Taylor Swift was the belle of the ball at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, leading the pack of winners with four trophies: Female Vocalist, Album of the Year, Video of the Year and the night's biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year."I will never forget this moment, because in this moment everything that I have ever wanted has just happened to me," a teary Taylor said upon receiving the coveted Entertainer trophy, becoming the youngest artist in history to win the award.
Brad Paisley and Lady Antebellum each had two CMA wins. It was Brad's third consecutive win for Male Vocalist, and he also shares an award with buddy Keith Urban, as they took home Musical Event of the Year for their duet, 'Start a Band.' Lady A beat Rascal Flatts' streak of six consecutive Vocal Group of the Year wins with their latest honor, which accompanied their win for Single of the Year for 'I Run to You.' (See a full list of winners and nominees below.)
Show hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood kept the audience entertained with witty banter throughout the night, starting the show off by singing a humorously revised version of a Willie Nelson classic: "Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be Kanye." Fans were also dazzled by eclectic performances by the likes of Reba, Best New Artist winner Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, the Zac Brown Band, Lady A, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Duo of the Year winners Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington and both show hosts. And in true CMA fashion, it wasn't all country stars on stage. Kid Rock sang with Jamey Johnson on 'Between Jennings and Jones,' Vince Gill joined Daughtry on a duet that appears on the rockers' new album, Brooks and Dunn performed with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Dave Matthews joined Kenny Chesney on their duet, 'I'm Alive.'
2009 CMA Awards - *Winners in bold
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
*Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
New Artist Of The Year
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
*Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
*Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
*Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Eagles
*Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
*Sugarland
Album of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer)
'American Saturday Night' - Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers & Chris DuBois
'Defying Gravity' - Keith Urban, produced by Keith Urban & Dann Huff
*'Fearless' - Taylor Swift, produced by Taylor Swift & Nathan Chapman
'Love on the Inside' - Sugarland, produced by Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles & Kristian Bush
'That Lonesome Song' - Jamey Johnson, produced by the Kent Hardly Playboys
Single of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer)
'Chicken Fried' - Zac Brown Band, produced by Keith Stegall
*'I Run to You' - Lady Antebellum, produced by Victoria Shaw & Paul Worley
'In Color' - Jamey Johnson, produced by the Kent Hardly Playboys
'People Are Crazy' - Billy Currington, produced by Billy Currington & Carson Chamberlain
'Then' - Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers & Chris DuBois
Song of the Year (Award goes to songwriters)
'Chicken Fried' - Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette
'I Told You So' - Randy Travis
*'In Color' - Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
'People Are Crazy' - Bobby Braddock, Troy Jones
'Then' - Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley
Musical Event of the Year
'Cowgirl's Don't Cry' - Brooks & Dunn with Reba McEntire
'Down The Road' - Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
'Everything But Quits' - Lee Ann Womack with George Strait
'I Told You So' - Carrie Underwood with Randy Travis
'Old Enough' - The Raconteurs with Ricky Skaggs & Ashley Monroe
*'Start a Band' - Brad Paisley with Keith Urban
Music Video of the Year (Award goes to artist and director)
'Boots On' - Randy Houser, directed by Eric Welch
*'Love Story' - Taylor Swift, directed by Trey Fanjoy
'People Are Crazy' - Billy Currington, directed by The Brads
'Start a Band' - Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, directed by Jim Shea
'Troubadour' - George Strait, directed by Trey Fanjoy
Musician of the Year
Eddie Bayers
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
*Mac McAnally
Reader Comments(1 of 8)
docconcreteguyat 11-12-2009
Can we please have our country music back. This is the biggest crock of sh#t I have ever seen. She is an opening act and can not compete with the likes of King George,or Kenny Chesney. This girl can sing but it is not country. What she sings is pop and buble gum at that. she is in the same genre of Britney Spears, Tiffany, and so on.What is wrong with letting us real country fans have our country.
