Gabby Barrett, one of the night’s most nominated performers, has won the 2021 Billboard Music Award for top country female artist.
Winning over fellow nominees Maren Morris and Carrie Underwood, Barrett took to the stage in a cascading gold dress — the train of which Barrett’s husband Cade Foehner helped her get into perfect place.
“I’m gonna try to keep it together as best as I can…This is a really big deal. This means so much to me,” Barrett said while accepting the award. She then broke into tears, noting that she and her her team — including her father and sister who were with her at the show — have been “working hard for 10 years” during her rise to the top of the country scene.
“I wasn’t supposed to mess up my makeup,” she said after the emotional speech, “so I’ve gotta play it cool now.” She then continued her speech by thanking everyone from the music industry to “the Lord Jesus.”
Before Barrett could leave the stage to go celebrate her win, she was stopped by presenter Renée Elise Goldsberry (of Girls5eva) who informed Barrett that she was also the recipient of the award for top country song for her smash vengeance anthem “I Hope.”
Barrett was nominated for a total of nine 2021 BBMAs.
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