With the help of RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Olivia Lux, Kennedy Davenport and more, Kelsea Ballerini brought charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to the 2023 CMT Music Awards stage with a powerful message in tow.
During Sunday night’s annual ceremony at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, the country music singer and event co-host performed her hit track “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” alongside Lux, Davenport, Manila Luzon and Jan Sport.
Ballerini serenaded the crowd as the beloved queens strutted across the stage in their retro outfits during the ’60s-inspired performance. Nearing the song’s end, the four queens danced alongside Ballerini as rainbow confetti fell from the ceiling onto the audience.
The LGBTQ+ inclusive performance received high praise from fans, with many applauding Ballerini for showcasing her support and allyship on such a major platform.
Davenport, Lux, Sport and Luzon opened up to Entertainment Tonight about the powerful performance.
“Just like all these amazing country music artists, we drag queens are also artists. And we deserve a space to be ourselves, express ourselves, and create something wonderful for everyone to enjoy,” Luzon told ET.
“It means so much,” Sport said of performing alongside Ballerini, according to the outlet. “Because any opportunity for us to share our gifts with the world is a blessing. So, it’s more of us having a message to bless other people. It’s not bad. It’s all good. It’s all love. It’s all total liberation — that’s what the arts are all about.”
“Kelsea made it really clear in the rehearsal room and took even during right before the stage that she was like take up that space, you know, this is your time as well, and amplify the fact that you’re here,” Lux said, according to ET. “Even the song, if you’re going down, I’m going down too — it is about the celebration of being a community. And I think that’s what we did on the stage tonight. And I really hope that transcended some people as well. It felt like it did.”
