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, 10:04 PM EST

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."

Jelly Roll accepts the New Artist of the Year Award onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

"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.

Nov 08, 2023, 9:52 PM EST

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.

(L-R) Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount of The War and Treaty 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, 9:47 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

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