Jaw Dropping Looks From The 56th Annual CMA Awards

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE- Last night the 56th Annual CMA Awards also known as Country Music’s Biggest Night™, was live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and the red-carpet looks were stunning. Who says the stars of Country Music don’t know how to dress up and mix their Country Western styles with red-carpet glam. The Awards were broadcasted live on ABC from 8-11PM/ET, and available to watch on Hulu tonight through May 2023 On Demand.

Red Carpet Looks

As usual, the women of Country Music sparkled in sequins, rhinestones, and color.

Charlene Bryant

Shimmering in sequins, Bryant’s silver pants suit is accompanied by shimmering red shoes.

Kelsea Ballerini

Ballerini stunned in a sky blue Balenciaga gown with attached gloves and keyhole back.

Priscilla Block

Wearing an indigo colored gown with matching lace leggings, the silhouette includes a cascading skirt piece that flowed down as a train.

Little Big Town

Little Big Town presented on stage during the ceremony. While the men in the group wore sharp suits, the women stunned in detailed gown. Karen Fairchild wore a fiery orange mermaid cut gown with detail on the bodice and feathers at the lower half, while Kimberly Schlapman wore an off-the shoulder light pink gown with detailing throughout.

Lainey Wilson

Wilson’s gold bell bottom suit by Laura Citron brought a contrast to the red carpet. Her shoes are by Sam Edelman and handbag is by Alexis Bittar.

Jenee Fleenor

Fleenor rocked a “Maddox Brothers and Rose,” esque Country Wester dress. The sibling group of the 1940s who wore matching suits of colorful carrot man embroidery around the shoulders or hem of their pants, as well as fringes, enamel snaps, and rhinestones by Polish tailor Nathan Turk, and the fiddle player [Fleenor] clearly took a play from their book.

Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain

Actors Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain presented the Entertainer Of The Year award. Chastain was mentioned for her role in playing Tammy Faye Baker, for which she won Best Actress at the Academy Awards this year. She wore a shimmery blue and black v-neck gown.

Carrie Underwood

Wearing a cornflower blue gown with matching shoes, the look emulated a mixed silhouette with thigh high slit.

Katy Perry

Perry wore a matching blue Jean pant and off the shoulder deep v-neck top.

Ashley McBryde

The Never Wanted To Be That Girl singer wore a two-tone Marchesa gown with a black bodice and dark green skirting. A Jeffrey Levinson clutch accompanied the look.

Lionel Richie

Richie wore skinny pants and a long leather jacket, while his girlfriend Lisa Parigi wore long blue velvet gown.

Midland

Midland, the trio from Texas were sharp in their Western-inspired attire of cowboy boots and hats.

Bobby Bones

Bobby bones stunned in an Iris colored suit by Paul Smith, while his wife Caitlin Estell wore Oscar de la Renta, David Yurman jewelry, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Miranda Lambert

Lambert wore a Morphew Vintage gown and carried a Tyler Ellis Signature Lee Pouchet Small in Black Diamond Crushed in Velvet, styled by Tiffany Gifford.

Breland

Wearing a custom print from Needles Tokyo, the Praise The Lord artist matched them with a pair of New Balance sneakers.

Wynnona Judd

Gloves were a trend. Judd wore a sequin flowing coat with black undertones.

Reba McEntire

McEntire can hold her own in royal blue velvet.

Dierks Bentley

Wearing a dark shade of teal, Bentley’s suit was one with a Country Western flair with his satin Western tie.

Maddie and Tae

Wearing dramatic red carpet looks, Maddie Font (left) wore a white princess cut skirt and midriff black top with matching black gloves with a rhinestone touch. Tae Kerr wore a high neck and long sleeved black gown with long train and thigh-high slit.

Off the shoulder, across the shoulder, and shoulder strap gowns were the look Runaway June chose for their show looks. Staying in shades of green and teal they ladies had a Country flair in their styles with stunning shoe choices.

Choosing a square neckline and burnt orange Alex Perry fitted dress that highlighted her curves, King broke the color of the dress with nude color Loeffler Randall shoes and a matching Cult Gaia clutch.

Jessie James Decker

Inspired by the Celia Foote character in The Help, Decker wore a red fitted spaghetti strapped long gown covered in rhinestones.

Jake Owen

Owen stuns in a burgundy velvet blazer and a black tie.

The Ceremony

A tribute opened for 3-time Grammy winner, CMA winner, Academy of Country Music winner, and Country Music Hall of Fame legend Loretta Lynn, who passed away on October 4th. Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire sang Lynn hits like Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Singer Luke Bryan and former NFL star Peyton Manning took to the stage as hosts. Manning called the CMA Awards the Super Bowl of Country Music. Comedic, they lightheartedly jabbed each other and brought laughs to the audience.

Jimmie Allen was supposed to take to the stage and perform with The Zac Brown Band and Marcus King but sent out a message on Twitter earlier in the day that he was under the weather.

Kelsea Ballerini sang with Carly Pearce and Kelly Clarkson. Luke Combs took to the stage in his every stage garb, a black Columbia fishing shirt to sing The Kind Of Love We Make. And Carly Pearce also paid tribute to Loretta Lynn by signing her song Dear Miss Loretta. Wearing a yellow chiffon gown with sequins, the cut of it was renunciant of a 70s gown, and the sound of the song was reminiscent of Country Music from the 70s.

Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen both took to the stage as well, with the latter artist performing his latest sing You Proof. And Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry took to the stage to sing their newly released song Where We Started. Cole Swindell got the audience to their feet as sang his hit with Jo Dee Messina, Heads Carolina.

Luke Bryan sung his latest single, “Country On.” Changing from his tuxedo, Bryan brought the audience to their feet. Miranda Lambert, who has three nominations this year, including CMA Entertainer of the Year performed “Geraldene,” from her latest album Palomino. Morgan Wallen, who is up for the same award performed “You Proof.” For the stage he wore jeans and a t-shirt but changed back into his maroon suit with black lapel. Wallen’s dressed down the suit with a black collarless shirt.

Lainey Wilson and HARDY took to the stage to sing their duet Wait In The Truck, to which the audience gave a standing ovation. It was a big night for Wilson who had the most nominations this year of six, including New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. Taking to the stage a lot throughout the night, she also paid tribute to Alan Jackson with Dierks Bentley, Carly Pearce, and Carrie Underwood; and, she recognized retired service men and women who have turned to music as a way of healing.

One of the most treasured performances was Patti Loveless’ You'll Never Leave Harlan, performed with Christ Stapleton brought everyone to their feet.

Nominations went to a mix of first-time and reining CMA Award winners. Song of the Year went to Jordan Davis’ Buy Dirt. Vocal Duo of the Year was awarded to Brothers Osborne. Old Dominion won Vocal Group of the Year. Actress Sarah Drew from Reindeer Games 2 and Tyler Hubbard presented the Single of the Year award, which went to Cody Johnson’s Til You Can’t. The Album of the Year was awarded to Growin’ Up, by Luke Combs. Lainey Wilson won New Artist of the Year, and again, she won the Female Vocalist of the Year.

Produced by the Country Music Association, under Robert Deaton as executive producer, Alan Carter as the Director, and Jon Macks at the Head Writer. The inaugural CMA Awards was in 1967 and was a banquet and show. By 1968 it was broadcasted live, which has now made it the longest running, annual music awards program to be on network television. It has been aired on ABC since 2006.