Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson both won big at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards Thursday (September 28th) night.
The two singers won Male and Female Artist of 2023, respectively, and shared the award for The Collaboration of 2023 for “Save Me.” Additionally, Jelly Roll took home statures for The New Artist and The Song of 2023.
Morgan Wallen also had a successful night, collecting awards for The People’s Artist, The Album, and The Concert Tour of 2023.
During the broadcast, Blake Shelton honored Toby Keith with the Country Icon Award. During his acceptance speech, the “Beer For My Horses Singer joked, “Bet you thought you'd never see me in skinny jeans,” before thanking “the almighty” for allowing him to be there for the event.
Prior to the ceremony, Keith – who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021 – opened up to E! News about his health. He told the outlet, “I feel pretty good. It's a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you're up and down, up and down. It's always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today.”
Other Highlights:
- While accepting the Country Champion Award, Wynona Judd discussed showing up at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony the day after her mother’s suicide because, “I show up and I show out.”
- Jelly Roll, who is currently on tour, finally got to make an acceptance speech from the stage in Cincinnati, Ohio after winning The People’s Male Artist of 2023. From there, he performed “Save Me.”
Winners List:
THE PEOPLE'S ARTIST OF 2023
1. Blake Shelton
2. Kane Brown
3. Kelsea Ballerini
4. Lainey Wilson
5. Luke Combs
6. Morgan Wallen
7. Old Dominion
8. Zach Bryan
THE MALE ARTIST OF 2023
1. Bailey Zimmerman
2. Blake Shelton
3. HARDY
4. Jelly Roll
5. Kane Brown
6. Luke Combs
7. Morgan Wallen
8. Zach Bryan
THE FEMALE ARTIST OF 2023
1. Ashley McBryde
2. Carly Pearce
3. Carrie Underwood
4. Elle King
5. Kelsea Ballerini
6. Lainey Wilson
7. Megan Moroney
8. Miranda Lambert
THE GROUP/DUO OF 2023
1. Brothers Osborne
2. Dan + Shay
3. Lady A
4. Little Big Town
5. Maddie & Tae
6. Old Dominion
7. Parmalee
8. The War and Treaty
THE NEW ARTIST OF 2023
1. Bailey Zimmerman
2. Corey Kent
3. ERNEST
4. Ingrid Andress
5. Jelly Roll
6. Megan Moroney
7. Priscilla Block
8. Zach Bryan
THE SOCIAL COUNTRY STAR OF 2023
1. Bailey Zimmerman
2. Blake Shelton
3. Carrie Underwood
4. Dolly Parton
5. Kelsea Ballerini
6. Luke Combs
7. Morgan Wallen
8. Shania Twain
THE SONG OF 2023
1. “Fast Car” – Luke Combs
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
2. “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak
3. “Love You Anyway” – Luke Combs
Songwriters: Dan Isbell, Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher
4. “Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll
Songwriters: Austin Nivarel, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta
5. “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney
Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins
6. “Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown
Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman
7. “Thinkin’ Bout Me” – Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak, Taylor Phillips
8. “wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair
THE COLLABORATION SONG OF 2023
1. “Beer With My Friends” – Kenny Chesney & Old Dominion
Songwriters: Bryan Simpson, David Lee Murphy, Shy Carter
2. “Cowgirls” – Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, James Maddocks, Milan Modi, Rocky Block, Ryan Vojtesak
3. “red” – HARDY feat. Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Michael Hardy, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice
4. “Save Me” – Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: David Ray, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll
5. “Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown
Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman
6. “wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair
7. “We Don't Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Carly Pearce, Pete Good
8. “You, Me, And Whiskey” – Justin Moore, Priscilla Block
Songwriters: Brock Berryhill, Jessi Alexander, Cole Taylor
THE CROSSOVER SONG OF 2023
1. “Dawns” – Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers
Songwriters: Maggie Rogers, Zachary Lane Bryan
2. “Just Say I’m Sorry” – P!nk, Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Alecia Moore, Chris Stapleton
3. “Life Goes On” – Ed Sheeran feat. Luke Combs
Songwriter: Ed Sheeran
4. “Seasons” – Bebe Rexha, Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Bebe Rexha, Ido Zmishlany, Sarah Solovay
5. “Texas” – Jessie Murph feat. Maren Morris
Songwriters: Alex Niceforo, Amy Allen, Jessie Murph, Warren “Oak” Felder 6. That’s Not How This Works – Charlie Puth feat. Dan + Shay
Songwriters: Jordan Reynolds, Charlie Puth, Dan Smyers
7. “UNHEALTHY” – Anne-Marie feat. Shania Twain
Anne-Marie Nicholson, CASTLE, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough
8. “Wasted” – Diplo feat. Kodak Black & Koe Wetzel
Songwriters: Bill K. Kapri, Richard Cook Mears IV, Ropyr Wetzel, Thomas Wesley Pentz
THE ALBUM OF 2023
1. Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
2. Different Man – Kane Brown
3. Gettin' Old – Luke Combs
4. One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen
5. Religiously. The Album. – Bailey Zimmerman
6. Rolling Up The Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
7. the mockingbird & THE CROW – HARDY
8. Whitsitt Chapel – Jelly Roll
THE MUSIC VIDEO OF 2023
1. “In Your Love” – Tyler Childers
2. “Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll
