Blake Shelton Wins CMA Entertainer
Blake Shelton was the big winner at the 46th annual CMA Awards. He & his wife Miranda Lambert won Song of the Year for “Over You.” Then he won Male Vocalist of the Year for the third time. But the biggest was saved for last when Blake was named Entertainer Of The Year. He accepted the award from his mentor Reba McEntire.
Backstage, Blake told reporters, “I didn’t see this coming. Because I didn’t see this coming, I didn’t think about it. I’ve got so much more I want to do. I’m having trouble figuring out how I’m going to schedule what I want to do. Country music is my job. This is my heart, this is my soul, I know who the founders of country music were, and this is a big deal, country music is my life. To be Male Vocalist of the Year is the biggest thing in the world to me. To be Entertainer of the Year is an even bigger deal to me. But is it leaving me wondering what’s next? No. I’m starting to become one of those guys I’ve worshiped, and it’s important what I do with this, and that’s why a vehicle like The Voice is such a big deal, because it’s how we’re all represented.”
The other big winner was the four part harmony group Little Big Town. The quartet had never won an award in their 13 year hostory. But the success of their #1 hit “Pontoon” catapulted them to win Single of the Year for that song, as well as Vocal Group of the Year. That ended Lady Antebellum’s three year run in that category.
Miranda Lambert’s Song of the Year award was her first award as a songwriter. She shared that award with husband Blake Shelton, and it was also their first award together. Blake said the award was important to them for several reasons: “That Song of the Year award, Miranda is a songwriter first. And for me as a songwriter, that is as personal as I can get.” The two wrote the song about Blake’s older brother, who was killed in a car accident when Blake was 14 years old. Miranda added, “Song Of The Year was very special to us. We really just wanted to take that one home. And we did. I feel like there’s a time for every artist, and you don’t know when it’s your time, and every year, it’s a butterfly feeling.” But it was obviously that Miranda was proudest of her husband for winning Entertainer of the Year: “One year I was nominated for that award, so I did some research on what it meant. And I realized it meant not only ticket sales, but the way your represented country music. And when you think of it that way, Blake Shelton deserved to win that trophy tonight.”
Other first time winners tonight included Eric Church, who picked up Album of the Year for his Platinum-selling CD “Chief.” And newcomer Hunter Hayes was named New Artist of the Year. The young singer recently celebrated his first #1 with “Wanted,” and performed the song on the show tonight. Thompson Square won Vocal Duo of the Year.
Throughout the night, performers recognized the recent hurricane Sandy that hit New York and New Jersey. Viewers were reminded to contribute to the Red Cross. There was a superstar tribute to legend Willie Nelson, who will turn 80 next year. He was given the first-ever Willie Nelson Career Achievement Award.
Prior to the broadcast, Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw won Vocal Event of the year for their duet “Feel Like a Rock Star.” And Toby Keith won Music Video of the Year for his recent hit “Red Solo Cup.” Other performers on the three hour telecast included Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, and The Zac Brown Band, as well as all the winners, and the program hosts Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood.
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