Strait wins CMA top entertainer; FGL, Shelton, Swift take multiple awards

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, TENN.

George Strait is the Country Music Association’s entertainer of the year

The win Wednesday night was Strait’s third for the CMA’s top honor — but his first since 1990. The 61-year-old Texan is retiring from the road and has been celebrated by his peers as he completes his The Cowboy Rides Away tour.

His win capped a night in which voters showed the love for Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton 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.

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.

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 tied Florida Georgia Line with two trophies after her “Highway Don’t Care” collaboration with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban won musical event and music video of the year before the show began.

Lee Brice’s “I’d Drive Your Truck,” about a fallen soldier whose father still drives his truck, won song of the year, and Little Big Town took its second straight vocal group of the year.

Swift later performed a somber, 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.

The CMA brought a star-studded welcoming group out on stage for Swift that included George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley — all of whom gave Swift a chance to open for them on the road as a teenager.

A video salute followed with appearances by Justin Timberlake, Julia Roberts, Carly Simon, Ethel Kennedy and Mick Jagger — whose appearance made Swift shout.

Collaboration was the theme of the night as Strait and Alan Jackson joined together to salute the late George Jones with a rendition of “She Stopped Loving Him Today.” Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz took a tour of the Bridgestone Arena while performing “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me.” And Zac Brown and his band joined in on a growing hard-rock trend in country as Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, a Warren native, joined the band on drums for new song high-powered “Day for the Dead.” Eric Church earlier turned things up to 11 with his new song “The Outsiders.”

Hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley got the show going on a jovial note as they took the stage with their opening skit, first joking about feuds in music.

And in one of the night’s most-anticipated moments, Kenny Rogers received the CMA’s Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award and was saluted by Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts.

For a complete list of winners, go to www.cmaawards.com.