Katy Perry tied something new on Wednesday when she made her debut at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards.
The 38-year-old hitmaker added a pop flare to the CMAs ceremony for a duet with Thomas Rhett, 32, as they performed their single Where We Started.
The crossover performance was just one of the highlights of the award ceremony, which also saw a tribute to the late country legend Loretta Lynn and performances by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and many more.
Going country: Katy Perry tied something new on Wednesday when she made her debut at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The 38-year-old hitmaker added a pop flare to the CMAs ceremony for a duet with Thomas Rhett, 32, as they performed their single Where We Started
Katy showed she was game at the country music award show by wearing a striking denim off-the shoulder dress.
The look appeared to have been made from a salvage denim jacket, as its collar was retained and created an awkward cutout over her midriff that revealed her high-waisted fishnet stocking underneath.
The dress included a high slit, which craftily arranged the shredded denim fibers into decorative fringe.
Katy paired her dress with knee-high black boots and a black leather cowboy hat the complemented her straight raven tresses.
Looking the part: Katy showed she was game at the country music award show by wearing a striking denim off-the shoulder dress
Awkward: The look appeared to have been made from a salvage denim jacket, as its collar was retained and created an awkward cutout over her midriff that revealed her high-waisted fishnet stocking underneath
Taking it easy: Thomas was dressed more casually in a black leather jacket with a simple matching T-shirt and jeans, along with a thick beard
Thomas was dressed more casually in a black leather jacket with a simple matching T-shirt and jeans, along with a thick beard.
Rhett began the performance alone on the side of the stage, with a pop-like rhythm tracks backing him up, along with a string section hidden behind long streamers.
Katy eventually emerged from the streamers to bring down the house. Where We Started was featured as the final track on Rhett’s hit album of the same name, which was released in April of this year.
Tribute: The show kicked off with three other superstars — Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire — for a tribute to the late Loretta Lynn, who died on October 4 at 90
Colorful: Carrie sang You Ain’t Woman Enough in a sparkling pink and green dress. Miranda looked playful in a black minidress with a fringed top and colorful embroidery as she sang the hit song Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
Country style: Reba opted for a black Western suit with sparkling green fringe and accents on her sleeves and pant legs as she sang the 1971 hit You’re Lookin’ at Country
The show kicked off with three other superstars — Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire — for a tribute to the late Loretta Lynn, who died on October 4 at 90.
The show opened with a flashback to the late country legend accepting a CMA award decades earlier, while noting how special it was because it was her first from the organization.
Carrie took to the stage immediately after the clip to perform Lynn’s classic tune You Ain’t Woman Enough.
The songstress contrasted the more muted colors of her red carpet look with a brilliant dress featuring a top half in a lime green shade, while the bottom half of the skirt was bubblegum pink.
The more modest dress, which included thick straps and a billowing skirt with a bustier-like bodice, was decorated in gleaming sequins that lit up the stage.
The performance signaled that Lynn was too important a figure to only be covered by one artist, so Carrie was joined by fellow country royalty Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire, who both took their own solo turns with other songs.
Strong sounding: All three stars joined forces at the end for a final performance of Coal Miner’s Daughter
Iconic: The song provided the title for the hit 1980 biopic about Lynn starring Sissy Spacek as the singer
Miranda looked playful in a black Snake Farm Creative minidress with a fringed top and colorful embroidery as she sang the hit song Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).
Reba opted for a black Western suit with sparkling green fringe and accents on her sleeves and pant legs as she sang the 1971 hit You’re Lookin’ at Country.
All three stars joined forces at the end for a final performance of Coal Miner’s Daughter, which provided the title for the hit 1980 biopic about Lynn starring Sissy Spacek as the singer.
Woman in white: Later, Carrie returned in a sparkling white checker-print dress as she paid tribute to Alan Jackson with his song Remember When. He was being honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award
Rock on! Miranda Lambert also returned to sing a rocking version of Geraldene. She was dressed in a custom Cat O’ Nine Clothing top with colorful studded bellbottoms, as well as Daniel x Diamond boots, according to People
Later, Carrie returned in a sparkling white checker-print dress as she paid tribute to Alan Jackson with his song Remember When.
He was being honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award.
Miranda Lambert also returned to sing a rocking version of Geraldene. She was dressed in a custom Cat O’ Nine Clothing top with colorful studded bellbottoms, as well as Daniel x Diamond boots, according to People.
It takes a village: After the introductions from Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, Ashley McBryde brought out an ensemble featuring Brandy Clark, Pillbox Patti and Caylee Hammack to perform her son When Will I Be Loved
Classy: Next up was Cody Johnson, who performed his song ‘Til You Can’t while wearing a gray blazer and jeans
No fuss: Cole Swindell was dressed casually in a gray suede fringed jacket as he sang his hit She Had Me At Heads Carolina, which featured a guest appearance from Jo Dee Messina, who rocked a brown leather jacket and a leopard-print top
After the introductions from Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, Ashley McBryde brought out an ensemble featuring Brandy Clark, Pillbox Patti and Caylee Hammack to perform her son When Will I Be Loved.
Next up was Cody Johnson, who performed his song ‘Til You Can’t while wearing a gray blazer and jeans.
Cole Swindell was dressed casually in a gray suede fringed jacket as he sang his hit She Had Me At Heads Carolina, which featured a guest appearance from Jo Dee Messina, who rocked a brown leather jacket and a leopard-print top.
