Paisley, Swift Winners at CMA Awards
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By Mary Morningstar
Nashville
12 November 2009
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| Country Singer Brad Paisley poses for pictures in press room after winning Best Male Vocal and Best Musical Event,during 43rd Annual Country Music Awards, 11 Nov 2009 | The 43rd annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards were handed out Novermber 11 in Nashville.
Brad
Paisley co-hosted the 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards with
Carrie Underwood, and was this year's top contender with seven
nominations. For the third year in-a-row, Brad was named the CMA's
Male Vocalist of the Year. He also shared the Musical Event of the
Year trophy with Keith Urban for their duet, "Start A Band."
First-time
CMA award nominees included The Zac Brown Band, Jamey Johnson and
Darius Rucker, formerly lead singer for the pop group, Hootie And The
Blowfish. Darius was named New Artist of the Year. He is the first
artist to have three Number One Country singles from a debut album
since Wynonna Judd in 1992. Darius gave special thanks to his family,
fans and Country radio.
"Wow, what a year!," Rucker said. "I've
got to start by saying, first of all, thank you to my wife and my three
kids who sacrifice everyday because I've got to be on the road everyday
working my butt off, and making this work. And I've got to tell you,
first of all to the fans, thank you all for accepting me. (cheering)
And, I think most importantly, most importantly, to Country radio, you
took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, South Carolina, and God
bless you all for that! Thank you so much!"
Lady Antebellum
beat out Brad Paisley, Billy Currington, Jamey Johnson and The Zac
Brown Band in the Single of the Year category. The trio won the award
for its first Number One Country hit, "I Run To You."
One of the
night's biggest upsets was Lady Antebellum's win for Vocal Group of the
Year. Rascal Flatts has won that category for the past six years.
While accepting the award, Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley recognized
the other Vocal Group nominees for their inspiration.
"Thank
you so much," Kelly said. "Rascal Flatts, you've inspired us for such
a long time. The Eagles, my gosh! Zac Brown's had the biggest year of
all of us. Thank you so much for just letting us be up here, and feel
a part of the community, the Country music industry. You guys have all
been so supportive of us."
"And to the fans, thank you all so much," added Hagglewood. "To the fans, thank you!"
Other
winners included Sugarland, named Duo of the Year for the third year
in-a-row, and Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto, who
repeated their 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards Song of the Year
win for composing Jamey's Top 10 single, "In Color." Jamey joked to
the audience about being a part of the Country Music Association's
prestigious event.
"I never thought you all would even let me
come to stuff like this," Johnson said. "Thanks again, you all. This
has been an unbelievable experience. Thank you for listening to my
music, and letting me do what I do. God bless you."
Performances
by many of Country music's biggest names dominated the live, three-hour
telecast. They included Vince Gill's duet with rock band Daughtry;
Kenny Chesney paired with Dave Matthews; and Tim McGraw's first
appearance at the CMA Awards in four years.
| Country artist Taylor Swift poses in press room with her Video of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year awards, 11 Nov 2009 | Taylor Swift was the
night's big winner. The 19-year-old superstar won the Album of the
Year award for "Fearless", and was named Female Vocalist of the Year
and Entertainer of the Year. She's the youngest performer to ever be
nominated in the Entertainer of the Year category. In accepting the
award, Taylor explained what the honor meant to her.
"I will
never forget this moment, because in this moment, everything that I
have ever wanted has just happened to me. Thank you for this moment.
Thank you!" Swift said.
Taylor also won the Music Video of the Year award for this recent Number One Country hit, "Love Story."
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