People’s Choice Country Awards 2023: Everything to Know About the Inaugural Award Show

The first People’s Choice Country Awards have arrived!

The all-new fan-voted awards show — which is an offshoot of the People’s Choice Awards and celebrates country music’s biggest stars and most exciting names on the rise — kicks off Thursday.

The ceremony will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, with the band Little Big Town hosting the event.

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This year’s PCCA will honor several solo artists and groups from across country music for their achievements, award coveted awards to two country music legends and see performances from a star-studded lineup of talent, including several nominees.

Keep reading to find out all about the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards.

Luke Combs; Kelsea Ballerini; Zach Bryan.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

Who is nominated for PCCA 2023?

A handful of country music superstars are among this year’s nominees in the People’s Choice Country Awards 12 categories, which include song, album, music video, collaboration, crossover song, tour, solo artist, solo artist, group/duo, social country star, new artist and folk artist in 2023

Morgan Wallen is the most nominated artist with 11 nominations. He is followed by Luke Combs with nine nominations, Jelly Roll with eight, Lainey Wilson with seven, HARDY, Kane Brown and Zach Bryan with six each, and Megan Moroney with five.

Brown, Bryan, Combs, Wallen and Wilson, as well as Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion and Blake Shelton, are all in the running for 2023’s top folk artist award.

Among this year’s nominees are stars like Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain and others.

See the full list of nominees here.

See every star arriving at the inaugural 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards: PHOTOS

Who is performing at PCCA 2023?

During the ceremony, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Toby Keith and Wynonna Judd will take the Grand Ole Opry stage. The official lineup of performers was announced at the beginning of September.

Toby Keith; Wynonna Judd.

Jason Kempin/Getty; Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Who will be honored at PCCA 2023?

The People’s Choice Country Awards will award two coveted awards: the People’s Icon Award and the Country Champion Award.

This year, Toby Keith — who recently returned to the stage in July despite treatment for stomach cancer — will receive the folk icon award for his storied career spanning three decades. Blake Shelton will honor the 62-year-old “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” hitmaker.

“We are thrilled to honor legendary artist Toby Keith with the first country icon award,” Cassandra Tryon, senior vice president of live entertainment events for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said in a statement. “As a talented songwriter and powerful performer, Keith touched the hearts of fans around the world. His illustrious career and passion for philanthropy cemented his place as an icon in country music history.”

Wynonna Judd will also receive the first National Champion Award, which celebrates her dedication to philanthropy and social advocacy throughout her career. The former member of The Judds, 59, has previously campaigned for prison reform, among other things.

Brothers Osborne will present her with the trophy. The singer-songwriter previously won Vocal Duo of the Year — an award she won with her late mother Naomi Judd — at the 2022 CMA Awards.

Tryon shared a statement in a press release when Judd was announced as the recipient of the Country Champion Award: “Wynonna is one of the most recognized and acclaimed performers in country music. Not only is she incredibly talented, her selflessness and passion for putting the needs of others first is second to none.”

Blake Shelton, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce and more stars will perform at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards.

Who is presenting at PCCA 2023?

A roster of A-list talent will announce the winners during the ceremony. In addition to Blake Shelton and the Osbourne brothers, who present the honorary folk icon and national champion awards, the presenters are: Adam Doleac, Carly Pearce, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Hunter Hayes, Jessie James Decker, Josh Ross, Kameron Marlowe, Kristin Cavallari, Lady A, Lauren Alaina, Leanne Morgan, Mickey Guyton, Nikki Garcia, Scotty McCreery and The War And Treaty.

Who is hosting PCCA 2023?

Little Big Town, which is nominated for Best Group/Duo 2023 and Among Artists, will host the inaugural awards.

The long-standing four-member band released their tenth studio album last year Mr. Sunwhich reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown will perform at the first People’s Choice Country Awards

How to watch PCCA 2023:

The 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards will air live from the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Thursday, September 28 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and live on Peacock.

Before the ceremony, the PCCA will first kick off with a warm-up performance featuring red carpet arrivals, exclusive interviews and more. Addressed Backstage Live: People’s Choice Country Awards, the official red carpet live stream will air on Peacock and social platforms such as PCA Twitter, NBC Twitter/Facebook/YouTube, TODAY All Day/Twitter, E! News Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/E! Online, access Twitter/YouTube and Circle.

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Source: HIS Education