The Grand Ole Opry is the world-famous home for country music’s past, present, and future, in Nashville, Tennessee. Last night it continued making history by hosting the first ever People’s Choice Country Awards. The award show recognized the biggest and best country music has to offer, chosen by the public and fans. It has taken over 100 years for the country genre to finally get the credit it deserves, an award show of its own.
The evening started with a bang when the hosts of the show, Little Big Town, an American country group from Alabama, sang their hit song, “Boondocks.” They introduced the awards show by saying, “Tonight is about giving the people what they want, a show that is 100% fan-powered. Every award tonight has been chosen by you guys.” Fans were able to vote for their favorites in every category online, during a 10-day voting window back in August. The first award presented was the “Female Artist of 2023” with a lot of legendary nominees.
Carrie Underwood, Elle King, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, and Megan Moroney were all up for it. However, Lainey Wilson, who became an overnight country sensation back in 2021, took home the award. Not only did she win “Female Artist of 2023,” but she was the leading female nominee of the night, up for “Artist of 2023, Song of 2023, Collaboration of 2023, Album of 2023, and Music Video of 2023.” She gave a sentimental acceptance speech saying, “Thank y’all so much for letting me express myself through my music and even the way that I dress, and I love seeing y’all do the same exact thing. Y’all keep showing up and I will keep showing up too, God bless y’all, thank you.”
Then Kane Brown took the stage for the first official performance of the night, singing his 10th number-one hit, “Bury Me in Georgia.” He also just announced his 2024 tour, “In The Air,” which is set to start in March and go through September. Brown has a killer stage presence, checking in with the crowd multiple times throughout, saying, “How we feeling? Come on now!” He dominated the stage and was able to get the entire audience on their feet by the end of the song. Kane Brown was up for six awards, “Artist of 2023, Male Artist of 2023, Album of 2023, Song of 2023, Collaboration of 2023,” and “Music Video of 2023,” but unfortunately he did not take any of them home.
Next, it was Carly Pearce’s turn to rock the stage with the debut of her recent release, “Country Music Made Me Do It.” The Opry was set like an old barn and it looked like a sunset in heaven, yet she stole the stage standing front and center with thigh-high boots and a beautiful glittery floral outfit. Unfortunately, Pearce didn’t win any awards last night, but she has an upcoming tour called, “Country Music Made Me Do It.” Where she will be performing for six weeks, opening in October. Jessie James Decker and Kameron Marlowe introduced the “Group/Duo of 2023.” The nominees were Lady A, Dan + Shay, Maddie and Tae, Parmalee, Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne, The War and Treaty, and Old Dominion. Dan + Shay won and you could tell this was an “I made it” moment for them. They were screaming gratitude, especially when Shay Mooney said, “We were those kids that grew up listening to Toby Keith, and Wynonna, and Little Big Town— man this is truly a dream come true, and you guys change our lives every single day, and God bless you guys, and God bless country music.” They later took the stage performing the title track “Bigger Houses” from their fifth album. It was an amazing performance with a beautiful set. Dan + Shay were seated on the roof of the same miniature house from their music video, which was surrounded by a tiny white picket fence.
Perhaps the peak of the evening was when it was time to pay tribute and present the “Country Icon” award to none other than Toby Keith. Blake Shelton had the honors and sang “Who’s Your Daddy.” Keith was seen smiling and dancing along, as was the rest of the crowd. Shelton closed out his performance by introducing him, saying, “Take a look everybody, the country icon Toby Keith.” A beautiful tribute video was played reflecting on all of Keith’s history and achievements as an artist. Fans were then blessed with a performance of his “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which is a song he wrote 100% himself. It has been a little over a year since he announced his fight with stomach cancer, and this song made him visibly shake at parts and his wife Tricia was crying. The rest of the audience was also moved to tears during this powerful performance by this country legend.
Then the heat got turned up with an electric performance of his recent release, “Truck Bed” from HARDY. He received six nominations last night for “Male Artist of 2023, Song of 2023, Album of 2023,” two for “Collaboration Song of 2023,” and “Music Video of 2023.” He was fortunate enough to take home “Music Video of 2023” for his “wait in the truck” music video featuring Lainey Wilson. This was also his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
The Royal Treaty announced the “Collaboration Song of 2023” winners which went to Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson for their song “Save Me.” Jelly Roll was at a concert performing in Cincinnati, Ohio and Wilson accepted the award on his behalf. She gave a sweet tribute speech saying, “I think it is so cool that he has found who love him for him, and he makes people feel like they can be true to themselves and their stories, and I tell you what that right there is special in itself, so this is for Jelly Roll y’all.” He was also the winner of “Male Artist of 2023, New Artist of 2023,” and “Single of 2023.” He was presented with the “Male Artist of 2023” live during his Cincinnati concert by Elle King. Jelly Roll broke out in the biggest smile, even his eyes were twinkling, and he said “I thought since I was here I didn’t have a chance at winning, but the losers win again baby.”
“The Social Country Star of 2023” went to the person who kept us hooked on their every social media move, and this winner may come as a surprise, Blake Shelton. It seems even he was surprised when he took the stage saying, “I moved to Nashville in 1994, and man I had a lot of dreams, this was not one of them, I don’t even know what this means, but if the fans want me to have it, I’m damn well gonna put it on my mantel, thank you so much country music fans.” The crowd ate up his humor and it is clear why he’s a fan favorite.
Another peak of the evening was when the “Country Champion” award was presented to the legend, Wynonna Judd. Judd is one of the most widely recognized and awarded female country musicians in history. They presented a tribute video featuring her career throughout the years and then she took the stage to perform a couple of her hit songs, starting with “I Saw the Light,” and then “No One Else On Earth.” She was smiling through the entire performance as well as the crowd. Judd ended with a powerful speech about the day her mother committed suicide in August of last year, and how she showed up the next day to get inducted into the Hall of Fame. Saying, “You know why, because that is how much we love music, regardless of what has happened to me and who, I show up and I show out.” It is clear why Wynonna Judd was the obvious choice for the “Country Champion,” and she did nothing but confirm that last night.
The People’s Choice Country Awards ended with a live stream of Jelly Roll singing his emotional hit song, “Save Me,” at his Cincinnati, Ohio concert. People were crying, everyone was singing, and light started raining down. It was the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards, and it was spectacular. The country genre continues to make its mark with its unique sound and beautiful story-like lyrics.
