Familiar Duo Dominate Country Music Awards

07 Nov, 2013

The Country Music Association Awards continued to show its love for Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton on Wednesday night while giving a nod to new duo Florida Georgia Line and doling out a few more awards to Taylor Swift.

Lambert won her fourth straight female vocalist of the year award while her husband, Shelton, won album of the year and male vocalist – a category he also won for the fourth year in a row. Florida Georgia Line took too early awards to join Swift, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw atop the early winners list.

“I really didn’t think this was going to happen this year,” Lambert said before thanking each of the other nominees.

The husband and wife have been favorites of the CMA’s 6,000 voters for the last three years and Wednesday as no different. Shelton’s album of the year win for “Based on a True Story …” was a bit of a surprise, a year after taking entertainer of the year.

“I had mentioned earlier today that if there was an award that would mean the most to me tonight, it would be album of the year,” said Shelton, getting serious after jokingly snatching his trophy from presenter Sheryl Crow.

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley scored single and vocal duo of the year. Their quick tally was more proof the so-called bro country movement is the sound of the moment in mainstream country. FGL kicked off the show performing a fist-pumping medley with Luke Bryan, and very quickly returned to the stage to take the trophy for single of the year for their “Cruise” remix featuring Nelly. They also played the new song “Round Here.”

Kacey Musgraves – who, along with Taylor Swift, led all nominees with six – won the new artist trophy, besting a field that included Florida Georgia Line. With smart songwriting, a progressive bent and a strong sense of self like country’s other top women, Musgraves made an auspicious mainstream country debut this year with her album “Same Trailer Different Park.”

Swift performed an acoustic version of her hit “Red” with Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Sam Bush and was given the CMA’s Pinnacle Award. The award goes to artists who take country music to a worldwide audience. Garth Brooks is the only previous winner. He won in 2005.

Winners of the 47th annual Country Music Association Awards

Entertainer of the Year: George Strait

Album of the Year: Blake Shelton – “Based on a True Story …”

Song of the Year: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary – “I Drive Your Truck”

Single of the Year: Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”

Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert

New Artist of the Year: Kacey Musgraves

Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town

Vocal Duo of the Year: Florida Georgia Line

Music Video of the Year: Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – “Highway Don’t Care”

Musical Event of the Year: Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – “Highway Don’t Care”

Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally

AP

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