By Neia Balao
2:03pm PDT, Apr 2, 2023
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In honor of the 2023 CMT Music Awards on April 2, we're taking a look back at the most memorable couples who've attended the country music awards show in the past. Starting us off?
Carrie Underwood attended the 2012 CMT Music Awards with her hubby, then-NHL player Mike Fisher, whom she'd married less than two years earlier. The couple has since welcomed two sons together: Isaiah Michael in 2015 and Jacob Bryan in 2019. That night, Carrie had five nominations, the most for any artist. She took home two awards: collaborative video of the year for "Remind Me" with Brad Paisley and the biggest honor of the night, video of the year, for "Good Girl."
Keep reading for more memorable couples at CMT Music Awards past…
MORE: Country music stars when they were young
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Remember when Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert were a couple?! The "One Tree Hill" alum — who had nominations for female video of the year and breakthrough video of the year for "Why Ya Wanna" at the 2013 CMT Music Awards — attended the show that year with the country music star, to whom she was engaged at the time. They ended their relationship just two months later.
MORE: Country singers who've transitioned to acting
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Sam Hunt and Hannah Lee Fowler, seen here at the 2017 CMT Music Awards during happier days, tied the knot that same year. Today, their relationship is more complicated: When Hannah filed for divorce in February 2022, it emerged that she was pregnant with their first child. The two reconciled and welcomed daughter Lucy Lu that May.
MORE: Country music's biggest scandals
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"American Idol" alum Kellie Pickler dazzled in a burgundy-and-gold gown when she attended the 2017 CMT Music Awards with her songwriter husband, Kyle Jacobs — who died in 2023 in an apparent suicide. Kellie earned her first-ever CMT Music Awards nomination a decade earlier in 2007 for breakthrough video of the year. Kyle passed away in 2023.
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Who says the CMT Music Awards are just for musicians? Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder attended the 2015 show less than two months after they tied the knot! The "Twilight" actress and her "The Vampire Diaries" beau welcomed daughter Bodhi in 2017 and are expecting their second child in 2023.
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Jason Aldean posed for photos with then-wife Jessica Ussery at the 2011 CMT Music Awards. Jason had four nominations that night: video of the year, male video of the year and best web video of the year for "My Kinda Party" plus collaborative video of the year for "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson. The couple, who married in 2001 and share daughters Keeley and Kendyl, split in 2013 after Jason admitted to inappropriate behavior with former "American Idol" contestant Brittany Kerr, who's now his wife.
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The 2014 CMT Music Awards marked Jason Aldean and former "American Idol" contestant Brittany Kerr's first public appearance as a couple. Jason was up for male video of the year for "Night Train." They tied the knot that same year and have since welcomed two children: son Memphis in 2017 and daughter Navy Rome in 2019.
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Childhood sweethearts Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins, who are seen here at the 2019 CMT Music Awards, welcomed their fourth daughter, Lillie, in 2021. At the 2019 show, Thomas was up for male video of the year for "Life Changes," in which Lauren and their daughters Willa Gray and Ada James appeared.
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How sweet are they?! Kane Brown — who was up for male video of the year — arrived at the 2019 CMT Music Awards with pregnant wife Katelyn Jae, whom he'd married the previous year. Katelyn gave birth to daughter Kingsley a few months later and in 2021, they added daughter Kodi to the family.
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Does it get any cuter than this? Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, who tied the knot in 2006, attended the 2015 CMT Music Awards looking as smitten as ever. What we can't get over? How stunning Nicole was in this head-to-toe look by Balenciaga. That year, Keith was nominated for two awards: CMT performance of the year for "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" and male video of the year for "Somewhere in My Car."
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Dierks Bentley attended the 2019 CMT Music Awards with wife Cassidy Black, whom he married in 2005. Fun fact: This long-lasting couple, who have three kids, first set their sights on each other in middle school!
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Talk about a blast from the past! Blake Shelton attended the 2010 CMT Music Awards with fellow country star (and future ex-wife) Miranda Lambert. Both Blake and Miranda, who tied the knot less than a year later, were up for awards that night: Blake earned a nomination for collaborative video of the year for "Hillbilly Bone" with Trace Adkins while Miranda earned nods for video of the year and female video of the year for "White Liar." The couple called it quits in 2015.
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As usual, iconic country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill — who tied the knot back in 1996 and went on to welcome three daughters — made the perfect pair at the 2008 CMT Music Awards.
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We love a coordinated couple! Maren Morris attended the 2019 CMT Music Awards with her husband, singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. That night, Maren had three nods: video of the year and female video of the year for "Girl" and CMT performance of the year for "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" with Brandi Carlile. Maren and Ryan, who tied the knot in 2018, welcomed their first child, son Hayes Andrew, in 2020.
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Luke Combs was still a husband-to-be when he attended the 2019 CMT Music Awards! That evening, the North Carolina native — who was nominated for CMT performance of the year and video of the year — was accompanied by then-fiancée Nicole Hocking. In 2020, they tied the knot. Their first child, son Tex, arrived in 2022. Baby No. 2 is due in 2023.
