Winners of 43rd Annual CMA Awards Announced

Teen Taylor Swift Becomes CMA's Youngest Entertainer of the Year

Nov 13, 2009 Lisa L. Rollins

Country star Brad Paisley had the most CMA nominations in 2009, but teen queen Taylor Swift was the big winner at the close of this year's CMA Awards on Nov. 11.

She hasn't yet turned "the Big 2-0" just yet, but teen hit-maker Taylor Swift has made history once more by becoming the youngest performer to win the coveted Entertainer of the Year prize--never mind that she also picked up trophies for Female Vocalist, Album and Music Video of the Year at The 43rd Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 11.

Held at the Sommet Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn., this year's sold-out CMA Awards found the 19-year-old, multi-platinum-selling artist also laying claim to the CMA's International Artist Achievement Award, a prize that was presented to a surprised Swift by Brooks & Dunn, last year's co-winners of the accolade, during dress rehearsals for the annual awards event.

Teen's 2009 Entertainer of the Year Win Causes a Buzz

Swift's Entertainer of the Year win, however, was the victory that set country fans and industry insiders buzzing the most., with fans reinforcing the voters' selection and others, including country singer Wynonna Judd, publicly stating such a career-crowning honor may be too much, too soon for the teen.

As for the ever-grateful Swift, who became the first female to score the award since Canadian-born Shania Twain in 1999, "I'll never forget this moment," she told TV viewers and CMA attendees, "because at this moment everything that I have ever wanted just happened to me."

To win the coveted Entertainer honor, Swift overcame stiff competition from veteran performers George Strait, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney at the 2009 CMA event.

Taylor Swift Sweeps CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year Contest

In the Female Vocalist of the Year contest, Swift defeated a talented pool that included Miranda Lambert, and 2008 CMA Female Vocalist Carrie Underwood, as well as established hit-makers Martina McBride and Reba McEntire.

Following the announcement that the blond teen had won, she responded by joking about her now-infamous Kanye West interruption experience at the MTV Awards, saying, "I want to thank every single person here tonight for not running up on stage during this speech."

Teen Star Reins in Country's Top Album of the Year & Music Video of the Year Trophies

In the Album of the Year category, Swift's sophomore CD, Fearless , which is now platinum five times over, took the prize. Swift produced the album with Nathan Chapman, who also collected a trophy for his efforts.

"This album is my diary, and so for all the people who voted for it, thank you for saying you like my diary," Swift said at the CMA show. "The fans, you made this album into what it is."

Off camera, during the CMA's pre-telecast ceremony, Swift picked up the Music Video of the Year Award for "Love Story," her Jane Austen-inspired fairytale that was directed by Trey Fanjoy, who collected a prize, too, for her part in the video's creation.

Country Singers Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker Win 2009 CMA Awards

Swift wasn't eligible for every award, however, including Male Vocalist of the Year, a title that show co-host Paisley scored for the third consecutive year. To win, he bested Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and country newcomer Darius Rucker, who did manage to take home the Top New Artist title, making him the second African-American to win the CMA.

Paisley also secured his fourth CMA for Musical Event of the Year, thanks to "Start A Band," a tune he recorded with Urban. Thus, with a pair of 2009 CMA wins, Paisley's career CMA tally hit the lucky 13.

Country Music's Lady Antebellum Lands Vocal Group of the Year & Single of the Year

In 2008, the trio known as Lady Antebellum triumphed by winning the CMA's New Artist of the Year. This year, the good fortune of the players--Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood--continued with two wins; specifically, they went home with the 2009 Vocal Group and Single of the Year prizes, the latter of which was presented for their I Run To You hit single.

"I'd like to thank my two best friends I get to do this with every day of my life," Scott said at the Nov. 11 show, referring to bandmates Kelley and Haywood.

Country Music's Sugarland: Vocal Duo of the Year

Meanwhile, in the Vocal Duo of the Year race, Sugarland was victorious, beating out newcomers Joey & Rory, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Richand Brooks & Dunn, who have won the prize 14 times in the soon-to-disband duo's 20-year career.

"Thank you for what you've done for us and thank you for what you've done for country music," Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles said to Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. "It's an honor to be nominated in your category."

Country Music Association's 2009 Song of the Year and Musician of the Year

This time around, songwriter-turned-recording artist Jamey Johnson picked up his second-ever CMA Song of the Year Award for In Color, a county hit he co-wrote with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller. (Johnson's first CMA win came in 2007 for penning George Strait's hit, Give It Away, with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon.)

Finally, veteran guitarist Mac McAnally, who is promoting his own solo CD these days, was named as the CMA's Musician of the Year in an always-competitive contest that included fellow nominees Dann Huff and Brent Mason, both guitarists, as well as drummer Eddie Bayers and steel player Paul Franklin.

The copyright of the article Winners of 43rd Annual CMA Awards Announced in Country Music is owned by Lisa L. Rollins. Permission to republish Winners of 43rd Annual CMA Awards Announced in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Taylor Swift, 19, wins CMA Entertainer of the Year	Well-wishers surround Taylor Swift at CMA Awards.	Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood co-hosted CMAs.
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