Lee Ann Womack was the big winner at the 39th Annual Country Music Awards. The Nashville balladeer, whose back-to-basics album There's More Where That Came From drew praise for putting the spotlight back on country's roots, walked away with three honors: Album of the Year, Single of the Year for "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" and Musical Event of the Year for Womack's duet with George Strait, "Good News, Bad News."
"I love country music!" Womack shouted from the podium at last night's event, which took place at New York's Madison Square Garden -- the first time the CMAs have been held outside of Nashville.
Australian singer Keith Urban followed Womack closely with two awards: Male Vocalist of the Year (which he also won last year) and Entertainer of the Year, marking the first time an artist has won the Horizon (which recognizes the best new artist), Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards.
Other winners included hosts Brooks and Dunn (Vocal Duo of the Year), newcomer Dierks Bentley (Horizon Award), Gretchen Wilson (Female Vocalist of the Year) and Toby Keith (Music Video of the Year for "As Good As I Once Was"). Country legends Glen Campbell and DeFord Bailey, as well as the band Alabama, were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, while Brad Paisley, who tied Womack for the most nominations with six, walked away empty-handed.
The evening also featured a slew of performances by such country and rock heavyweights as Alan Jackson, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Big and Rich, and Sara Evans. Garth Brooks performed "Good Ride Cowboy" in the middle of Times Square as a tribute to friend and late country singer Chris LeDoux, who passed away from liver cancer in March.
Willie Nelson and Norah Jones performed a rendition of "Still Crazy After All These Years," and Paul Simon joined the two on "Crazy," while Dolly Parton and Elton John teamed for "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" before launching into John Lennon's "Imagine."
The CMAs will return to Nashville next year to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.