Show-Stopping Dresses From The CMT Music Awards

Kelsey Berish | November 8, 2024 12:55 pm

Each year, stars strut down the CMT Music Awards carpet to celebrate country music videos and television, all while wearing some of the best designs around. The sparkling gowns and gorgeous ensembles worn by artists such as Carrie Underwood, Gladys Knight, and Miranda Lambert demand to be noticed.

Keep reading and get ready to marvel at some beautiful event outfits!

Carrie Underwood

2021 CMT Music Awards - Show
Erika Goldring/Getty Images for CMT
Erika Goldring/Getty Images for CMT

Country music star Carrie Underwood shined bright like the sun during the 2021 CMT Music Awards ceremony, wearing a neon yellow mini-dress.

The dress was the perfect statement piece for Underwood, as she looked flawless on the carpet and on stage while she accepted the award for Video of the Year.

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RaeLynn

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John Shearer/WireImage
John Shearer/WireImage
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One of the more stunning outfits worn on the 2019 CMT Music Awards carpet was this dress worn by singer RaeLynn. Designed by Ines Di Santo, the light green-blue dress donned a bubble skirt, off-the-shoulder sleeves, a floral detailing.

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The statement piece, though, was the long train that swept behind her.

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Mickey Guyton

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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For the 2021 CMT Awards, country music singer Mickey Guyton opted to wear designer Brandon Maxwell; and the design did not disappoint!

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Guyton was seen on the red carpet wearing an amazing yellow dress, complete with a subtle leg slit and what looks like a shrug over her shoulders. The look was pulled together with matching shoes.

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Gladys Knight

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Gladys Knight proved that less is more on the 2021 CMT red carpet. During the event, she wore a knee-length white dress, complete with long patterned sheer sleeves and matching heels.

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Knight then opted for some shimmering makeup and a beautifully coiffed hairstyle, making the star look like an angel.

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Taylor Swift

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Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Wonderwall
Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Wonderwall
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When it comes to red carpet events, Taylor Swift can do no wrong, as seen here during the 2013 CMT Music Awards. During the event, Swift wore a high-low cream-colored Elie Saab dress with matching strappy heels.

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The dress had a cape-like detailing in the back and embellishments all over, making for a very romantic look.

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Anna Moon

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Anna Moon walked down the CMT carpet alongside her husband Niko Moon, completely outshining him in an Alex Perry Tate off-the-shoulder dress.

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Looking like the sun, the dress was form-fitting and had long sleeves, which the designer strategically created to fall off the shoulder of the star. She paired the dress with black heels and bright red lipstick.

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Taylin Gallacher

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Taylin Gallacher and her NFL husband, Taylor Lewan, opted for a bit of coordination on the CMT red carpet. Both wearing white, Gallacher wore a sophisticated-looking white blazer dress with silver detail.

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She then accessorized with silver, opting for a clutch and some shimmering shoes and earrings to complete the look.

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Hailey Whitters

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Country music singer Hailey Whitters was literally embodying the sun and the stars during the 2021 CMT Awards. For the event, Whitters wore a black blazer dress with sun, moon, and star detailing.

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To complete the look, the singer went with black knee-high boots and a sophisticated updo hairstyle.

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Tenille Arts

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Tenille Arts stepped on her first-ever red carpet during the 2021 CMT Awards, wearing a stunning gown designed by LBV. The column dress was a geometric pattern of embellished black and blue, going all the way down to the floor.

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During an interview with ET, Arts said, "This dress is like, a hundred pounds, I'm not kidding. But it was so much fun. I'm like, 'I'm not complaining at all; this is so great.'"

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Katie Cook

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2020 CMT Music Awards - Fan Viewing Party
Jason Kempin/CMT2020/Getty Images for CMT
Jason Kempin/CMT2020/Getty Images for CMT
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During the 2020 CMT Music Awards, Katie Cook went all-out in a shimmering minidress. The silver piece had subtle shoulders with ruffle detailing going down one side.

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To put more emphasis on the design, Cook opted to wear her hair in a slicked-back up-do with large silver hoops and a matching silver cuff bracelet.

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Erin Andrews

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Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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While sportscaster Erin Andrews didn't get on stage during the 2015 CMT Music Awards, she didn't disappoint with her outfit. For the event, Andrews sported a floor-length white gown with not only a right-above-the-knee slit but one hip cutout surrounded in gold.

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The dress was definitely one of the bigger statement pieces of the evening.

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Kristen Bell

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Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
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Actress Kristen Bell was one of the presenters during the 2014 CMT Awards ceremony. So, she clearly had to look the part! For the event, Bell did a few wardrobe changes, with this gorgeous Zuhair Murad gown being one of the first dresses she donned that evening.

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Floor-length and filled with sparkle, the actress looked ready to take on the night!

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Kimberly Schlapman

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Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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Singer Kimberly Schlapman wore a Lorena Sarbu design during the 2016 CMT Music Awards. The dress was beautiful, flirty, and complemented Schlapman with its light pink color and floral pattern.

