Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll were big winners at the 57th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, scooping six of the 12 awards between them.
The 2023 event, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, saw Wilson take five awards including Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Jelly Roll was named Best New Artist.
Wilson had already made CMA Awards history leading the nominations list for the second straight year, landing nine nominations, following the six she earned in 2022.
Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter and BMG / BBR Music Group recording artist Jelly Roll, a first-time CMA nominee, while second to Wilson’s total nominations, was this year’s most nominated male artist.
Jelly Roll opened the awards show performing his hit song ‘Need A Favor’ before a full gospel choir, with Wynonna Judd, one of the most decorated female country artists in history, joining him onstage.
Wilson performed a fiery version of her song ‘Wildflowers and Wild Horses’, from her Album of the Year winner Bell Bottom Country.
Jelly Roll claimed the first award of the evening for the duo winning Best New Artist, marking BBR Music Group’s third straight Best New Artist win with Wilson earning the title in in 2022.
In his acceptance speech, Jelly Roll thanked his label, BBRMG’s Stoney Creek, alongside his manager, BMG’s Jon Loba and JoJamie Hahr, and Country radio before saying, “There is something poetic about a 39 year old man winning new artist of the year. I don’t know where you’re at in your life or what you’re going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby. I want to tell you success is on the other side of it. I want to tell you it’s going to be ok. I want to tell you that the windshield is better than the rearview mirror for a reason. What’s in front of you is much more important than what’s behind you. Let’s party, Nashville!”
Wilson followed by winning her first ever Album of the Year award for her career defining album Bell Bottom Country. The honoree went on to thank her record label and BMG before saying, “I feel like my love for storytelling came from being from Baskin, that town of 200 people where there’s not a lot to do and you just sit around that kitchen table telling the same stories you’ve been hearing for years. The kind of stories that get better every single time you hear them. Stories that make you want to laugh, cry, drink a beer, they make you want to do something. And that’s what we wanted to do with this record. Thank you so much.”
Wilson then went on to earn her second win of the night for Female Vocalist of the Year, saying, “here’s to every single dang lady that blaze trails every single day of their life.”
The final and most prestigious award of the evening, Entertainer of the Year, was awarded to an emotional Wilson.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, this is all I know how to do,” said Wilson. “It finally feels like Country music is finally starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart.”
Jelly Roll closed out the show with a grand finale performance of ‘Love Can Build A Bridge’ from the all-star compilation A Tribute To The Judds.
Source
BMG
