Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce joined forces for an epic performance of a classic No Doubt hit at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.
On Sunday (April 2), the former No Doubt singer and Pearce brought the house down with their collaborative performance of “Just A Girl.”
Sporting a white mini dress with pops of red, Stefani first appeared on the stage to deliver the opening verse of the iconic ska tune before Pearce, donning an all black ensemble, joined her on the chorus.
“’Cause I’m just a girl, oh, little old me / Well, don’t let me out of your sight / Oh, I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite / So don’t let me have any rights,” Stefani and Pearce belted out on the chorus.
Watch Gwen Stefani And Carly Pearce’s Performance Of “Just A Girl” Below
“Just A Girl” was released in September of 1995 as the lead single from the band’s third studio album. It was co-written by Stefani alongside fellow No Doubt member Tom Dumont.
Ahead of their performance, Pearce told CMT, “This is one of those moments where I am definitely pushed out of my comfort zone, but I’m going to try to just maintain being myself singing something that’s cool.”
“Every time you bring in pop or rock artists from outside, it makes some people question why we’re doing it,” Pearce continued. “But to me, it’s bringing more and more awareness to country music. I think it gives us a chance to do something a little bit different [and] I think that music is music, and I’m a very big fan of Gwen. I think she would say that she’s a fan of mine. She said it to me, so I feel like I can say that. We’re just two people that are artists that really have a true admiration for each other, want to sing a song together and have a girl anthem.”
Stefani was thrilled to bring the No Doubt hit to the CMT Music Awards stage.
“I am looking forward to performing in a room that I never thought I’d perform this song in,” Stefani shared with the outlet. “It’s an honor to have a song that was written so innocently many years ago and to be here today at the CMT Awards.”
Carly Pearce formed a friendship with Gwen Stefani while touring with Blake Shelton on the Back To The Honky Tonk Tour. Over the course of the tour, Pearce and Stefani got to have some “girl time” and bonded over makeup.
2023 CMT Music Awards
Co-hosted by Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini, the 2023 CMT Music Awards featured performances from Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, and Tyler Hubbard.
Additionally, the show included 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 joined forces for a special collaboration, while Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown teamed up for the television premiere of their chart-topping duet, “Thank God.”
The Black Crowes and Darius Rucker delivered a first-time collaboration of “She Talks To Angels,” and Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde will also take the stage together.
The show also included a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan from Gary Clark, Jr. and a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute from 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 made their CMT Music Awards performance debut on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.
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 appeared as presenters.
The coveted awards show aired live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 2 at 8/7c on CBS. It was also available to stream live and on-demand via Paramount+.
