Kelsea Ballerini’s Layered Red Carpet Look at the CMT Music Awards Is Giving Us All 2000s Nostalgia

The singer hosted and performed at the event in Austin on April 2.
Kelsea Ballerini.

Kelsea Ballerini.


Kelsea Ballerini took a page out of the early 2000s style book for her red carpet look at the CMT Music Awards on April 2. The singer performed at the event in Austin, which she cohosted alongside Kane Brown.

She donned six fabulous looks throughout the night, but her red carpet one was extra special. The light gray gown featured an asymmetrical hem and corset-inspired bodice. The neckline was also particularly interesting, including a white slip with spaghetti straps under the strapless dress—reminiscent of the “layered tank tops” trend of the early 2000s that we were all once guilty of.

Kelsea Ballerini attended the 2023 CMT Music Awards.

Kelsea Ballerini attended the 2023 CMT Music Awards.

The 29-year-old and her new boyfriend, Outer Banks star Chase Stokes, made their red carpet debut at the event and snapped a ton of photos together throughout the night.

The official CMT Instagram account is just as obsessed with the latest “it couple” as we are. 

The brand posted a sweet video of the 30-year-old actor singing, clapping and swaying along to Ballerini’s hit country single “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO).” Stokes couldn’t stop smiling and even adorably pulled out his phone to capture his girlfriend in her element.

Ballerini wore several other show-stopping outfits throughout the evening, including a lilac jumpsuit with crystal detailing, a groovy colorful bodysuit with fruits for her performance, a sparkly mini dress while hosting, a bright pink cocktail dress and a neon green sequined tube dress while presenting awards. The Tennessee native looked absolutely stunning in each outfit.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.