2010 CMA Awards Winners and Show Highlights
Country music's biggest night belonged to the birthday girl. Miranda Lambert walked away a three-time winner at the 44th Annual CMA Awards on November 10 -- her 27th birthday. The bride-to-be also got an early wedding gift from the Country Music Association -- matching his-and-hers vocalist trophies.
A record-breaking nine-time nominee going into the live broadcast, Miranda won Video of the Year for her touching clip for 'The House That Built Me,' Album of the Year for her critically-acclaimed 'Revolution,' and Female Vocalist of the Year. Fiancé Blake Shelton is the CMA's Male Vocalist of the Year winner in his first (and arguably long overdue) time being nominated in that category. Blake won his very first CMA trophy in the pre-broadcast ceremony, scoring Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Trace Adkins, 'Hillbilly Bone.'
Miranda and Blake are the first couple since Faith Hill and Tim McGraw in 2000 to win vocalist honors in the same year.
It was also an historic night for Brad Paisley, who has his first CMA Entertainer of the Year win in six straight nominations. The illustrious musician also co-hosted the show for the third time with Carrie Underwood, earning lots of laughs throughout the evening, as the two poked fun of peers, current events and adulterous athletes, among other targets.
Lady Antebellum were double winners, taking home Single of the Year for their crossover-hit, 'Need You Now,' along with Vocal Group of the Year honors for the second year in a row. The Zac Brown Band now stake claim to the prestigious CMA Best New Artist honors. And Sugarland hold onto their Top Vocal Duo bragging rights for a fourth year in a row, in a category many thought would go to Brooks & Dunn this year, their final year as a duo.
The night's performances ranged from foot-stomping to tear-jerking ... from legends to fresh faces. Carrie kicked off the show on a high note, making her live debut of the sassy 'Songs Like This,' accompanied by fellow host Brad and Keith Urban on guitar. Other collaborations included the Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson on 'As She's Walking Away,' Kelly Clarkson with Jason Aldean on their new duet, 'Don't You Wanna Stay,' and Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn with the classic 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' sung in tribute to the latter icon's 50th anniversary in the music business.
It was Gwyneth Paltrow who satisfied the night's biggest collective curiosity, as she made her live country music singing debut on the CMAs. Accompanied by Vince Gill on background vocals, the Oscar-winner hit every note on her very first country radio single, 'Country Strong,' which is also the title of the upcoming movie in which she stars as a troubled singer/songwriter.
See the full list of 2010 CMA Awards nominees and winners below.
2010 CMA AWARDS WINNERS
**Winners in bold
Entertainer of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
**Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band
Female Vocalist of the Year
**Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
**Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban
New Artist
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
**Zac Brown Band
Vocal Group
**Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
**Sugarland
Album of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer)
'Need You Now' - Lady Antebellum
Producer: Paul Worley
'Play On' - Carrie Underwood
Producers: Mark Bright and Max Martin
**'Revolution' - Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
'Twang' - George Strait
Producer: Tony Brown
'Up on the Ridge' - Dierks Bentley
Producer: Jon Randall Stewart
Single of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer)
'A Little More Country Than That'
Easton Corbin
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
'Hillbilly Bone'
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Producer: Scott Hendricks
**'Need You Now'
Lady Antebellum
Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
'The House That Built Me'
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
'White Liar'
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Song of the Year
(Award goes to songwriters)
'A Little More Country Than That'
Songwriters: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble
'Need You Now'
Songwriters: Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Josh Kear
**'The House That Built Me'
Songwriters: Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
'Toes'
Songwriters: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins and Shawn Mullins
'White Liar'
Songwriters: Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby
Musical Event of the Year
'Bad Angel' - Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
'Can't You See' - Zac Brown Band and Kid Rock
**'Hillbilly Bone' - Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins
'I'm Alive' - Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews
''Till the End' - Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack
Music Video
(Award goes to artist and director)
'Hillbilly Bone'
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Director: Roman White
Watch the 'Hillbilly Bone' Video
'Need You Now'
Lady Antebellum
Director: David McClister
Watch the 'Need You Now' Video
**'The House That Built Me'
Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Watch 'The House That Built Me' Video
'Water'
Brad Paisley
Director: Jim Shea
Watch the 'Water' Video
'White Liar'
Miranda Lambert
Director: Chris Hickey
Watch the 'White Liar' Video
Musician
Paul Frankin -- Steel Guitar
Dann Huff -- Guitar
Brent Mason -- Guitar
**Mac McAnally -- Guitar
Randy Scruggs -- Guitar