CMA Awards 2013: Blake & Miranda Sweep -Again!
For the inconceivable fourth-straight year, married couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert took home their respective Vocalist of the Year awards at the CMA Awards. Keep reading to find out who else took home an award!
Hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley started country music's biggest awards show with an opening that the nation will be buzzing about in the morning.
The two first addressed feuds in country music by delivering a duet of "Why Can't We Be Friends?" and then decided to lightheartedly start their own outrageous feuds (e.g., Brad Paisley vs. Kenny Rogers; Darius Rucker vs. Julianne Hough).
The well-orchestrated comedy skit continued with a satire of the rocky launch of Obamacare via a spin on George Strait's "Amarillo By Morning" ("Obamacare by morning, over six people served"), and an applause for Taylor Swift for keeping her clothes on unlike her female pop music counterparts.
After a brief sexting session between Paisley and Keith Urban, the opening concluded with a mash-up of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and the popular reality show Duck Dynasty, during which the Duck Dynasty cast was brought on stage and eventually presented the first award of the show.
The first major honor of the 47th CMA Awards was granted to New Artist of the Year Kacey Musgraves, who performed her latest single "Follow Your Arrow." That would be the only award the 25-year-old Texan songstress would receive for her six nominations, which tied her with Taylor Swift for the most nominations.
Barring a pair of awards for her collaboration with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban "Highway Don't Care," Swift took home one award as well, but of a different variety. The Red singer was honored with the Pinnacle Award, which is given to a country-music artist who has achieved worldwide success. The award has only been handed out once before (Garth Brooks) since it was established in 2005.
Another honorary award, The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, was a bestowed upon Kenny Rogers in addition to a tribute to the late George Jones.
Hosts Paisley and Underwood were amongst the bounty of country stars that took the stage in Nashville on Wednesday night.
Also performing at the tune-filled show were Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, last year's New Artist of the Year Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz, The Band Perry, Zac Brown Band with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on drums, Rascal Flatts,
Some miscellaneous celebs also took the stage as presenters, including Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale—who will soon release her debut country album—Nashville actors Connie Britton and Charles Eston, and even Sean "Diddy" Combs, who promoted his new TV network.
A remarkable show was capped off with the biggest awards, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Pitted against some tough competition, including Keith Urban and Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert claimed the awards for the fourth year in a row.
Shelton also won Album of the Year for his eighth studio album, Based on a True Story, and it appeared as though he was trending towards winning his second-consecutive Entertainer of the Year award, but that honor was given to George Strait.
Check out the full winners list below to see who went home with a coveted 15-inch crystal CMA Award.
Winners
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"Cruise"—Florida Georgia Line
"Highway Don't Care"—Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"Mama's Broken Heart"—Miranda Lambert
"Merry Go 'Round"—Kacey Musgraves
"Wagon Wheel"—Darius Rucker
SONG OF THE YEAR
"I Drive Your Truck"—Writers: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy Yeary
Performer: Lee Brice
"Mama's Broken Heart"—Writers: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves
Performer: Miranda Lambert
"Merry Go 'Round"—Writers: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne
Performer: Kacey Musgraves
"Pontoon"—Writers: Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby & Luke Laird
Performer: Little Big Town
"Wagon Wheel" —Writers: Bob Dylan & Ketch Secor
Performer: Darius Rucker
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Boys 'Round Here"—Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
"Cruise"—Florida Georgia Line with Nelly
"Don't Rush"—Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill
"Highway Don't Care"—Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"The Only Way I Know"—Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Blown Away"—Carrie Underwood
"Boys 'Round Here"—Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
"Downtown"—Lady Antebellum
"Highway Don't Care"—Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"Mama's Broken Heart"—Miranda Lambert
"Tornado"—Little Big Town
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Brent Mason
Dann Huff
Mac McAnally
Paul Franklin
Sam Bush
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brent Eldredge
Florida Georgia Line
Kacey Musgraves
Kip Moore
Lee Brice
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Based on a True Story—Blake Shelton
Blown Away—Carrie Underwood
Red—Taylor Swift
Some Different Trailer Park—Kacey Musgraves
Tornado—Little Big Town
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood
Kacey Musgraves
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Eric Church
Jason Aldean
Keith Urban
Luke Bryan
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Taylor Swift