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More emphasis is put on the gorgeous gown, thanks to the singer's curly up-do hair, a style that perfectly matches the fairy-tale-inspired gown.

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Sheryl Crow

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Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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Country music star Sheryl Crow wore a daring Willow Spring dress during the 2013 CMT Music Awards. On the red carpet, she was seen wearing a white dress with a corset-style top and a flowy skirt.

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The real knock-out part of this design, though, is the three cutouts along the bodice, something Crow brings notice to, thanks to her curly up-do.

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Miranda Lambert

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Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic
Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic
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Miranda Lambert looked very stylish in a Celia Kritharioti minidress during the 2014 CMT Music Awards. For the event, she wore a very light pink dress, complete with a deep-v neckline and filled with beaded embellishments to give it a bit of sparkle.

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To complete the look, Lambert wore an accent bronze-colored belt.

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RaeLynn

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Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; C Flanigan/WireImage
Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; C Flanigan/WireImage
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During the 2015 CMT Music Awards, singer and songwriter RaeLynn wore one of the more amazing gowns of the evening. She opted for a funky kaleidoscope dress with purple, blue, pink, and subtle green shades.

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On top of the beautiful color, the neckline was an intricate black web that looked amazing with her long bob hairstyle.

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Jada Pinkett Smith

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Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
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Actress Jada Pinkett Smith stunned during the 2017 CMT Music Awards. As a presenter, Pinkett Smith didn't hold back in her wardrobe choice. That year, she opted for a strapless lilac floor-length gown.

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It wasn't just a light purple color, though; the gown also featured multi-colored embroidered flowers heading diagonally across the dress.

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Kellie Pickler

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Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Jason Merritt/Getty Images
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Country music star Kellie Pickler went all-out during the 2013 CMT Music Awards. She opted for a pink crystal-covered halter gown with a plunging neckline and low back.

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She paired the dress with Tacori rose amethyst earrings, glittering eyeshadow, and even some glitter body lotion to give her an overall shimmering aura.

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Carrie Underwood

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Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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Back in 2015, Carrie Underwood showed off her toned legs in a minidress on the CMT Music Award red carpet. The white dress was long-sleeved and featured black floral detailing throughout.

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Underwood paired the dress with a silver and black clutch before changing into a black and silver ensemble for her stage performance.

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Kelsea Ballerini

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Portraits & Backstage
John Shearer/2021 CMT Awards/Getty Images for CMT
John Shearer/2021 CMT Awards/Getty Images for CMT
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During the 2021 CMT Awards, country music singer Kelsea Ballerini was lucky enough to co-host with Kane Brown.

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Ballerini had a few wardrobe changes throughout the evening, with the second one being this long-sleeve shimmering blue gown she wore during her on-stage performance of "I Quit Drinking" with Paul Klein.

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Lauren Alaina

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2021 CMT Music Awards - Portraits & Backstage
John Shearer/2021 CMT Awards/Getty Images for CMT
John Shearer/2021 CMT Awards/Getty Images for CMT
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American Idol alum Lauren Alaina wore something a bit different during the 2021 CMT Awards. During the ceremony, she wore this gorgeous deep-v top paired with black pants and sheer creme-colored tulle, going from ruffles on her shoulders and flowing all the way down to the ground.

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It was one of the more glamorous looks of the evening.

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Kelly Clarkson

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Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
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Kelly Clarkson doesn't disappoint when it comes to her carpet appearances, including this gown during the 2018 CMT Music Awards. For the event, Clarkson wore a black gown that pretty much covered her entire body, aside from the one-leg slit.

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The most stunning part of the dress, though, is both the accent broach and the power shoulder pads!

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Jordan Sparks

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Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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Jordan Sparks looked like a real-life fairytale during the 2012 CMT Music Awards. During the event, Sparks wore a peach-toned gown by Kevan Hall. The floor-length dress had a cold shoulder with ruffled sleeves.

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Sparks looked incredibly romantic in the outfit, opting for a soft, wavy hairstyle to bring everything together.

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LeAnn Rimes

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Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
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LeAnn Rimes looked like a goddess walking the CMT Music Awards red carpet, wearing a stunning white gown, complete with a front slit and long train.

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The draped dress was designed by Rani Zakhem and stole the show when Rimes walked on the red carpet during the 2014 awards ceremony.

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Lindsay Ell

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Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
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Singer Lindsay Ell stunned in a Grecian-inspired white gown during the 2016 CMT Music Awards. The dress not only had flowy sleeves but a wrap middle section, a long train, a high slit, and midsection and arm cutouts.

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The look was complete with a gold metal necklace and a sleek up-do.

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Lauren Alaina

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Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
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Singer Lauren Alaina wore one of the cooler dresses during the 2018 CMT Music Awards. The piece looked almost futuristic, with a high-low hem and a total asymmetrical sleeve pattern -- one is completely ruffled while the other is a simple tank top band.

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The funky gown was paired with a thin gold belt accent.

