This year’s CMT Music Awards aired Sunday night, co-hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown. During the show, Ballerini took the stage to sing her new song “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too).” She was joined by several queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Kelsea Ballerini Performs with Drag Race Stars at CMT Awards
During the retro performance of her new song, Ballerini was joined on stage by Drag Race stars Kennedy Davenport, Manila Luzon, Jan Sport, and Olivia Lux. They could be seen behind her dressed in vintage-style clothing and sitting in a backyard set.
“I love performance and I love self-expression and I love inclusivity,” Ballerini told Entertainment Tonight of her performance, which comes in the wake of anti-drag legislation in states such as Tennessee.
Jan Sport told ET that appearing on stage with Ballerini “means so much.” Olivia Lux added that Ballerini encouraged the queens to “take up that space” during the performance. She added that even the song had a powerful meaning, calling it “the celebration of being a community.”
Ballerini posted a photo from he performance on Instagram, writing, “if you go down, i’m going down too,” with a rainbow flag emoji. She thanked the queens who appeared with her, as well as CMT, “for celebrating love, self expression, and performance.”
According to ET, Ballerini’s inclusive performance during Sunday night’s awards earned support from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). GLAAD’s Vice President of Communications & Talent, Anthony Allen Ramos, released a statement about it.
“As LGBTQ rights are being questioned in Texas, Tennessee, and several Southern states, Kelsea Ballerini took to one of country music’s biggest stages to display bold allyship by proudly featuring talented and beloved drag artists,” Ramos said. “Kelsea’s performance at the CMT Music Awards reinforced that drag is not a threat, it’s an art.”
Ramos also noted that the night featured a performance from out singer Lily Rose, as well as appearances from out red carpet host Cody Alan, while Shania Twain called for country music to be “all inclusive” during the show.
“Country music stars are using their platforms to stand with the LGBTQ community and the industry is growing into an explicitly welcoming place for LGBTQ fans and talent,” Ramos shared. “Other country music stars, concerts, and events should take note of CMT’s inclusion and follow suit.”
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Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
