NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) — Country music legend Garth Brooks won Entertainer of the Year for a record-extending sixth time on Wednesday night when the 51st annual CMA Awards took place in Nashville.
Brooks thanked his crew and band after winning the top CMA Awards, which was the third time he’s won the award in back-to-back years, following his wins in 1991-92, 1997-98 and in 2016.
“It’s been 30 years,” Brooks told the crowd. “Never have I felt more like a part of this industry. It’s weird. We don’t belong to a label or anything, but every label guy in the industry is hugging me out there. It feels like family.”
Keith Urban won the Single of the Year award for his hit “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Urban co-produced the song with longtime collaborator Dann Huff and it was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was the fourth single from Urban’s Ripcord album and stayed atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks.
Chris Stapleton won his second Album of the Year Award for From A Room: Volume 1 and Male Vocalist of the Year.
“Every one of these guys is the reason I’m up here,” Stapleton said of his fellow nominees. “Luke (Bryan) took me out when nobody even heard of me. Eric (Church) took me out when nobody had even heard of me. Thomas (Rhett) wrote songs with me. Dierks (Bentley) wrote songs with me. Every one of these guys deserves this thing.”
Miranda Lambert took home the trophy for Female Vocalist of the Year,
Guitarist Mac McAnally won Musician of the Year for a record-tying ninth time, pulling even with Nashville’s most-venerated musician, Chet Atkins. The award was presented by host LOCASH during the pre-telecast portion of the awards.
Little Big Town won its sixth straight Vocal Group of the Year Award on a night that included a tribute to the late, great Glenn Campbell with their touching version of his “Wichita Lineman” that featured an appearance by its writer, Jimmy Webb.
“The talent we see in this category alone just humbles us so much,” LBT’s Phillip Sweet said. “We love making music, we love seeing your faces … .”
“I don’t deserve (to be) in his league at all,” McAnally said of Atkins, whom he met as a child. “I’m happy to be in the same phone book. He’s one of my all-time heroes.”
Hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, the 51st annual CMA Awards took place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The complete list of winners from the 51st annual CMA Awards
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks – WINNER
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Better Man” – Little Big Town – Producer: Jay Joyce – Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban – Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge – WINNER
“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt – Producer: Zach Crowell – Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell
“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi – Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi – Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert – Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf – Mix Engineer: Eric Masse
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Breaker – Little Big Town – Producer: Jay Joyce
From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton – Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Heart Break – Lady Antebellum – Producer: busbee
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Producer: Dave Cobb
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert – Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Better Man” – Songwriter: Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen
“Body Like A Back Road” – Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Dirt On My Boots” – Songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
“Tin Man” – Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town – WINNER
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson – WINNER
“Kill A Word” – Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with P!nk
“Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar) – WINNER
Derek Wells (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Better Man” – Little Big Town – Directors: Becky Fluke and Reid Long
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban – Director: Carter Smith –
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris – Director: TK McKamy
“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne – Directors: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver – WINNER
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert – Director: Trey Fanjoy
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi – WINNER
Brett Young