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Danielle Bradbery

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Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT
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The Voice alum Danielle Bradbery wore a very cool white cocktail gown during the 2019 CMT Music Awards. It is hard to know where to look first with this piece, as it has a collarbone cutout, a gladiator-inspired skirt, and long sleeves with pompom detailing.

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This is one of those pieces that really shouldn't work, but Bradbery makes it look stunning!

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Jillian Jacqueline

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Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
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Artist Jillian Jacqueline went a little outside the box with her wardrobe selection during the 2018 CMT Music Awards ceremony. She opted for a dark purple and red brocade blazer dress, paired with matching red shoes and a white clutch.

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Overall, the look is clean, and Jacqueline makes the silk piece work!

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RaeLynn

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For CMT
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For CMT
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RaeLynn went overly funky with her wardrobe choice for the 2017 CMT Music Awards.

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Instead of going simple, the singer opted for a ruffled minidress, complete with orange and pink flowers over most of the dress, a subtle animal-print design covering half of her chest and one arm, and a high neckline.

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Karen Fairchild

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2020 CMT Music Awards - Show
John Shearer/CMT2020/Getty Images for CMT
John Shearer/CMT2020/Getty Images for CMT
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Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town didn't disappoint on the 2020 red carpet of the CMT Awards. The country music star wore an ice blue minidress designed by Alexandre Vauthier, paired with matching pumps and some icy blue eyeshadow.

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Unlike other performers, Fairchild opted to stay in the piece all night without an outfit change.

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Grace Potter

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Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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During the 2012 CMT Music Awards, singer Grace Potter absolutely slayed the event carpet. During the ceremony, she wore a gray Kaufman Franco design that went to the floor and shimmered in the light.

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But the statement piece of the gown had to be the funky cut of the back.

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Sara Evans

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Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
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Sara Evans strutted her stuff down the CMT Music Awards carpet in 2012 wearing a Julian Joyce Made by Mandalay design. The silver dress was full of sequence and made the country music star sparkle.

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Taken in at the waist with a tie detail and cutout sleeve detailing was the perfect look for Evans.

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Hillary Scott

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Jason Merritt/Getty Images
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Hillary Scott, the co-lead singer of the country music band Lady A, decided to go with a classy look during the 2012 CMT Music Awards. Wearing Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Scott rocked a simple LBD (little black dress), complete with a deep-V cut.

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To complete the look, Scott opted for a metallic clutch and matching shoes.

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Carrie Underwood

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Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic; Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
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Carrie Underwood never disappoints on any event carpet, and the 2014 CMT Music Awards was no different. That year, the country music star wore a Roberto Cavalli gown with a gorgeous orange, red, and black floral print with a statement cutout and slit.

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A summer look, Underwood opted to pair the dress with strappy black heels.

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Karen Fairchild

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Nason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
Nason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
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Karen Fairchild of the country music group Little Big Town held nothing back during the 2021 CMT Music Awards. During the event, she wore a gorgeous pink floral mini dress, complete with light blue flowers.

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Pulling the look together (and arguably the coolest part of the outfit) are the matching knee-high pink cowgirl boots.

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Nicole Kidman

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Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
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Actress Nicole Kidman supported her husband, country music singer Keith Urban, on the CMT Music Awards red carpet in 2014 wearing this stunning Giambattista Valli Couture mini dress.

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The strapless dress featured a minimal blue floral design on a black and white canvas. It was one of the actress's sweeter looks during a carpet event.

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Carrie Underwood

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John Shearer/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
John Shearer/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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During the 2016 CMT Music Awards, Carrie Underwood stunned on the carpet wearing a gorgeous multi-color floral gown with statement cutouts. With her styled long bob haircut, the dress was the center of attention.

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It was the perfect outfit choice for Underwood that year, as she had to walk on stage and accept two awards -- Female Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year.

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Kelsea Ballerini

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Jason Davis/FilmMagic; Jason Davis/FilmMagic
Jason Davis/FilmMagic; Jason Davis/FilmMagic
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Kelsea Ballerini was a vision in pink during the 2016 CMT Music Awards. That year, she wore a single-shoulder floor-length gown, complete with a slit up one side.

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The country music singer then opted for a slicked-back hairstyle, complementing the simplicity of the dress and her minimal use of accessories.

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Kellie Pickler

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Mike Coppola/WireImage
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During the 2017 CMT Music Awards, Kellie Pickler was fire and ice with her Georges Chakra Couture gown. The dress was a subtle yet vibrant shade of red and gold, blending into each other at the bottom of the skirt with leaf embellishments.

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To pull the dress together, the designer went with sheer sides with minimal lace detailing.

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Karen Fairchild

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Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CMT; Michael Loccisano/WireImage
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Karen Fairchild opted for a metallic silver dress during the 2018 CMT Music Awards. The minidress was stunning on the singer, with the shoulder cutout detailing and waist-wrap style.

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The best part of the outfit, though, has to be her choice of clutch -- a sparkly silver guitar that matches perfectly with the dress and the vibe of the evening.