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.”
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 YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews “Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Producer: Austin Nivarel
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley “Wait in the Truck” – Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Producers: John Osborne, John Peets
Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery
Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman “Heart Like A Truck”
Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson “Next Thing You Know”
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne “Tennessee Orange”
Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams “Wait in the Truck”
Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
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
