Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert win at the CMA Awards
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton (AP file)
A version of this story will appear in Thursday’s The Oklahoman.
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert win at the CMA Awards
The Tishomingo country stars, who wed in May, were named the Country Music Association’s male vocalist and female vocalist of the year Wednesday night.
The reign continues for country music power couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.
For the second straight year, the Tishomingo residents, who wed in May, were named the Country Music Association’s male vocalist and female vocalist of the year Wednesday night at the 45th Annual CMA Awards, which aired live on ABC from Nashville, Tenn.
“You’re spoiling me,” said Shelton, who opened the show performing a raucous rendition of the movie theme “Footloose” with ‘80s soundtrack guru Kenny Loggins. “I really didn’t prepare anything to say at all. I really didn’t think you guys’d let me get away with this two times.”
For Lambert, who sang her new smash single “Baggage Claim” during the awards soiree, the female vocalist trophy was an early birthday present. The singer-songwriter turns 28 Thursday.
“Seriously? Thank you so much. I did not expect to get this at all. I had a great year last year, and I’m very, very humbled at this moment to be standing up here in front of these amazing females that are here and deserve it,” she said. “Congrats to my hubby, too. It’s gonna be a good night tonight, baby!”
For Shelton, 2011 has been a breakout year, and he earned five CMA Award nominations, including a shot at entertainer of the year. But Chockie native and new Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire presented the top prize to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who has topped the charts and sold out arenas since the October 2010 release of her now triple-platinum third album, “Speak Now.”
“I’m so happy right now,” Swift said, thanking the stars who performed with her during shows on her tour, including former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Usher and Justin Bieber. “You have made my year!”
The CMA Awards paid tribute to established stars while handing out much of the hardware to relative newcomers or emerging artists. Sibling trio The Band Perry received the new artist prize along with song and single of the year for their breakthrough hit “If I Die Young.”
Georgia country-rocker Jason Aldean took home two trophies, album of the year for his smash “My Kinda Party” and musical event for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” his duet with “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson.
Lady Antebellum and Sugarland continued their runs as vocal group and vocal duo of the year, respectively, while Mac McAnally was again named musician of the year. Country superstar Kenny Chesney and rocker Grace Potter won the music video prize for their duet “You and Tequila.”
Stars with Oklahoma ties not only competed for several awards but also were involved in many other aspects of the show. For the fourth consecutive year, Checotah native Carrie Underwood and fellow superstar Brad Paisley co-hosted the show; they performed their chart-topping love song “Remind Me,” too.
Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, played their hit duet “Easy” with pop star Natasha Bedingfield and collaborated with R&B legend Lionel Richie on his 1986 chart-topper “Dancing on the Ceiling.” Newcomers Thompson Square, the husband-and-wife duo that features Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, played their breakout ballad “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.”
Oklahoma City-bred singer/guitarist Vince Gill, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Elk City-born songwriter/pianist Jimmy Webb, president of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, took part in the show’s most touching moment: a heartfelt tribute to country legend Glen Campbell, who this year revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Gill and fellow singer/guitarists Paisley and Keith Urban took turns playing “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston,” three of the iconic hits Webb wrote and Campbell recorded in the late 1960s.
To read my live blog of the CMA Awards, click here.
-BAM
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Yes! Soo happy for them. Miranda definitely deserves every award she gets!