NASHVILLE - Before
Taylor Swift even enters her 20s, she adds four CMA Awards to her collection, winning Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album and Music Video of the Year at "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," which aired live on the ABC Television Network and before a sold-out crowd at the Sommet Center in Downtown Nashville.
By winning Entertainer of the Year, 19-year-old Swift is the youngest performer to ever win the honor and the first female to win since Shania Twain in 1999. "I'll never forget this moment," an emotional Swift said, "because at this moment everything that I have ever wanted just happened to me." Hillary Scott said about her partners Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. "That was a complete shock, that was not expected," Kelley said
backstage. "We've got a lot left to prove." The group performed "Need You Now," from their forthcoming sophomore album.
Sugarland picked up their third consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year Award, giving thanks to 14-time Vocal Duo Brooks & Dunn, who announced they were disbanding in 2010. "Thank you for what you've done for us and thank you for what you've done for Country Music," Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles said to Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. "It's an honor to be nominated in your category."
Soon after Sugarland performed the poignant ballad "Keep You," Brooks & Dunn tore the place down with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performing "Honky Tonk Stomp."
Winning the coveted New Artist of the Year, Darius Rucker thanked the people who "took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C. God bless y'all for that." Earlier, Rucker performed "Alright," his third consecutive No. 1 hit from his debut Country album Learn to Live.
Jamey Johnson picked up his second CMA Song of the Year Award for "In Color" co-written with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller. "I never thought y'all would even let me come to stuff like this," Johnson joked. "Thank you for listening to my music and letting me do what I do." Johnson won Song in 2007 for George Strait's "Give It Away" with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon. Johnson teamed with Kid Rock to perform "Between Jennings and Jones."
Urban, who won his first Musical Event of the Year Award with Paisley in the pre-telecast ceremony, offered the pensive new single, "'Til Summer Comes Around." Four-time nominee Strait performed his latest hit, the title track from his Album,
The winners of "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Sugarland
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Darius Rucker
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Fearless
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"I Run To You"
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley
Capitol Records Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR
"In Color"
Written by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Start A Band"
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
Arista Nashville
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Love Story"
Taylor Swift
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Mac McAnally - Guitar
In 1958, CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. Its membership includes nearly 6,000 companies and music industry professionals around the globe.
"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music
