Jelly Roll, the singer of "Son of a Sinner," had a successful night at the CMT Music Awards, where he won three awards as a non-traditional country singer who captivated audiences with his personal songs. During the show in Austin, Texas, which was broadcast on CBS, the tattooed artist expressed his gratitude to the country radio industry for accepting him and encouraging others to pursue their dreams, stating that he had always wanted to be a country singer and was now at the CMT Awards with the male video of the year award.



At the beginning of the show, co-host Kelsea Ballerini paid tribute to the six victims of a recent school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, and spoke about her own experience with a school shooting in her hometown. The event featured various performances that blended rock, blues, and country music, including tributes and covers, as well as newer and popular artists.

Shania Twain, a five-time Grammy winner and country superstar, was presented with the Equal Play Award for being a "visible and vocal advocate" for diverse voices in country music. Twain's hit song "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" became a theme for her decades-long career in advocating for more inclusion in country music.

Other winners of the night included Lainey Wilson, who won twice for her songs "Heart Like a Truck" and "Wait in the Truck," and Kane Brown, who won video of the year with his wife for their duet, "Thank God."

The show also featured collaborations between artists, including a cover of Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love is" by Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde, and a performance of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" by a group of artists. The event concluded with a tribute to the late Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, featuring ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Guns N' Roses' Slash, and others.