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"Jersey Shore" star Jenni "JWoww" Farley hit the red carpet at the 2019 CMT Music Awards (her show's network, MTV, is a sister channel to CMT) with boyfriend Zack Clayton Carpinello. In 2021, the pair announced their engagement.
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Who would've thought Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi would ever be seen at a country music awards show?! The "Jersey Shore" co-stars, who definitely had their fair share of flirtatious moments on their hit reality series, which was on CMT sister network MTV, walked the red carpet together at the 2010 CMT Music Awards.
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In 2013, Eric Church and wife Katherine Blasingame posed for photos at the CMT Music Awards. Two years later in 2015, they welcomed their second child, son Tennessee.
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In 2019, Brett Young hit the red carpet pregnant wife Taylor Mills, who gave birth to their first child, daughter Presley, a few months later (daughter Rowan arrived in 2021). That year, Brett was up for CMT performance of the year.
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LeAnn Rimes arrived at the 2007 CMT Music Awards with her then-husband, backup dancer-turned-chef Dean Sheremet, whom she married in 2002. They split in 2009 in the wake of LeAnn's affair with actor Eddie Cibrian, whom she later married.
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We love their love! At the 2014 CMT Music Awards, Luke Bryan hit the red carpet with wife Caroline, whom he married in 2006. The country couple share two sons: Thomas Boyer, born in 2008, and Tatum Christopher, born in 2010. That night, Luke was among the most nominated artists thanks to his five nods. He took home trophies for CMT performance of the year for "Oh No/All Night Long" with Lionel Richie and collaborative video of the year for "This Is How We Roll" with Florida Georgia Line.
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Look at these "American Idol" alums! In 2019, Gabby Barrett attended the CMT Music Awards in coordinating black looks with then-fiancée Cade Foehner. The country singers married a few months later and became first-time parents when they welcomed daughter Baylah May in 2021. Son Augustine Boone arrived in 2022.
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At the 2019 CMT Music Awards, Tyler Rich showed up with Sabina Gadecki, who looked beautiful in her marigold floor-length gown. The couple had a major reason to celebrate just a few months after the award show — they got married that September.
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At the 2017 CMT Music Awards, Kelsea Ballerini arrived with her then-fiancé, Australian country singer Morgan Evans. The couple tied the knot nearly six months later — and divorced in 2022 amid cheating claims. Kelsea had nods in several categories that night including social media superstar as well as video of the year and female video of the year for "Peter Pan."
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Kristen Bell looked gorgeous as she arrived at the 2012 CMT Music Awards with actor Dax Shepard. That night, the actress co-hosted the show with singer Toby Keith. Kristen and Dax, who share daughters Lincoln and Delta, married the following year.
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One of country music's longest relationships! Alan Jackson attended the 2008 CMT Music Awards with wife Denise, whom he married in 1979. After temporarily separating in 1998 following the music star's infidelity, Alan and Denise reconciled. They share three daughters: Mattie Denise, Alexandra Jane and Dani Grace.
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Jessie James Decker arrived at the 2016 CMT Music Awards with then-NFL player Eric Decker, whom she'd married in 2013 after two years of dating. Jessie and Eric now have three kids.
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Actor William Shatner arrived at the 2005 CMT Music Awards with then-wife Elizabeth Shatner, whom he divorced in 2020. They rekindled their relationship in 2023.
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Brad Paisley attended the 2008 CMT Music Awards with wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley, whom he married in 2003. Brad, who'd earned nods that year for video of the year, male video of the year and comedy video of the year for "Online," shares two children with the actress: William Huckleberry, born in 2007, and Jasper Warren, born in 2009.
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"Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles was a newlywed when he hit the red carpet at the 2011 CMT Music Awards with actress Danneel Ackles. The couple, who met filming the 2007 movie "Ten Inch Hero," tied the knot in 2010 and have since welcomed three children: a daughter and twins.
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Singer-songwriter Jewel attended the 2006 CMT Music Awards with professional rodeo cowboy Ty Murray, whom she wed in 2008. After almost six years of marriage, they called it quits in 2014. They share son Kase Townes.
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Talk about a throwback! Husband-wife musical duo The Wrights — Adam and Shannon Wright — hit the CMT Music Awards red carpet in 2005. They've been making music together since 1998!
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Nashville-based country crooner Russell Dickerson wasn't alone when he attended the 2018 CMT Music Awards: He brought wife Kailey with him! Russell and Kailey added a baby boy, Remington, to the family in 2020.
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Josh Turner and wife Jennifer Ford, whom he married in 2003, attended the 2007 CMT Music Awards together. The couple share four sons.
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All smiles! Country singer-songwriter Shannon Brown hit the red carpet at the 2007 CMT Music Awards with her husband, director Shaun Silva. They share two children.
