CMA Awards 2023: The Complete List of Winners (Updating)

The winners of the 2023 CMA Awards are being announced from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Luke Combs‘ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” won the first two on-air awards, for single of the year and song of the year.

Chapman did not attend, but presenter Sara Evans read a statement from the singer-songwriter, who said “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all” but that it was “truly an honor for my song to be recognized 35 years after its debut.” Said Combs in winning single of the year: “I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the greatest songs of all time. It’s the first favorite song I ever had.”

In a very competitive field for fresh faces, Jelly Roll won new artist of the year. In his acceptance speech, he singled out the competitor who has been the commercially successful in the category, saying, “Zach Bryan, I think you are one of the hottest things on earth, not just country music.” Continuing on in a nearly preacher-like, inspirational tone, Jelly Roll added: “There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year… What’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you. Let’s party, Nashville!”

Prior to the telecast, the duet combination of Hardy and Lainey Wilson collectively won two awards for “Wait in the Truck,” for music video of the year and music event of the year.

Brothers Osborne won vocal duo of the year for a sixth time — with singer T.J. Osborne joking: “We’re shocked, honestly, every year this happens. I thought the way this was going that Lainey Wilson and Hardy were gonna win this award.” Old Dominion similarly continued to have a lock on the group of the year award, picking it up for the sixth consecutive year.

Jelly Roll opened the show with a previously unannounced guest, Wynonna Judd, joining him for a gospel choir-fueled “Need a Favor.” Another performance that hadn’t been revealed prior to the show had Wallen bringing Eric Church out to recreate their recorded duet of “Man Made a Bar,” from Wallen’s smash album “One Thing at a Time.” Both Wallen and Jelly Roll are slated for further performance slots during the three-hour telecast; Wallen will be saluting Wynonna, singing a duet of the Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge” with K. Michelle.

Wilson came into the awards leading all nominees, with nine. Jelly Roll has the second highest number of nominations, having picked up five. Combs and Hardy each have four nominations.

Performances for the night include Post Malone and Morgan Wallen participating in a medley of country classics and an all-star salute to the late Jimmy Buffett.

Read the results as they’re announced, here, with the winners in each category highlighted in bold.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

SINGLE OF THE YEARAward goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR  Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to Songwriter(s)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR  

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR  Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)  

Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens

Producer: Zach Crowell

Producer: Dann Huff

Producers: Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells

Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR  Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)

Director: Reid Long

Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher

Director: Patrick Tohill

Director: Running Bear

Director: Justin Clough

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR