Country Couples Turn Heads On 2023 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet: Cole Swindell, Parker McCollum, HARDY, Cody Johnson & More

Love was in the air on the 2023 CMT Music Awards red carpet.

By

Nicole Palsa

Nicole Palsa is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 2012, she has written about the newcomers, superstars, and legends of country music for publications including Music Mayhem, Country Now, and Country Music Tattle Tale. Nicole has served as a volunteer guide with Musicians On Call since 2016 and is a Troubadour member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and her Bachelor of Arts degree in French. In addition to being a devoted country music fan, Nicole is a family historian and genealogist who can often be found in stacks of research. She is also an avid traveler with a passion for wildlife and nature photography.

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Posted on April 3, 2023

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Cole Swindell and Courtney Little, Hallie Ray Light McCollum and Parker McCollum, HARDY and Caleigh Ryan, Brandi Johnson and Cody Johnson; Photos Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Country music’s cutest couples dressed to the nines for the 2023 CMT Music Awards red carpet, where love was in the air.

From new couple Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes to longtime spouses Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, country’s sweethearts made the evening a date night full of love and affection.

CMT Music Awards co-host Kelsea Ballerini made her relationship with Chase Stokes official on the red carpet as the pair lovingly embraced one another. 

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Married couples Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, along with Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, graced the red carpet wearing nearly matching outfits.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Newlyweds Lily Rose and Daira Eamon shared their wedded bliss on the red carpet, along with fellow married couples HARDY and Caleigh Ryan, Parker McCollum and Hallie Ray Light McCollum, Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO, and Jon Pardi and Summer Duncan.

Daira Eamon and Lily Rose; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Daira Eamon and Lily Rose; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
HARDY and Caleigh Ryan; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
HARDY and Caleigh Ryan; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Hallie Ray Light McCollum and Parker McCollum; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Hallie Ray Light McCollum and Parker McCollum; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Jon Pardi and Summer Duncan Pardi; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Jon Pardi and Summer Duncan Pardi; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Long-time spouses showed off their enduring love, including Wynonna Judd and Cactus Moser, Cody Johnson and Brandi Johnson, Russell Dickerson and Kailey Dickerson, and Charles Esten and Patty Hanson.

Cactus Moser and Wynonna Judd; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Cactus Moser and Wynonna Judd; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Brandi Johnson and Cody Johnson; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Brandi Johnson and Cody Johnson; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Kailey Dickerson and Russell Dickerson; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Kailey Dickerson and Russell Dickerson; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Patty Hanson and Charles Esten; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Patty Hanson and Charles Esten; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Country sweethearts Cole Swindell and Courtney Little also stepped out onto the red carpet to share their love for one another.

Cole Swindell and Courtney Little; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Cole Swindell and Courtney Little; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

With their partners by their sides, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll are celebrating more than love, with each artist earning three CMT Music Awards nominations.

Co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the 2023 CMT Music Awards will feature performances from Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, and Tyler Hubbard. 

Additionally, the show will feature one-of-a-kind collaborations, including a 10th anniversary of CMT Next Women of Country celebration featuring Alanis Morissette with Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce will join forces for a special collaboration, while Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown are set to team up for the television premiere of their chart-topping duet, “Thank God.”

Chelsea Cai Dowlearn and Randy Rogers; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Chelsea Cai Dowlearn and Randy Rogers; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Gary Clark Jr. and Nicole Trunfio; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Gary Clark Jr. and Nicole Trunfio; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

The Black Crowes and Darius Rucker will deliver a first-time collaboration of “She Talks To Angels,” and Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde will also take the stage together for a world premiere performance. 

The show will also include a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan from Gary Clark, Jr. and a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute featuring Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash & Warren Haynes and LeAnn Rimes & Wynonna Judd as honorary “Honkettes.”

Rising stars Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Nate Smith, and Megan Moroney will make their CMT Music Awards performance debut on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.  

Rachel Scott and Jake Scott; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Rachel Scott and Jake Scott; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Corey Kent, Dayna White; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Corey Kent, Dayna White; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Presenters include Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Charles Esten, Dixie D’Amelio, Dustin Lynch, HARDY, Ian Bohen + Jen Landon (Yellowstone), Jon Pardi, LeAnn Rimes, Madison Bailey (Outer Banks), Max Thieriot (Fire Country), Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things), Parker McCollum, Peter Frampton, Shania Twain, Steve Howey (True Lies) and Travis Kelce.

The coveted awards show will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 2 at 8/7c on CBS. Additionally, it will stream live and on-demand via Paramount+.

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Written by

Nicole Palsa is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 2012, she has written about the newcomers, superstars, and legends of country music for publications including Music Mayhem, Country Now, and Country Music Tattle Tale. Nicole has served as a volunteer guide with Musicians On Call since 2016 and is a Troubadour member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and her Bachelor of Arts degree in French. In addition to being a devoted country music fan, Nicole is a family historian and genealogist who can often be found in stacks of research. She is also an avid traveler with a passion for wildlife and nature photography.

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