How Amber Riley Feels About Glee Family 15 Years Later

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Amber Riley is singing some major praises.

Fifteen years after the premiere of Glee, the 38-year-old reflected on her time filming the six-season series as Mercedes Jones.

"It's amazing," Amber exclusively told E! News on the 2024 CMT Music Awards red carpet April 7. "First of all, I gained a family. I gained an education in film, set and music. It's the reason why I love many different genres of music now."

"I have such a wide vocabulary of things that I love and can sing because of the show," she continued. "It was like theater training but times a million."

Amber, donning a black Nicci Hou Collection dress adorned with sparkling beads and woven fringe, added, "I'm always grateful to have spent most of my 20s on television." (See every star on the red carpet here and tune into E! News on April 8 for more from the CMT Music Awards.)

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Along with being a presenter, the Single Black Female actress was also nominated for CMT Performance of the Year for her song "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." While she didn't leave the night with an award in hand, she shared on her Instagram Stories April 7, "I lost, but Jelly Roll won, so I'm happy for that because I love Jelly Roll."

Amber Riley, CMT Music Awards 2024, CMT Awards 2024
Chris Saucedo / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES

In fact, Jelly Roll took home gold in all three categories he was nominated in: Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year for "Need a Favor."

The 39-year-old—who arrived in a cream and brown bomber jacket, matching Air Jordan sneakers and black pants—even became the first artist to win back-to-back awards for Male Video of the Year since Blake Shelton won in 2013 and 2014.

Keep reading to see who else arrived in style at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.

—Reporting by Paul Costabile

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

<p>Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town</p>
Jay Conlon/CBS via Getty Images


Keith Urban

<p>Keith Urban</p>
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Mickey Guyton

<p>Mickey Guyton</p>
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Melissa Etheridge

<p>Melissa Etheridge</p>
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Jelly Roll

<p>Jelly Roll</p>
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Emma Roberts

<p>Emma Roberts</p>
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Emily Ann Roberts

<p>Emily Ann Roberts</p>
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT


Lainey Wilson

<p>Lainey Wilson</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini

<p>Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini</p>
Hubert Vestil/Getty Images


Emily Osment

<p>Emily Osment</p>
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for CMT


Jennifer Nettles

<p>Jennifer Nettles</p>
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Minnie Driver

<p>Minnie Driver</p>
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Amber Riley

<p>Amber Riley</p>
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Ashley Cooke

<p>Ashley Cooke</p>
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Gayle King

<p>Gayle King</p>
Nicola Gell / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Tiera Kennedy

<p>Tiera Kennedy</p>
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GloRilla

<p>GloRilla</p>
Nicola Gell / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Tanner Adell

<p>Tanner Adell</p>
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Trisha Yearwood

<p>Trisha Yearwood</p>
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Lukas Nelson

<p>Lukas Nelson</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Ashley McBryde

<p>Ashley McBryde</p>
Hubert Vestil/Getty Images


Tiera Kennedy

<p>Tiera Kennedy</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Jane Seymour

<p>Jane Seymour</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Dasha

<p>Dasha</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


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