Your voice counts for the newest primetime country awards show. NBCUniversal announced on March 9 the People's Choice Country Awards, an extension of the pop culture-spanning People's Choice Awards. It'll air on Thurs., Sept 28 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC and its streaming service, Peacock.
"We're excited to partner with the Grand Ole Opry to bring the year's biggest celebration in country music to Nashville," Cassandra Tryon, Senior Vice President, Live Events, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, shared in a press release. "Country fans are passionate about their music and there's no better place to host this event than from country music's biggest stage."
The broadcast will air live from the Grand Ole Opry House and, per a press release, will "lean into the rich connection between country music and the Opry through chart-topping musical performances, genre-bending collaborations, legendary tributes and surprise moments that regularly happen from the iconic venue."
It's being billed as the "only award show for the people and by the people." The CMT Music Awards incorporates fan voting, but its categories focus on music videos and CMT programming.
The partnership builds off NBCUniversal's fiscal connection to the Opry. In April 2022, the network and investment partner Atairos paid $293 million for a 30 percent stake in the Grand Ole Opry and related country music properties: namely the Opry's radio home, WSM-AM, and Blake Shelton's chain of Ole Red restaurants. In addition, NBCUniversal purchased a 50 percent interest in Opry-adjacent television network Circle.
How to Watch
In addition to NBC and Peacock's simultaneous broadcasts of the event, multiple platforms will air Backstage Live: People's Choice Country Awards, which will feature red carpet coverage as well as behind-the-scenes footage in real time. The livestream will air on Peacock and Circle as well as the social media accounts of NBC, Today, E! News, E! Online Access and Circle.
Who's Hosting
The four members of Little Big Town —Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook— will host the show.
How and Where to Vote
Fan voting opened on Aug. 16 on the awards show's website and lasted through Aug. 22. Only one vote per category per day was permitted. Votes cast on Turbo Tuesday (Aug. 22) counted twice. Per the rules, "the voting methods [were] open to voters who are 18 years of age or older in the 50 United States including District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for 12 categories."
Career Achievement Awards
Multiple career achievement honors have been teased for the broadcast. Two been announced so far: the Country Icon Award, which will be awarded to Toby Keith by fellow Oklahoman Blake Shelton, and the Champion Award, which applauds the charitable work of Wynonna Judd.
Who's Performing
The following performers were announced on Sept. 15 via the show's social media accounts: Kane Brown, Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Hardy, Little Big Town, Keith and Judd.
Who's Nominated
There's 12 categories, including three absent from comparable awards shows: Crossover Song, Concert Tour and Social Country Star.
Morgan Wallen leads his peers with 11 nominations. Luke Combs and Hardy picked up nine nominations apiece, with others up for multiple awards including Jelly Roll (eight) and Lainey Wilson (seven).
The People's Artist of 2023
Kane Brown
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Old Dominion
Zach Bryan
The Male Artist of 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Blake Shelton
Hardy
Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
The Female Artist of 2023
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Elle King
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
The Group/Duo of 2023
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Lady A
Little Big Town
Maddie & Tae
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The War and Treaty
The New Artist of 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Corey Kent
Ernest
Ingrid Andress
Jelly Roll
Megan Moroney
Priscilla Block
Zach Bryan
The Album of 2023
Lainey Wilson, Bell Bottom Country
Kane Brown, Different Man
Luke Combs, Gettin' Old
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
Bailey Zimmerman, Religiously. The Album
Kelsea Ballerini, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
Hardy, The Mockingbird & the Crow
Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel
The Song of 2023
Luke Combs, "Fast Car"
Morgan Wallen, "Last Night"
Luke Combs, "Love You Anyway"
Jelly Roll, "Need a Favor"
Megan Moroney, "Tennessee Orange"
Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, "Thank God"
Morgan Wallen, "Thinkin' Bout Me"
Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson, "Wait in the Truck"
The Collaboration Song of 2023
Kenny Chesney and Old Dominion, "Beer With My Friends"
Morgan Wallen feat. Ernest, "Cowgirls"
Hardy feat. Morgan Wallen, "Red"
Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson, "Save Me"
Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, "Thank God"
Carly Pearce and Christ Stapleton, "We Don't Fight Anymore"
Justin Moore and Priscilla Block, "You, Me and Whiskey"
The Crossover Song of 2023
Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers, "Dawns"
Pink and Chris Stapleton, "Just Say I'm Sorry"
Ed Sheeran feat. Luke Combs, "Life Goes On"
Bebe Rexha and Dolly Parton, "Seasons"
Jessie Murph feat. Maren Morris, "Texas"
Charlie Puth feat. Dan + Shay, "That's Not How This Works"
Anne-Marie feat. Shania Twain, "Unhealthy"
Diplo feat. Kodak Black & Koe Wetzel, "Wasted"
The Music Video of 2023
Tyler Childers, "In Your Love"
Jelly Roll, "Need a Favor"
Megan Moroney, "Tennessee Orange"
Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, "Thank God"
Morgan Wallen, "Thought You Should Know"
Hardy feat. Lainey Wilson, "Wait in the Truck"
Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry, "Where We Started"
Morgan Wallen, "You Proof"
The Concert Tour of 2023
Blake Shelton, Back to the Honky Tonk Tour
Carrie Underwood, Denim & Rhinestones Tour
Chris Stapleton, All-American Road Show Tour
Kenny Chesney, I Go Back 2023 Tour
Luke Combs, World Tour
Morgan Wallen, One Night at a Time Tour
Shania Twain, Queen of Me Tour
Zach Bryan, The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour
The Social Country Star of 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Blake Shelton
Carrie Underwood
Dolly Parton
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Shania Twain