TWat 11-12-2009
Doc, if you want your whinin', cryin' country keep buying all those old Patsy Cline,Sonny James,Tammy Wynette,etc... But I have to thank Garth Brooks for bringing country music to the masses and showing todays artists that country music is for more than just cryin' in your beer and steppin'in front of a moving train! Congrats to Taylor, Sugarland,Brad,Zac Brown...and all the modern "country" artists who bridge the gap of generations!
lXl ChasTittyat 11-12-2009
I totally agree with you here. I don't think she's country AT ALL! More of a pop singer to me.
geldonskiat 11-12-2009
There you go. Someone who realizes what a prefab music genere country has become. Most of these artists don't have a drop of country running through there veins yet they are considered stars. Contemporary Country music is nothing more then pop rock that is tailored to lure in the 18-40 year old age group. And yes most of the female singers are closer to Spears then they are to Wynette. This is not whinin or cryin. This is a fact.
Sheliaat 11-12-2009
I agree 100% with you
cararoberts19at 11-12-2009
Agreed! She isn't a country singer period. However, she can't sing a lick at all without the help of a recording studio. She is by far one of the worst singers live I have ever heard live. I mean if that's all it takes, I could win entertainer of the year. Granted, with all the help to her voice that she receives on her CD's they are pretty good, but def. not country.
kathystaceyat 11-14-2009
my thoughts exactly........
randydinkinsat 11-12-2009
my family and I are so happy for this young lady. no one has ever been more deserving of the recognition she's getting. my youngest daughter loves taylor and belts out her songs daily with near perfect pitch. she inspires my 9 year old and makes her happy. thus far in her career taylor has earned the right to have my child look up to her. I just hope she continues to make good decisions. I was alos very happy to see kanye wasn't allowed in to the room.
Congratulations Taylor!!!
babybluejrt6910at 11-12-2009
Regardless of your feelings on Taylor at the end of the day she deserved it. Everyone has to start somewhere and this girl had a great year. Rock on Taylor!
jami lovulloat 11-12-2009
I agree with docconcreteguy. Taylor is okay if you're 19 and under, but DEFINITELY NOT country music. Pop indeed, just like Britney, Paris, Jessica, etc. I miss the days when country stars actually sang country music. I'm sure 9 year olds love her, but actually that comment explains it all better than I could.
Davidat 11-12-2009
Hey schmuck! I am WAY past 9 or 19 (54) and I love listening to Taylor. Considering how many people like her, maybe the problem lies with you.
babybluejrt6910at 11-12-2009
Why are you commenting here? Lol. People that you mentioned do get recognized, every single day. Quit your complaining.
mbonhamwolvat 11-12-2009
Thank God, for his sake, that the disrespectful, drunken dumb ass Mr. Kanye West wasn't at the CMA awards. With his kind of noise that he gets to perform with, I am really glad he had no business at the CMAs. Imagine if he was at the CMAs and there was no security. I bet the redneck Daniel Lawrence Whitney('Larry The Cable Guy') and a couple of his redneck buddies, maybe Toby Keith included, would, without a word, encourage Mr. West to leave the premesis immediately upon his arrival before he got a couple of boots up his drunken, disrespectful ass!! If I ever saw that happen, I'd be hootin' and a-hollerin.
Taraat 11-12-2009
I am a Taylor fan. I think it's incredible that she writes her own material. I also admire her confidence and think she's a great role model for young girls. HOWEVER, I am in complete disbelief with tonight's awards! I slightly understand Entertainer of the Year. I have seen Taylor in concert and she does a great job of just that---entertaining. I am absolutely not understanding the win for Female Vocalist of the Year. In comparison to Reba, Carrie, Martina, and Miranda, Taylor's actual vocal ability is definitely last on the list. The proof is in tonight's live performances. This honor should have gone to someone capable of delivering consistent, solid, and on-pitch vocals!!
BUTTAFLYat 11-12-2009
WHY ARE YOU SOOOO MEAN; SHE IS YOUNG AND DESERVING OF THE AWARD AND OPERTUNITY GIVEN TO HER!!! THATS HOW ALL THE OTHER DESERVING STARS YOU MENTIONED CAME UP IN THE BUSINESS. SHE HAD A GREAT YEAR AND WAS REWARD FOR SUCH... STOP BEING A HATER