Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton dominate 2010 CMA Awards
Tishomingo residents Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton share a kiss in the press room during the 44th Annual Country Music Awards tonight in Nashville, Tenn. (Associated Press photo)
From Thursday’s The Oklahoman.
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton seized their place as country music’s new power couple Wednesday night as the Tishomingo residents dominated the 44th Annual CMA Awards.
Neither had ever won a Country Music Association trophy going into the awards show, but the white-hot stars won five prizes between them Wednesday as Lambert celebrated her 27th birthday.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I just told Blake I think we need to go to church,” Lambert joked as she accepted the female vocalist of the year award from country legend Loretta Lynn.
The Texas native went into the awards show with a leading nine nominations, the most of any female artist in CMA history. Lambert secured album of the year for her acclaimed 2009 release “Revolution,” and she and director Trey Fanjoy shared the music video honor for her emotional ballad “The House That Built Me.” That chart-topping hit also earned the song of the year award for its writers, Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin.
Shelton, her fiancé, was named male vocalist of the year and shared the musical event prize with duet partner Trace Adkins for their raucous No. 1 hit “Hillbilly Bone.” Both the Ada native and fellow Oklahoma-born star Reba McEntire were visibly emotional as he took the stage. McEntire’s husband, Narvel Blackstock, is Shelton’s manager, and he thanked the couple in his acceptance speech.
“I love you, too. I mean that,” he said as a fan shouted her affection from the crowd. “That’s about 34 years worth of steps right there for me, y’all. This is a really big deal for me.”
Shelton and Lambert, who were engaged in May, have been having the breakout year of their careers, scoring No. 1 singles, industry awards and professional milestones. Lambert embarked on her first solo tour, while Shelton joined the Grand Ole Opry.
“‘Revolution has truly caused a revolution in my life this year,” Lambert said as she accepted the album trophy. “It’s my baby. It’s what I do. It’s what I live for. Thank you so much for loving it, too.”
The singer-songwriter bested fellow Oklahomans Carrie Underwood and McEntire, four-time winner Martina McBride and last year’s victor Taylor Swift to win the female vocalist title. Lambert accepted the trophy from Lynn after she and rocker Sheryl Crow performed a tribute to the legendary “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
“I’m proud that I can now call her a friend,” she said of Lynn as her voice broke. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. Thank you Reba. I’m gonna keep going for the other women in this industry, I promise.”
The couple so dominated the show that co-host Brad Paisley quipped “You know, after the night Blake and Miranda are having, I think we can expect a baby in nine months.”
Underwood and Paisley, who won the top award for entertainer of the year, presided over the show for the third consecutive time. Oklahomans were well-represented among the nominees, though only Lambert and Shelton took home trophies. Along with Lambert, Sooner State stars Shelton, McEntire, Underwood and Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, performed on the show. Oklahoma native Vince Gill backed Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who made her live country music singing debut to tie in with her starring role in the upcoming film “Country Strong.”
Trio Lady Antebellum earned the vocal group title, besting Rascal Flatts, and beat two of Lambert’s hits to earn single of the year with the smash ballad “Need You Know.” Sugarland denied the recently split Brooks & Dunn, which included former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, a final vocal duo of the year award. Zac Brown Band was named best new artist, while venerable guitarist Mac McAnally was named musician of the year.
For more on the CMA Awards, go to BAM’s Blog at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog. Click here to read the live blog.
-BAM
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