3. “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney
4. “Thank God” – Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown
5. “Thought You Should Know” – Morgan Wallen
6. “wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
7. “Where We Started” – Thomas Rhett, Katy Perry
8. “You Proof” – Morgan Wallen
Luke Combs Announces 2024 North American Stadium Tour
THE CONCERT TOUR OF 2023
1. Blake Shelton: Back to the Honky Tonk Tour
2. Carrie Underwood: Denim & Rhinestones Tour
3. Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show Tour
4. Kenny Chesney: I Go Back 2023 Tour
5. Luke Combs World Tour
6. Morgan Wallen: One Night at a Time World Tour
7. Shania Twain: Queen of Me Tour
8. Zach Bryan: The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour
AUDIO
Blake Shelton accepts Social Media Award
- “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 it means but if the fans want me to have it, I'm damn well gonna put it on my mantle. Thank you so much country music fans. Cheers and Applause” :36 OC…country music fans Cheers and applause
Toby Keith Icon Award
- “I bet y'all never thought you'd see me in skinny jeans. Laughter I want to thank the Almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. He's been riding shotgun with me for a little while. I want to thank my beautiful families here. A lot of people go in and make it a big career like this of 30 years. My manager, T.K.Kimbrell; Curt Motley; Brian O'Connell; Elaine Schock; the band and the crew; and everybody that's all behind this thing. All the great musicians that have played on all of these albums in the studios, they've poured their heart and soul into what I do. And most of all, I want to thank the fans for still allowing us to do what we do. So God bless y'all. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Cheers and applause” :57 OC…evening thank you Cheers and applause
Wynona Judd Wins Country Champion Award
- “Thank you, brothers. Of course. You may be seated. So I graduated high school in 1982 and 1983. I got a record deal with RCA Records. And I got on a Silver Eagle bus with my mama and did her hair every night for ten years for free. It started there, of course. Ten years later, she would have to retire and I would go on to make country music herstery. And thanks to the fans, I didn't give up. Then I would have another ten years, a second career. And then on August 30 of last year, my mother committed suicide. And I went to her house, and she died there. But we followed the ambulance anyway to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. And I walked into the room and I held her in my arms and I kissed her on the forehead, shut her eyes, and said, I love you, mom. And I walked out of that room, went home, got up the next morning, and showed up at the Country Music Hall of Fame to be inducted into the hall of Fame. You know why? Because that's how much we love music. Regardless of what has happened to me and who I show up and I show out you. I looked up the word champion today, and it says to do battle for others. Honor. And that is exactly what I'm going to do tomorrow when I get on a commercial flight and fly to Denver and do one more show. Because I can't get enough of you. Thanks to my husband Cactus, you are my king. To my daughter Grace and my son Elijah, I love being your mother. I have a granddaughter, and I will do anything to protect her and to do battle. Let me tell you something. It's getting harder and harder out there. Never give up on your dreams. And for half of you all in this place tonight, I know you don't know who I am or you were not born when I had my years of being fabulous, and I'll let that go.But back in 1990, Tim McGraw opened for mefour weeks ago. I open. For Tim. The highs are high and the lows are low, baby. But don't ever let them tell you who you are. Good night.” 3:03 OC…you good night Cheers and Applause
Blake Shelton shares a Story about Toby Keith
- “I was out there with Toby for it was a long time like almost two years I think. And I finally got to the point where I was comfortable enough being around him and and I remember one night um it was after an award show a different award show and Toby was up he had been up for like four or five Awards and man he didn't win crap uh that night. I was talking to him after that and I had the nerve…I was so excited to be able to get under his skin. I said, “Um man Toby if if I ever make it big enough one day I and I get nominated for some awards I hope it's against you.” I swear Toby looked at me and he said you know why I brought you out on tour with me and I said no he goes I wanted to prove to this industry that I don't really need an opening act. Laughter and Applause” 1:05 OC…an opening act Laughter and Applause
Jelly Roll Accepts Male Artist of the Year Award
- “Right now, live in Nashville, Tennessee, they are doing the People's Choice Country Awards right now as we speak. I thought when I was here that I didn't have a chance at winning. right now live in Nashville, Tennessee. They doing the people's choice country awards right now as we speak.And I thought when I was here that I didn't have a chance and win. But the losers won. Again, baby. This speech has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it has everything to do with y'all. This was fan voted. This is for the fans. It's always for the fans first, baby. The London Dogs are back on top, baby. And I want to say thank you to the People's Choice Country Awards for giving an opportunity for me and these 20,000 DeGeneres to celebrate this together right now, live on national television from Cincinnati, Ohio. Cheers and Applasue” :57 OC…from Cincinnati, Ohio Cheers and applause