Chesney, Urban. Underwood and Brooks & Dunn Shine On Country Music's Biggest Night

12/11/06 - Chesney, Urban, Underwood and Brooks & Dunn Shine On "Country Music's Biggest Night".

By Tim Holland

American Idol winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood completed a phenomenal twelve months in what she called “the best night of her life,” at the 40th CMA Awards held last Monday night at the Gaylord Entertainment Centre in Nashville. She became the first person since Alison Krauss in 1995 to win the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year awards in the same year. The Horizon Award is given to the artist who demonstrates the most significant creative growth and development in Country Music over in the past year. In an incredibly emotional speech, Underwood thanked everyone who worked with her on the album, her label (RCA Records) and American Idol. I thought it was refreshing to see someone actually acknowledge the shows contribution to their success rather than trying to distance themselves from it for a change.

If you saw the show over the weekend on CMC, you may have seen Faith Hill’s reaction when Carrie won Female Vocalist. It was truly priceless! Husband Tim McGraw actually spent the following morning ringing radio stations and suggesting that the reaction was a joke, but I’m not buying that one!

Kenny Chesney took out the major award, Entertainer of the Year, while last year’s winner of that prize, Keith Urban took out Male Vocalist of the Year for the third consecutive year. Urban, who is currently seeking treatment for a well publicised addiction was not at the awards, but wrote an acceptance speech which was read by Ronnie Dunn. In the letter, Keith thanked his label, management and family for their support throughout his current ordeal. “I’m pained not being here tonight,” Urban wrote. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to coming home and seeing you soon.”

It goes without saying that we all can’t wait to see Keith back on stage when the time is right.

Eva Longoria was on hand to present the Male Vocalist award.

Brooks & Dunn won the most awards on the night – Single of the Year and Song of the Year for their song, Believe along with Vocal Duo of the Year.

The performances included another Miranda Lambert treat. This year she performed her new song, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and decided to simply through the mic on the ground at the end of it. Vince Gill also performed with Sheryl Crow and George Strait performed his latest Give It Away before being inducted into the Countrmy Music Hall Of Fame.

The awards will be repeated on CMC a number of times over the next couple of months. The CMA Awards are the highest rating music awards show in the US with an estimated 36 million viewers across the country.

The winners were;

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn

HORIZON AWARD
Carrie Underwood

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Time Well Wasted
Brad Paisley
Produced by Chris DuBois/Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Believe
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown/Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
Believe
Craig Wiseman/Ronnie Dunn
Sony/ATV Tree/Showbilly Music/Big Loud Shirt