Luke Combs & Kaylee Bell Honored With CMA International Awards

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Pictured (L-R): CMA’s Milly Olykan, Luke Combs and CMA’s Sarah Trahern. Photo: Josh Brasted/CMA

The Country Music Association honored superstar Luke Combs with the 2023 CMA International Artist Achievement Award, and country artist Kaylee Bell with the 2023 CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award.

Combs was surprised with the recognition backstage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena following his CMA Awards rehearsal by Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations & Development.

The CMA International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a United States-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of America during the eligibility period.

Combs has sold out and performed over 40 shows across three continents and 16 countries over the course of a year. Throughout his tour, the 2023 CMA Single of the Year winner celebrated the release of his new album, Gettin’ Old, the companion to his 2022 record, Growin’ Up. Both albums and his tour stops have received critical acclaim, and have showcased country music’s strength and growth outside of the states. Combs continues his historic run at country radio, as he recently earned his record-extending 16th consecutive No. 1 single with his version of Tracy Chapman’s award-winning classic “Fast Car,” amassing more than 750 million global streams to date.

Tyler Hubbard & Kaylee Bell. Photo: Acacia Evans/CMA

Bell was presented with the 2023 CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award by country hitmaker Tyler Hubbard. Hubbard surprised Bell with the award during her CMA Awards red carpet interview with the Australian-based Nine Network breakfast show, Today.

The CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist who is originally based internationally and currently signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of country music as well as brought attention to the country music format in their territory during the eligibility period.

Bell has made waves within country music’s Australian market with her radio success, international tours and major growth in streaming. In May 2023, she made history when her The Red EP received Australian ARIA Gold certification, as she was the first independent female country artist to ever achieve the milestone. In 2022, Bell was the most-streamed country artist based in Australia. She has toured internationally playing C2C Australia, C2C London, CMA Fest and CMC Rocks. Bell has also performed all around New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. as both a headlining act and supporting act for the likes of The Chicks, Morgan Evans, Brad Paisley and Ed Sheeran.

“I’m so stoked that I get to play country music,” said Bell during her interview with Nine Network’s Today. “I love New Zealand, I love Australia and I love that I get to play around those countries and now here in Nashville. I just moved to town, and this is a pretty wild way to just move to town and get one of these. This is amazing.”

The CMA International Awards honor industry executives and artists who have supported and made a difference towards the growth and promotion of country music in the international marketplace. Nominees are recognized in six categories acknowledging their dedication and efforts in growing opportunities for country music in their local territories. Winners in the four remaining categories will be presented their awards in the coming months.

Liza Anderson
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