Top 10 2014 CMA Awards Moments

Eric Church and George Strait performed 'Cowboys Like Us' at this year's CMA Awards, and the two of them together on one stage is, in a word, awesome. They couldn't look more different -- Church in his aviators and black leather, and Strait in his clean-cut suit coat and broad smile -- but the chemistry they have onstage is mesmerizing. We're glad they took the song they performed on Strait's the Cowboy Rides Away Tour and brought it to the CMA stage.

Newly crowned New Artist of the Year Brett Eldredge had our hearts during his acceptance speech. He was clearly shocked by the award, and his heartfelt words were enough to make anyone smile. As an up-and-coming artist, it's a big deal to win an award among the country superstars that take the stage throughout the evening. Congrats to the 'Don't Ya' hitmaker!

The 2014 CMAs weren't just country music; there were also a few pop stars there -- namely, Meghan Trainor and Ariana Grande, who collaborated with Lambert and Little Big Town, respectively. 'All About That Bass' was slightly countrified and full of doo-wop style, and the two fantastic songstresses got the show off to a fun start. And, of course, Grande and LBT's light-up costumes stole the night -- and who could ever forget that drum line?

Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry of the Band Perry paid a beautiful tribute to Glen Campbell with a performance of their new single, a cover of 'Gentle on My Mind.' The frontwoman has said it feels like they're "singing a poem," and their performance was riveting and magical. Plus, the siblings looked incredibly classy, and their three-part harmonies were flawless. If Campbell was watching, we bet he was very, very proud.

After the CMAs, the Lambert-Shelton residence was filled with several of Lambert's new awards -- and the cutest thing ever: matching trophies for Shelton and his wife. They were named, for the fifth straight year in a row, Female Vocalist and Male Vocalist of the Year, and it amped up their reign as country royalty in a huge way.

Kacey Musgraves' 'Follow Your Arrow' sends a message loud and clear. And the fact that it won Song of the Year at the 2014 CMA Awards means the message was received -- and embraced. The tune focuses on subjects normally taboo in the country world, from homosexuality to smoking pot -- but at its core, it's a rallying anthem about self-acceptance.

"Do you know what this means for country music?" Musgraves asked when she accepted the award. Not only did 'Follow Your Arrow' have an uphill battle because of its lyrics, it's also a huge boost for women in country music.

We're not sure what was a bigger deal to Luke Bryan: winning Entertainer of the Year -- the biggest award of the night -- or meeting Garth Brooks for the first time when receiving the award. We'll call it a tie. Brooks made his first appearance at the CMAs since 2005 and handed Bryan his shiny new trophy. Then, the newly crowned singer hugged Brooks not once, but twice -- and announced to the enthusiastic crowd that it was his first time meeting the legend. Coupled with his emotional acceptance speech, this moment easily made it into the top five moments at the 2014 CMAs.

Ta-da! The special guest of the CMA Awards was the First Lady of Country Music, Loretta Lynn, and she sang with rising country star Musgraves, who is carving her own unique path in country music. They performed 'You're Lookin' at Country' and, not surprisingly, received a standing ovation from the packed audience. Lynn was truly a very special guest at the CMAs, and she and Musgraves won the cutest pair award in our book -- old-school country meets new, and we couldn't be happier.

Gill was the recipient of the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence at this year's CMAs, and he was just the second recipient of all time. (Johnny Cash is the other -- good company to be in!) Gill's historic impact on country music was honored through an emotional video, and his acceptance speech was equal parts heartwarming, funny and inspirational. The award is rare, and Gill's talent, contributions to country music and unbeatable impact is rarer still. It was a moment in CMA history that won't quickly be forgotten.

If Underwood and husband Mike Fisher had a gender reveal party planned for all their friends and family, well ... Paisley's loose lips definitely botched those plans. But, really, in all seriousness, it was planned. And what was more perfect than one of country's biggest stars announcing (via Paisley's hilariously timed reveal) her baby boy's gender on country's biggest night? Forget the blue-hued cake and balloons: We imagine she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.