Chesney takes top honors at CMAs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kenny Chesney won entertainer of the year and Carrie Underwood took home female-vocalist and single-of-the-year honors at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday.
“God has blessed me with so many wonderful things,” said Underwood, who gained fame by winning “American Idol.” “If you told me a few years ago I had been nominated with the people I’m nominated with, I would have called you absolutely insane.”
Brad Paisley, who won male vocalist, teared up as he thanked his father, who he said carried amplifiers and ran sound “even though he didn’t know what he was doing.”
Earlier, Sugarland won vocal duo of the year, breaking Brooks & Dunn’s long-standing lock on the award, and 17-year-old Taylor Swift won the Horizon Award for newcomer.
“If we’re standing up here, we have this lofty view because we’re standing on the shoulders of giants who’ve come before us,” said Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles.
Brooks & Dunn had won the duo category 14 of the last 15 years.
Swift gave a tearful speech in which she joked, “This is definitely the highlight of my senior year.”
Rascal Flatts won top vocal group, and George Strait took top album for “It Just Comes Natural” and song of the year for “Give it Away.”
Other winners included Tracy Lawrence, featuring Tim McGraw and Chesney, for musical event for “Find Out Who Your Friends Are”; and Dobro great Jerry Douglas of Union Station as musician of the year.
Paisley performed “Online” with the Brentwood, Tenn., High School marching band. Other performers were Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert, Strait, Swift, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Big & Rich, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Chesney, Josh Turner, Kellie Pickler and the Eagles.
Vince Gill introduced the Eagles, who played their single “How Long” and received a standing ovation.
“For 35 years or more, these next guys have been writing songs like we wished we could write,” Gill said.
The show was broadcast live on ABC and was hosted by James Denton of “Desperate Housewives,” Kate Walsh of “Private Practice” and Kimberly Williams-Paisley - Brad Paisley’s wife - of “According to Jim.”