CMT Announces Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Featuring Cody Johnson

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

March 31st, 2023 11:31 AM

CMT has announced an all-star tribute to the legendary band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It will feature a stacked lineup including Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Slash, and Warren Haynes. LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd will fill the role of “The Honkettes.”

The celebration comes 50 years after the launch of the band’s debut album. It folows the recent passing of the final original founding member, guitarist Gary Rossington.

Cody Johnson and Paul Rodgers will lead vocals with Billy Gibbons, Slash, and Warren Haynes on electric guitars for a performance of a pair of timeless Lynyrd Skynyrd hits. Veteran Nashville studio and touring musicians Ethan Pilzer and Rich Redmond complete the lineup on bass and drums.

Dale Krantz Rossington, band member and wife of late guitarist Gary Rossington, is set to attend, alongside fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd band members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke. The group sold over 28 million records in the U.S. since their debut album Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd in 1973.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards will air live from Austin, Texas’s Moody Center this Sunday, April 2nd (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.

RELATED: CMT Reveals Top Six 'Video of the Year' Nominees

We recently reported that Gwen Stefani would make her CMT debut with a performance with Carly Pearce. Stefani last appeared on the show in 2020 with Blake Shelton. They were there to accept their win for “Collaborative Video of the Year” for their duet “Nobody But You.”

Shania Twain will be recognized with the “CMT Equal Play Award.” The award recognizes artists who advocate for diverse and underrepresented voices in country music. Previous “CMT Equal Play Award” winners include Jennifer Nettles and Linda Martell.

Lainey Wilson Leads 2023 CMT Music Award Nominations

• VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo, or collaboration). Top six nominees from the first round of voting will be announced on March 27. The final three nominees from the second round of voting will be announced on show day, April 2. Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.

  Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, Brandy Clark & Pillbox Patti – “Bonfire at Tina’s”

  Blake Shelton – “No Body”

  Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart”

  Cody Johnson – “Human”

  Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – “Worth a Shot”

  Gabby Barrett – “Pick Me Up”

  HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”

  Jimmie Allen – “Down Home”

  Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”

  Keith Urban – “Wild Hearts”

  Kelsea Ballerini – “HEARTFIRST”

  Little Big Town – “Rich Man”

  Luke Bryan – “Country On”

  Luke Combs – “The Kind of Love We Make”

  Morgan Wallen – “You Proof”

  Walker Hayes – “AA”

• FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Carly Pearce – “What He Didn’t Do”

  Carrie Underwood – “Ghost Story”

  Gabby Barrett – “Pick Me Up”

  Kelsea Ballerini – “HEARTFIRST”

  Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like a Truck”

  Maren Morris – “Humble Quest”

  Miranda Lambert – “Actin’ Up”

• MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Bailey Zimmerman – “Rock and a Hard Place”

  Cody Johnson – “Human”

  Cole Swindell – “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”

  Jelly Roll – “Son of a Sinner”

  Kane Brown – “Like I Love Country Music”

  Luke Combs – “The Kind of Love We Make”

  Morgan Wallen – “Wasted on You”

• GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Dan + Shay – “You (Performance Video)”

  Lady A – “Summer State of Mind”

  Little Big Town – “Hell Yeah”

  Parmalee – “Take My Name”

  The War and Treaty – “That’s How Love Is Made”

  Zac Brown Band – “Out in the Middle”

• FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Avery Anna – “Narcissist”

  Kylie Morgan – “If He Wanted to He Would”

  MacKenzie Porter – “Pickup”

  Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”

  Morgan Wade – “Wilder Days”

  Tiera Kennedy – “Found It in You”

• MALE BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Bailey Zimmerman – “Fall in Love”

  Corey Kent – “Wild as Her”

  Drake Milligan – “Sounds Like Something I’d Do”

  Jackson Dean – “Don’t Come Lookin’”

  Jelly Roll – “Son of a Sinner”

  Nate Smith – “Whiskey on You”

• COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  Elle King feat. Dierks Bentley – “Worth a Shot”

  HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”

  Ingrid Andress with Sam Hunt – “Wishful Drinking”

  Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”

  Midland feat. Jon Pardi – “Longneck Way to Go”

  Russell Dickerson feat. Jake Scott – “She Likes It”

  Thomas Rhett & Katy Perry – “Where We Started”

• CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

  Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton – “Colors” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

  Chris Stapleton – “Whenever You Come Around” (from “CMT Giants: Vince Gill”)

  Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

  Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson – “Never Say Never” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

  Darius Rucker – “Let Her Cry” (from “CMT Storytellers”)

  Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson – “Lay Me Down” (from “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn”)

  LeAnn Rimes with Ashley McBryde & Carly Pearce – “One Way Ticket” (from “CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends”)

  Keith Urban – “Wild Hearts” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

  The Judds – “Love Can Build a Bridge” (from 2022 CMT MUSIC AWARDS)

  Wynonna Judd & Brandi Carlile – “The Rose” (from “Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration”)

• CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

  Charley Crockett – “Time of the Cottonwood Trees” (from “CMT Campfire Sessions”)

  Chris Young – “Gettin’ You Home” (from “CMT Stages”)

  Ingrid Andress – “Wishful Drinking” (from “CMT Studio Sessions”)

  Jelly Roll – “Son of a Sinner” (from “CMT All Access”)

  Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange” (from “CMT Viral to Verified”)

  Scotty McCreery – “Damn Strait” (from “CMT Campfire Sessions”)

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

Category:

• Country News
• Music
• WKML

Tags:

2023 CMT Music Awards,Billy Gibbons,Chuck Leavell,Cody Johnson,LeAnn Rimes,Lynyrd Skynyrd,Slash,Wynonna