“One of my favorite things about this year is all the camaraderie between all these artists that I could call and say, ‘Hey, do you want to come sing with me?'” said Swift. “And there were more artists who showed up just out of the goodness of their heart and came out and performed for the fans at my shows.”
And the Country Music Association gave newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert belated wedding gifts, naming Shelton Male Vocalist of the Year and Lambert Female Vocalist of the Year for the second year running.
“‘You’re spoiling me!'” laughed Shelton after accepting his Award for Male Vocalist. “I really didn’t prepare anything to say at all. I didn’t think y’all would let me get away with this two times.” With their wins, Shelton and Lambert now join Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as the only married couple to win in both categories in the same year.
Also coming away from the night big winners were Jason Aldean and The Band Perry, winning two awards each.
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry had this to say about the band’s first-ever CMA award: “Oh, first of all, we wanted to say thank you to the beautiful fans of Country Music,” said Kimberly Perry. “It is the joy of our whole lives to sing this song for you guys.”
Kimberly Perry also took home the Song of the Year award for writing “If I Die Young.”
“I truly believe that if ‘I Die Young’ would have been written with or without me, it was a song that was meant to be,” she said. “But I was so excited to have pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to earth.”
The 45th Annual CMA Awards Winners:
Entertainer of the Year
Taylor Swift
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“If I Die Young”
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley
Republic Nashville
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“If I Die Young”
Kimberly Perry
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Don’t You Wanna Stay”
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Broken Bow Records
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“You and Tequila”
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Directed by Shaun Silva
Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Source: CMA – November 10, 2011
SOURCE Country Music Association