Passionate: Luke Combs stuck with a casual look featuring a black short-sleeve button-up shirt as he belted out an impassioned version of his song The Kind Of Love We Make
Staying busy: Luke Bryan did double duty at the CMAs, and he took a break from hosting with Manning to perform his own song. The American Idol judge was dressed casually in a gray leather shirt with rolled up sleeves, along with blown-out dark jeans
Seeing green: Carly Pearce continued the tributes to Loretta Young by performing her original Dear Miss Loretta. She was dressed in a lovely green tulle dress decorated with sparkling sequins
Luke Combs stuck with a casual look featuring a black short-sleeve button-up shirt as he belted out an impassioned version of his song The Kind Of Love We Make.
Luke Bryan did double duty at the CMAs, and he took a break from hosting with Manning to perform his own song.
The American Idol judge was dressed casually in a gray leather shirt with rolled up sleeves, along with blown-out dark jeans.
Carly Pearce continued the tributes to Loretta Young by performing her original Dear Miss Loretta. She was dressed in a lovely green tulle dress decorated with sparkling sequins.
Fierce: The Zac Brown Band took the show back in a more rocking directing by performing his Out In The Middle. Brown was dressed in all black with a hat while strumming his acoustic guitar. He got an assist from Marcus King, who took the song in a heavier direction by shredding on his electric guitar
Spooky: Hardy and Lainey Wilson continue the duets trend with an atmospheric version of Wait in The Truck, which included a pickup truck on stage surrounded by cinematic fog
The Zac Brown Band took the show back in a more rocking directing by performing his Out In The Middle.
Brown was dressed in all black with a hat while strumming his acoustic guitar. He got an assist from Marcus King, who took the song in a heavier direction by shredding on his electric guitar.
Hardy and Lainey Wilson continue the duets trend with an atmospheric version of Wait in The Truck, which included a pickup truck on stage surrounded by cinematic fog.
Having a blast: Kelsea Ballerini made a grand entrance in a denim off-the-shoulder mini dress and floral print thigh-high boots for a fun performance of You’re Drunk, Go Home
Leading ladies: She came out solo, but the song turned into a trio when Carly Pearce and Kelly Clarkson joined her on stage. Carly looked playful in a powerful blue romper with a massive bow over her chest, while Kelly opted for a casual button-up black dress
Kelsea Ballerini made a grand entrance in a denim off-the-shoulder mini dress and floral print thigh-high boots for a fun performance of You’re Drunk, Go Home.
She came out solo, but the song turned into a trio when Carly Pearce and Kelly Clarkson joined her on stage.
Carly looked playful in a powerful blue romper with a massive bow over her chest, while Kelly opted for a casual button-up black dress.
Clueless: Morgan Wallen returned to the CMA stage a year after he was banned from the ceremony after he was caught on camera drunkenly shouting the N-word, and there wasn’t any indication of the scandal
Casual: The country superstar wore a black denim jacket with a relaxed white T-shirt and matching black jeans as he sang his song You Proof
On point: Patty Loveless and Chris Stapleton were joined by his wife Morgan for a searing, emotional version of You’ll Never Leave Harlem Alive, with all three being dressed in all black
Classic rock: Brothers Obsorne also performed a collaboration, this time with Michael and Tanya Trotter, to sing the Rolling Stones classic It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
High energy: Elle King got some backing from The Black Keys as she paid tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis by playing Great Balls Of Fire
Fiery: While Dan Auerbach soloed on guitar behind her, she pounded away at the piano and even used her foot like Lewis would, before the piano erupted in flames
Morgan Wallen returned to the CMA stage a year after he was banned from the ceremony after he was caught on camera drunkenly shouting the N-word, and there wasn’t any indication of the scandal.
The country superstar wore a black denim jacket with a relaxed white T-shirt and matching black jeans as he sang his song You Proof.
Patty Loveless and Chris Stapleton were joined by his wife Morgan for a searing, emotional version of You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive, with all three being dressed in all black.
Brothers Obsorne also performed a collaboration, this time with Michael and Tanya Trotter, to sing the Rolling Stones classic It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It).
Elle King got some backing from The Black Keys as she paid tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis by playing Great Balls Of Fire.
While Dan Auerbach soloed on guitar behind her, she pounded away at the piano and even used her foot like Lewis would, before the piano erupted in flames.
Honoring a legend: One of the highlights of the evening was a tribute to Alan Jackson, which included a medley of his most popular songs from Jon Pardi, Dierks Bentley and Lainey Wilson
Man in black: The evening wouldn’t have been complete without a performance by the master himself, and he arrived on stage to sing Don’t Rock The Juke Box. The country star was dressed in a black shirt covered in swirling musical notes, along with bright blue jeans
One of the highlights of the evening, and the final batch of performances, was a tribute to Alan Jackson, which included a medley of his most popular songs from Jon Pardi, Dierks Bentley and Lainey Wilson.
The evening wouldn’t have been complete without a performance by the master himself, and he arrived on stage to sing Don’t Rock The Juke Box.
The country star was dressed in a black shirt covered in swirling musical notes, along with bright blue jeans.
Jackson was joined at the end by the whole group honoring him for a stirring end to the award show.
Grand finale: Jackson was joined at the end by the whole group honoring him for a stirring end to the award show
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