform their song "That's How Love is Made" from their third studio album, "Lover's Game."
The couple was nominated for vocal duo of the year at this year's awards.
Kelsea Ballerini delivers moving performance of "Leave Me Again"
Kelsea Ballerini delivered a moving performance of her song "Leave Me Again" at the CMA Awards.
The singer released an EP titled "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat" in February alongside a short film of the same name. An extended version of the EP, "Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good)," was released in August.
Ballerini is nominated for album of the year and female vocalist of the year at tonight's awards show.
Lainey Wilson wins entertainer of the year
Lainey Wilson took home the CMA Award for entertainer of the year, the ceremony's top honor, at the end of Wednesday night's show.
"This is all I've ever wanted to do. It's the only thing I know how to do," she said. "It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart."
Wilson called her experience in the industry so far a "wild" ride, adding, "Thank y'all for letting me be me."
Other nominees in the category included Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen.