Dwight Yoakam Honored With 2015 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award

Dwight Yoakam was honored with the Country Radio Broadcasters' Artist Career Achievement Award on Wednesday night (June 24) at the 41st annual Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner, which took place in Nashville.

Before he accepted his award, a video highlighting several of Yoakam's performances and career accomplishments played. R.J. Curtis, country editor for AllAcess.com, introduced Yoakam, who took the podium to thank the industry for its support.

“I haven’t gotten a lot of awards," Yoakam said (quote via a press release), "but one thing I did have was great support from country radio."

Yoakam thanked executives from his first record label and noted the "beacons of my generation, like George Strait and Ricky Skaggs,” who made a huge impact on his career. He also admitted that without country radio, he would not have sold over 25 million records.

"Radio was and is magic to my ears," Yoakam added. "Thank you for being that voice in my ear. And thank you for honoring me tonight.”

Yoakam released his 15th studio album, Second Hand Heart, in April; he wrote eight of the record's 10 tracks. It was his first release since returning to Warner Bros./Reprise Records, and the album notched a No. 2 debut on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, making it Yoakam's highest-charting record in 26 years. His last top-charting record was Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room, which hit No. 1 when it was released in August of 1988.

Yoakam revealed the music video for the Second Hand Heart's "Liar" just a couple of weeks ago. The clip shows Yoakam and his band performing on Sunset Boulevard in California.