Wynonna Judd's Cheeky Comment About Tim McGraw Proves She's a True Champion

Wynonna Judd poked fun at how she went from being a concert headliner to an opening act for Tim McGraw when she received the Country Champion Award at the 2023 People's Choice Country Awards.

By Gabrielle Chung Sep 29, 2023 2:27 AMTags

Wynonna Judd was humble and kind when she took the stage at the 2023 People's Choice Country Awards

After all, the "I Saw the Light" singer gave a nod to Tim McGraw as she looked back on her decades-long music career while accepting the first-ever Country Champion Award at the Sept. 28 ceremony. (See the complete list of winners here.)

Joking how half of the audience either "don't know who I am" or was "not born when I had my years of being fabulous," the 59-year-old pointed out that "back in 19-blah-blah-blah, Tim McGraw opened for me."

"Four weeks ago, I opened for Tim," she continued to laughter and applause. "The highs are highs and the lows are low, baby, but don't ever let them tell you who you are."

Elsewhere in her speech, Wynonna noted how the definition of champion means "to do battle for others' honor," quipping to the crowd, "and that is exactly what I'm going to do tomorrow when I get on a commercial flight and fly to Denver and do one more show, because I can't get enough of you."

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People's Choice Country Awards 2023: All the Country Couples on the Red Carpet

She added, "It's getting harder and harder out there, but never ever give up on your dreams."

Wynonna was one of the two major honorees at the inaugural PCCAs, with musician Toby Keith receiving the Country Icon Award.

Mickey Bernal/NBC via Getty Images

Earlier in the evening, the "My Strongest Weakness" artist proved she's quite like no one else on earth when she made a wisecrack about her greatest career achievement. When asked about what she's most proud of, Wynonna joked in an exclusive interview with E! News, "That I still have money."

"No, seriously, it's really easy to lose everything when you win the lottery," she explained. "It really is."

Wynonna added, "I'm grateful that I have land, that I have a family, that I've got a granddaughter and that I have people that love me no matter what number I am on the scale or the charts."

To see more celebs on the 2023 PCCAs red carpet, keep reading. 

Kristin Cavallari

Kane Brown

In Allen Edmond shoes.

Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott & Dave Haywood of Lady A

Blake Shelton & Wynonna Judd

Eric Decker & Jessie James Decker

Jessie in Simkhai.

Dan + Shay

Kelsea Ballerini

In Coach.

Nikki Garcia

In Moschino.

The Brothers Osborne

HARDY & Lainey Wilson

Carly Pearce

Chris Young

Mickey Guyton

Toby Keith & Tricia Lucus

Carly Waddell

Hannah Brown

In Pamella Roland dress and Alexandre Birman shoes.

Jason Tartick

In Allen Edmond shoes.

Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman & Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town

Gabby Barrett

Scotty McCreery & Gabi Dugal McCreery

Wynonna Judd

Tanya Trotter & Michael Trotter Jr. of The War and Treaty

Adam Doleac

Lauren Alaina

Randy Travis & Mary Davis

Priscilla Block

Hunter Hayes

Dustin Lynch

Leanne Morgan

Drew Knotts & Tayler Holder

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View More Photos From 2023 People's Choice Country Awards: Red Carpet Fashion
Check out E! News' People's Choice Country Awards page for a full recap of every show-stopping moment and photos from the inaugural ceremony.