Last night the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards was packed with performances, tributes, jokes ranging from Obamacare to Miley Cyrus, and of course, the awards themselves.
Country superstars Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley served as hosts for the evening, opening the show with quips about all the feuds that have been going on in the country music industry. Later in the show, they brought out the stars of Duck Dynasty to perform a redneck version of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.” Paisley even dressed for the part, wearing Thicke’s infamous outfit from the MTV Video Music Awards, and Underwood pulled out a foam finger.
Florida Georgia Line was a top winner of the night, receiving the awards Best Single for “Cruise,” as well as Top Vocal Duo. The duo helped Luke Bryan open up the show and later performed “Round Here.”
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also won big last night, receiving Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist, respectively, for the fourth year in a row. Shelton also won Album of the Year for Based on a True Story…
Taylor Swift received the Pinnacle Award, an award given to artists who have reached a widespread level of success. Garth Brooks is the only other country artist to have received such an honor. To celebrate this achievement, a montage was made full of stars praising her, including Justin Timberlake, Mick Jagger, Reese Witherspoon, and Julia Roberts. In addition, Swift performed an acoustic version of “Red” during the telecast, featuring country icons Alison Krauss and Vince Gill.
There were also performances by non-country artists, including Jason Mraz who performed “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” with Hunter Hayes. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters took the stage with Zac Brown Band for a debut performance of “Day for the Dead.”
Tributes were also made throughout the telecast. Alan Jackson and George Strait performed George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” to honor the country legend who passed away earlier this year. Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker sang a few Kenny Rogers songs to honor Rogers, who received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland then performed with Rogers on his hits “The Gambler” and “Islands in the Stream.”
George Strait took the top prize of the night, Entertainer of the Year, for the third time. The star will be retiring soon and is currently on his two-year farewell tour.
The CMA Awards was a ratings-success. It had 16.6 million viewers, which was its biggest audience in four years.
What did you think of the show? If you missed it, check out the list of all the nominees and winners below.
Entertainer of the Year
- Taylor Swift
- Jason Aldean
- WINNER: George Strait
- Blake Shelton
- Luke Bryan
Male Vocalist of the Year
- WINNER: Blake Shelton
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Keith Urban
- Eric Church
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Taylor Swift
- WINNER: Miranda Lambert
- Carrie Underwood
- Kacey Musgraves
- Kelly Clarkson
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Big & Rich
- Thompson Square
- WINNER: Florida Georgia Line
- Love and Theft
- Sugarland
- The Civil Wars
New Artist of the Year
- Florida Georgia Line
- Lee Brice
- Kip Moore
- WINNER: Kacey Musgraves
- Brett Eldredge
Vocal Group of the Year
- Eli Young Band
- Lady Antebellum
- WINNER: Little Big Town
- The Band Perry
- Zac Brown Band
Musical Event of the Year
- Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly, “Cruise”
- WINNER: Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
- Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies, “Boys ‘Round Here”
- Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill, “Don’t Rush”
- Jason Aldean feat. Luke Bryan and Eric Church, “The Only Way I Know”
Album of the Year
- WINNER: Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story
- Carrie Underwood, Blown Away
- Taylor Swift, Red
- Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park
- Little Big Town, Tornado
Single of the Year
- WINNER: Florida Georgia Line, “Cruise”
- Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
- Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
- Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round”
- Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”
Song of the Year
- WINNER: Lee Brice, “I Drive Your Truck”
- Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
- Kacey Musgraves, “Merry Go ‘Round”
- Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
- Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”
Music Video of the Year
- Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away”
- Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies, “Boys ‘Round Here”
- Lady Antebellum, “Downtown”
- WINNER: Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
- Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
- Little Big Town, “Tornado”
Musician of the Year
- Brent Mason (Guitar)
- Dann Huff (Guitar)
- WINNER: Mac McAnally (Guitar)
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
- Sam Bush (Mandolin)
