CMA Awards 2023 recap: All the biggest wins and epic performances

Lainey Wilson took home the top honor of entertainer of the year.

ByHayley FitzPatrick, Carson Blackwelder, and Angeline Jane Bernabe via GMA logo
Last Updated: November 8, 2023, 5:12 PM EST

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:

Here's how the awards show unfolded. All times Eastern.
Nov 08, 2023, 9:47 PM EST

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.

Kelsea Ballerini performs onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

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.

Nov 08, 2023, 9:33 PM EST

Dan + Shay perform "Save Me the Trouble"

Dan + Shay took the stage to perform their hit song, "Save Me the Trouble," from their recent album, "Bigger Houses."

(L-R) Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay perform onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Nov 08, 2023, 9:29 PM EST

Lainey Wilson performs "Wildflowers and Wild Horses"

Lainey Wilson took the stage to perform her hit song "Wildflowers and Wild Horses" from her album "Bell Bottom Country."

Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Wilson has already taken home two CMA Awards this year for musical event of the year and music video of the year. She went into the 2023 CMA Awards as the most-nominated artist, with nine nominations.

Nov 08, 2023, 9:27 PM EST

Old Dominion wins vocal group of the year

Old Dominion won the CMA Award for vocal group of the year, marking the sixth year in a row they've won in the category.

Other nominees in the category included Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Zac Brown Band.

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