41st Annual CMA Awards Winners List and More
Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney snagged two trophies each and Sugarland broke Brooks & Dunn's winning streak during the 41st annual CMA Awards show on Wednesday night (Nov. 7) in Nashville.
Taylor Swift, who turns 18th next month, won the Horizon Award for career development. This award, highlighted a remarkable year for Swift. Last year the same honor that went to Underwood in 2006. Swist said, "I can't even believe that this is real," she told the crowd. "I want to thank God ... and my family for moving to Nashville so that I could do this. I want to thank Country radio. I'll never forget the chance you took on me. Brad Paisley, thank you for letting me tour with you. And the fans, you have changed my life. I can't even believe this. This is definitely the highlight of my senior year."
. CMA awards also went to George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Jerry Douglas and Tracy Lawrence, among others, during a night of performances that included many of Country music's biggest stars, along with the Eagles and actor-musician Jamie Foxx.
Underwood, who began her singing career on American Idol, won her second consecutive female vocalist award and also shared single of the year honors with producer Mark Bright for "Before He Cheats."
Brad Paisley, who was Nominated seven times for the male vocalist honor, scored his first win in the category. He and video director Jason Alexander won in the music video competition for the humorous "Online." Kenny Chesney, who toured and filled NFL statdiums from coast to coast, received his third victory as entertainer of the year. Also, Kenny and friends Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw were awarded the musical event of the year prize for "Find Out Who Your Friends," a track from Lawrence's album, For the Love. This CMA win for Lawrence, was his first.
Brooks & Dunn's reign of six years as vocal duo of the year was ended by Sugarland. Brooks & Dunn had won the duo category for all but one year since 1992. Montgomery Gentry won in 2000. Sugarland, consisting Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, was genuinely surprised when their name was called as a winner. Rascal Flatts, accepted their fifth consecutive award in the vocal group category. Lead vocalist Gary LeVox saying, "Country radio, thank you so much for being our mouthpiece. What we do means nothing if it never gets played and no one gets to hear it."
Strait and producer Tony Brown shared the album of the year win for Strait's It Just Comes Natural.
The track that opens Strait's album, "Give It Away," brought song of the year honors to three songwriters -- Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson and Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson.
"Thank you," Anderson said. "Y'all have been letting me do this for 50 years and I love you."
Dobro player Jerry Douglas, a solo artist who also works with Alison Krauss & Union Station, received his third trophy for musician of the year.
The show also included a short segment honoring this year's Country Music Hall of Fame inductees: Radio and TV veteran Ralph Emery and singer-songwriters Vince Gill and Mel Tillis. Rascal Flatts opened the show with the title track from their latest album, Still Feels Good, and were joined later in the evening by Jamie Foxx on "She Goes All the Way," a slower song from the same album. Foxx, who was once LeVox's roommate in California, appears on Rascal Flatts' album.
Also, the Eagles made their first appearance on the CMA Awards and received a strong reception for the live version of the single, "How Long," which is currently in the Top 20 on the Billboard Country chart. They also have the Number One album this week with over 700,000 units being sold.
Other highlights on the show included Paisley inviting the Brentwood High School marching band from nearby Brentwood, TN., to perform during his singing of "Online," LeAnn Rimes joined Reba McEntire for "When You Love Someone Like That," a track from the recent album, Reba Duets. Alison Krauss was backed by her Union Station band and Douglas on "Simple Love."
Kellie Pickler became emotional as she broke down in tears at the conclusion of "I Wonder," which is an autobiographical song about her mother who abandoned her when she was an infant.
A number of award winners performed, including George Strait, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Carrie Underwood. Others who performed were: Miranda Lambert, Big & Rich, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Kenny Chesney and Josh Turner.
Hosts for the show included LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, actor James Denton and actresses Kate Walsh and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Actress Nicole Kidman, attended the event with husband Keith Urban.
Winners at Wednesday's 41st annual Country Music Association Awards:
• Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
• Single: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood.
• Album: "It Just Comes Natural," George Strait.
• Song: "Give It Away," Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson.
• Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood. • Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley.
• Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts.
• Vocal Duo: Sugarland.
• Musical Event: "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. • Musician: Jerry Douglas.
• Music Video: "Online," Brad Paisley. • Horizon Award: Taylor Swift.