Texas’s First-Ever CMT Music Awards, in Photos
The 2023 Country Music Television (CMT) Music Awards ceremony has brought nominees from across the country to the Lone Star State. See red carpet and backstage photos of winners.
Cat Cardenas, who was an associate editor at Texas Monthly from 2019 to mid-2022, is a Latina writer and photographer from San Antonio. She graduated from the University of Texas in 2018 with degrees in journalism and anthropology. While at UT, she founded the university’s first National Association of Hispanic Journalists chapter, and in 2016, she was one of four UT students selected to report on the Olympics, which she wrote about for a number of U.S. newspapers. Her work has also appeared in the New York Times, the Texas Tribune, Teen Vogue, and Paper Magazine. During her time at Texas Monthly, she reported on issues such as immigration and focused on the state’s minority communities. She never passes up a chance to write about her favorite subjects, which include her family, the San Antonio Spurs, Kacey Musgraves, and Selena.
The 2023 Country Music Television (CMT) Music Awards ceremony has brought nominees from across the country to the Lone Star State. See red carpet and backstage photos of winners.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Texas-raised actor returned to Sundance for the premiere of his latest film—a brutal, impressive character study of a troubled bodybuilder.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The 23-year-old from Georgetown emerges as Texas’s answer to Olivia Rodrigo and—dare we say it?—T-Swift with his sophomore album, ‘Superache.’
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The swampy network of waterways straddling the Louisiana border teems with natural wonders—and more than a few secrets.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
After a four-year hiatus from comedy, the Rio Grande Valley native has a new Netflix special and a new approach to her career.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The legendary cattle empire had been largely closed off from the outside world until the magazine’s founding editor gained access to King Ranch.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Ballroom—competitive drag shows—dates back to drag balls and masquerades in 1860s Harlem. Now it’s making headway in Texas.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
An anxious multitasker faces her fears by spending an hour in a Dallas sensory deprivation pod. If it worked for the Cowboys, then it could work for her.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
La Cantera and Lake Austin Spa offer many options for couples and friends. Massage table for two, anyone?
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Kathy Blackwell is an executive editor at Texas Monthly. She oversees the magazine’s travel and style sections.
After a two-year pandemic delay, the Austin native will appear in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ But that’s only one of his recent projects to launch.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
In an upcoming record, the singer’s voice will be digitally aged. The Quintanilla family continues to misunderstand why Selena’s fans adored her.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
In ‘You Sound Like a White Girl,’ Julissa Arce combines memoir and history to reclaim the Latino identity she pushed away as an undocumented immigrant.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Ahead of its April rerelease, members of the 1997 biopic's cast and crew recall a set overcome with emotion as loved ones grappled with Selena's tragic death.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Photos from this year's Luck Reunion, which welcomed back attendees for the first time since 2019.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The country legend dropped NFTs, an album, and a book before putting on a dazzling performance at the Moody Theater.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Lone Star State was well represented at this year’s SXSW, and these films feature settings, accents, and subject matter to remind you of home.
Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
El Paso filmmaker Iliana Sosa’s feature documentary debut follows her Mexican grandfather, reflecting on life, legacy, and connection.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Writer-director Ti West’s return to horror is set in a creepy house in rural Texas. But that’s where the similarities with classic slashers ends.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, perhaps surprisingly, have enough chemistry to carry the film's outrageous premise.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Texas native talks about her debut album, finding herself, and how she’s changing the country scene just by being herself.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
More visual poem than documentary, the film tracks a music manager and singer who follow their dreams while providing for their undocumented parents.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The characters might be fictional, but to the Latinos who see their own families reflected in them, it’s a relief to see them say what we wish we could.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The gender-swapped sequel will be an easy watch for sitcom fans, but the callbacks and in-jokes tip into the saccharine.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
This year, we jammed to new music by Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Megan Thee Stallion, St. Vincent, and others.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Little Joe Hernández, George Strait, educators, and fans of the legendary Mexican singer speak about his impact on their lives and the legacy he’s left behind.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
This is a reunion we all can shellebrate.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
In Peter Jackson’s documentary ‘The Beatles: Get Back,’ Houston-born pianist Billy Preston makes a strong case for himself as the fifth Beatle.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Upshaw family has preserved their history and traditions since the 1870s. Now, amid deaths and other departures, family members worry for their land’s legacy.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
On the hunt with TikTok star Brittany Broski and her mother Heather Long, lead investigator of the Texas Ghost Gals.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The teenage Disney actress and singer-songwriter sensation performed her first full-length set in front of a live audience, at an ‘Austin City Limits’ TV taping.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Pinks and purples dominated the stages at ACL Fest, whether Charley Crockett's dashing lavender suit or Marc Rebillet's fluttering pink-trimmed bathrobe.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Fringe, cowboy hats, boots—and more fringe—dominate the style choices of this year’s ACL Fest attendees.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The UT historian and newly minted MacArthur fellow wants justice for victims and their descendants.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Texas Monthly spoke with experts about how Tejanos are influencing everything in the state, from cuisine to pop culture to entrepreneurship.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Texan dream-pop group talks going viral on TikTok and expanding the landscape of Latin music.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
In ‘Star-crossed,’ Musgraves again defies labels, creating an epic requiem for lost love that spans disco, pop, and country.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Helmed by Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short, the show parodies and subverts the tropes of the true-crime genre.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The East Coast may have invented rap, but today the Lone Star State rules the hip-hop world. Here’s a song-by-song history of how that happened.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Paula Mejía was a writer and editor of stories about arts and cultural phenomena.
Though uneven and at times lacking in self-awareness, Abraham Quintanilla’s book sheds light on the extreme approach he took to protect his daughter’s legacy.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Stepping away from competition at the Tokyo Olympics was as tough as any dismount in the Texas gymnast's career—and she stuck the landing.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The McAllen-bred actor and writer, 43, was a fan favorite on HBO’s ‘Looking.’ Now he’s poised to become an action star.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
“When stories about trans people are created by trans people, it opens up a world of possibilities,” says the San Antonio–raised actress.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The horror franchise attempts to skewer Trumpism, but the result makes for uncomfortable viewing.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Houston-raised actress has conquered Broadway and television. Now she’s about to smash music—and Marvel’s ‘She-Hulk’ series.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
You can’t beat these San Antonio bars, hotels, and restaurants for water views and hospitality.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
The Dallas native’s departure as host is the end of an era. And a welcome start to a new one.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
When a batch of rainbow cookies led to a canceled order, people opened their wallets to support the East Texas shop.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
In Mexican American neighborhoods across Texas—and around the country—the paleta man’s jingle is the sound of home.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Texas filmmaker Will Bakke’s latest movie offers only a glimpse of the joys and pains of young adulthood.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.
Part two of Netflix's Selena series delivers a more confident version of the Tejano icon than part one, but fails to portray the late singer as the nuanced person she was.
Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the state’s Latino community.