NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer Kelsea Ballerini paid tribute to victims of a school shooting at the opening of the CMT Music Awards while sharing the community’s grief, before giving a speech at Dancing with drag artists is legal in states across the country Limit drag shows,
Ballerini, who co-hosted the annual awards ceremony with singer Kane Brown, opened in Austin, Texas, listing the names of six victims Three adults and three children aged 9 They were killed Monday at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. She noted how she shared their pain, explaining that in 2008, she witnessed a school shooting in a high school cafeteria in her hometown of Knoxville and prayed for “real action” to protect children and families.
About two hours into the show, which was voted by fans, the Tennessee native sang “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down)” and joined the show’s all-star Kennedy Darwin Porter, Jan Spotter, Manila Luzon and Olivia Lux dance to “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Her home state of Tennessee is the first state to impose strict restrictions on drag shows, rules that go into effect this month.the law has temporarily blocked After the lawsuit was filed earlier this week.
country superstar and five time grammy winner Shania Twain Winner of the Equal Play Award, recognizing her as a “visible and outspoken advocate” for different voices in country music. Texan native and Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion introduced Twain, and the two danced and hugged to Twain’s hit “Dude, I Feel Like a Woman.”
Twain said the song’s lyrics became an undercurrent of a decades-long publicity career.
“I promise, I will continue to support the many great country artists who are not currently performing, who are not currently streaming, touring, signing or winning at the level they should be,” Twain said. “I believe in country music all inclusive”
Leading nominee Lainey Wilson took early wins for Female Video of the Year for “Heart Like a Truck” and Collaboration Video of the Year with HARDY’s “Wait in the Truck.”
“My heart is going to jump out of my chest, and I’m going to be honest with you guys,” Wilson said after winning Video of the Year, calling the hit “scratches, dents and bumps along the way.”
This year’s CMT Music Awards is a fusion of country, rock and blues straight from the heart of Texas, including performances with Alanis Morissette, The Black Crowes, Gwen Stefani and Gary Clark Jr., and tributes to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute.
Pop star Stefani performed her unmistakable mid-1990s pop-punk hit “Just a Girl” alongside country singer Carly Pearce. Jelly Roll, already a double-champion, brought a choir to sing his prayer theme song “Need a Favor,” and got the crowd to raise their hands to the roof.
Carrie Underwood has the opportunity to extend her record as the most awarded artist in CMT history with 25 awards. Underwood, who was nominated again for Video of the Year for “Hate My Heart,” will also perform.
Four-time Grammy winner Clark Jr. opened the show with a tribute to the late Texan guitarist Steve Rayvone.
Southern rocker Lynyrd Skynyrd will receive a tribute performance following the death of the last original member in March, Gary RossingtonBilly Gibbons from ZZ Top, Slash from Guns N’ Roses and Warren Haynes and Chuck Leavell from the Allman Brothers will perform along with singers Paul Rodgers and Cody Johnson, with backing vocals from LeAnn Rimes and Judd.
